Why another reading scheme?

STAR TRACK is for pupils who have not gained any skills from a random exposure to text and need a guided introduction to the rules of literacy.

STAR TRACK'S structured worksheets and stories introduce the pupil to only one phonic element at a time.

STAR TRACK builds skills cumulatively, and confidence is established because the pupil is never asked to read what he has not been taught.

STAR TRACK'S photocopiable masters provide material for class work, homework, easy assessment and record-keeping.

STAR TRACK provides worksheets and stories for the famous "exceptions" of English, which are easily tackled once the regular phonic rules have been learnt. Further copies of each of the tracks may be purchased in packs of ten.

'Rasskaz-Sensatsiya: v pomosh izuchayushim russkiy yazik (ne tolko dlya Gvadeluptsev)' (The Story Sensation: for learners of the Russian language (and not only for Guadeloupians ) is a sarcastic story, a detective line, written as an aid to making the Russian language study process a little bit more bearable for adult learners. The story contains approximately 800 Russian words from such topics as clothes, food, politics, office, sports and gym, transport and business that are required for everyday communication.
The audio-version can be ordered via email [email protected].
The story is completely fictional, with fictional characters and scenery, full of sarcasm and jokes with a mockery of stereo-types. Ignaty Dyakov, professional Russian teacher, wrote it as an aid to making the Russian language study process a little bit more bearable for adult learners. By no means can it be seen as a substitute for the classical language textbook but the author's humble hope is that it can become a useful and enjoyable supplement to the course materials for Elementary & Pre-Intermediate levels.
'Rasskaz Sensatsiya' contains approximately 800 words that are required for everyday communication. Every word appears in the text several times so that the learner can become accustomed to its meaning in the context. The author tried to include words from such topics as clothes, food, politics, office, sports and gym, transport and business. He also tried to use some common Russian set expressions and proverbs and quotes from famous songs. There are many dialogues in the story. There are lists of new words in every chapter. No translation is provided so that the learner can make a note of the meanings in their own language. At the end of the book, one can find a concise Russian-English dictionary.
The story is written in slightly simplified Russian. Thus, the learner will find it easier to recognise and memorise grammar structures. At the end of each chapter there are questions and/or grammar exercises.
The book is published in association with "Russia Local Ltd," London-based linguistic consultancy supporting international organisations expanding their business in Russia, "Russo-British Chamber of Commerce" and "ctms Travel Agency." It is illustrated by Gregg Ink.
"5% of all proceeds from the sale of this book will go to support the SOS Children's Village in Russia."
Praise for the book:
"A brilliant debut No doubts this textbook will be extremely useful to the learners of the Russian language who are also interested in the current state of Russia, its history, culture, and people." /Dr Alexander Zdanevich, Director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Tanzania/
"This is a very unique and original approach to language learning, it gives the reader useful everyday words and phrases in the context of a compelling story that makes you want to read and learn more. A real change from the norm of formal boring language books." /Richard Royal, Chairman, Conservative Friends of Russia, UK/
"A super peculiar, rather ominous content." /Dr Natalia Tronenko, Chair, Russian Committee Association for Language Learning, University of Leicester/
"An entertaining read. Gives a nice impression - easy to grasp, a thriller and a series of exercises." /Arthur Matikyan, Head of UK, Ireland & Iceland representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo/
"Unconventional material... Specifics of the pedagogical technology suggested by the author are based on the text principle and oriented at active learning and development of the creative language personality... The work laudably impresses and can be used as a textbook for foreign learners." /Prof Lyudmila Verbitskaya, President of the International Association of Teachers of the Russian language and literature, President of St Petersburg State Univ

This book is at once a guided introduction to Chinese nonfictional prose and an innovative textbook for the study of classical Chinese. It is a companion volume to How to Read Chinese Prose: A Guided Anthology, designed for Chinese-language learners. How to Read Chinese Prose in Chinese presents more than forty prose works, either excerpts or in full, from antiquity through the Qing dynasty. While teaching readers how to appreciate the rich tradition of Chinese prose in its original form, the book uses these texts to introduce classical Chinese to advanced learners, helping them develop reading comprehension and vocabulary. It offers a systematic guide to classical Chinese grammar and abundant notes on vocabulary, and features an extensive network of notes, exercises, and cross-references. The book includes modern translations of the forty prose works in simplified Chinese, presented alongside the original texts in traditional Chinese. It also includes expert commentaries on each text's distinctive aesthetic qualities as well as historical and cultural contexts. The book comprises thirty-eight lessons within eight units, organized chronologically to reflect the emergence of major prose genres. It is a major contribution to the teaching and study of classical Chinese language and literature. Audio recordings of all forty texts are available online free of charge.

This supplemental volume continues the rigorous standard set forth in the main, three-volume "Classical Chinese: A Basic Reader" while reinforcing its linguistic lessons from carefully chosen representative works. Comprised of three parts--"Poetry," "Lyrics," and "Prose"--it presents texts, chronologically, that represent the artistic embodiment of China's Confucian and Taoist thought. Two introductions separately describe the structural and formal features of regulated verse and parallel prose; each genre is unique to Chinese literature yet both share common characteristics tempered by the Chinese language.

The main text and its four supplementary volumes together represent the most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on the language, literature, philosophy, history, and religion of premodern China. Field-tested and fine-tuned for years in classroom settings by three members of the Chinese Linguistics Project at Princeton University, it is the definitive new resource for students and instructors of classical Chinese language or culture.