NorthStar, Fifth Edition is an integrated-skills English course that empowers adult and young adult English language learners to achieve their academic and personal goals. Current and thought-provoking topics promote language development and critical thinking skills. Building on the success of previous editions, this new fifth edition engages and motivates students with new and updated content. What is new in the fifth edition? - New and updated content with a new theme keeps students motivated. - The new design and imagery bring the activities to life. - Learning outcomes are created using the Global Scale of English (GSE) so students can see their progress more easily. - Every unit offers note-taking practice and writing skill development. - Scaffolded critical thinking activities are clearly marked to help students develop their academic skills. - Academic Word List words are highlighted to help students identify essential vocabulary. - New and updated activities in MyEnglishLab provide additional practice online. - ExamView Test Generator allows teachers to customize assessments. - Students can complete activities, listen to audio, and watch video on the go with the Pearson Practice English App.

Northstar, now in a new edition, motivates students to succeed in their academic as well as personal language goals. For each of the five levels, the two strands - "Reading and Writing" and "Listening and Speaking - "provide a fully integrated approach for students and teachers. What is Special about the New Edition?

• New Themes and Updated Content - presented in a variety of genres and in authentic materials - challenge and engage students intellectually.
• Enhanced Focus on Academic Skills, more purposeful integration of critical thinking, and an enhanced focus on academic skills such as inferencing, synthesizing, notetaking, and test taking help students develop strategies for success in the classroom and on standardized tests.
• A structured approach gives students opportunities for more extended and creative oral practice, for example, presentations, simulations, debates, speeches, public service announcements and more.
• A New Design with full color pages, more photos, illustrations, and graphic organizers fosters student engagement and makes the content come alive.

MyNorthStarLab NorthStar is now available with MyNorthStarLab - an easy-to-use, powerful online program for students and teachers that saves time and improves test scores.

• Students receive personalized instruction and practice in all four skills. Audio, video, and test preparation are all in one place - available anywhere, anytime.
• Teachers can take advantage of many resources including online assessments, a flexible gradebook, and tools for monitoring student progress.
• Unlimited access to reading and audio selections, DVD segments, as well as original activities that support and extend the "Northstar "program.

Teacher's Manual

• A unit-by-unit guide including overviews, suggested times, step-by-step teaching suggestions, expansion and homework activities, and links to the companion strand and to MyNorthStarLab
• Detailed multi-level strategies and activities so instructors can reach students at different proficiency levels
• The Student Book Answer Key and unit word lists for easy reference
• Reproducible Unit Achievement Tests to save time and allow teachers to evaluate students' progress

The Challenges textbook series helps students become better readers through explicit teaching of reading skills and strategies that will break counter-productive habits, such as word-for-word translation. Vocabulary is a major focus of the series as well because good readers know a lot of words. Challenges 3 (the low-advanced to advanced level) has six units with two chapters in each. Each unit begins with an introduction to the topic-generally a one-page activity to activate students\u2019 interest and background knowledge. To help prepare advanced students for authentic college content, each reading is introduced by a discussion of its genre, so students will encounter 12 different genres (e.g., book review, scientific essay, persuasive essay, biography, promotional writing). Each unit also features a special focus on one academic skill-for example, outlining and summarizing-to provide students with additional practice in areas that will be useful in college/university courses. Like Books 1 and 2, study tips are presented as well (e.g., using search engines and research databases, communicating with instructors/professors). The book also includes timed/paced readings, which are important to developing reading fluency.

The Challenges textbook series helps students become better readers through explicit teaching of reading skills and strategies that will break counter-productive habits, such as word-for-word translation. Vocabulary is a major focus of the series as well because good readers know a lot of words. Challenges 1 (the low-intermediate level) has eight units with two chapters in each. Each unit begins with an introduction to the topic--generally a one-page activity to activate students' interest and background knowledge. Each chapter consists of sections designed to support students' understanding of a reading passage. For example, the Reading Skillssection teaches one of three types: basic reading skills, dictionary skills, or sentence-level grammar skills. Vocabulary is also previewed, but students also practice word forms of the target vocabulary and learn common collocations and phrases. The book also includes timed/paced readings, which are important to developing reading fluency. Additional material to support the book is available online.