NEW FOR 1994! PUTTING IT TOGETHER: A CONVERSATION MANAGEMENT TEXT. This text is designed to develop a variety of specific speaking skills rather than to simply provide an opportunity to speak. Skills covered may be linguistic (e.g. opening a conversation) or cultural (some topics are impolite.) Each chapter consists of a listening passage, vocabulary, controlled practice and a very open conversation. >focuses on specific speaking skills needed in English >emphasizes conversations on real topics with real information >gradually builds each chapter from listening to controlled speech to free speech >prepares students for real, idiomatic speech heard outside the classroom >provides topics carefully chosen for high student interest >presents gradual skill buildups with a variety of follow-up practice >introduces vocabulary/idioms in specific domains >provides great opportunities for surveying fellow students and people outside the classroom >encourages real communication rather than fictional information gap/pair work situation