The Four Point series is designed for English language learners whose primary goal is to succeed in an academic setting.The series covers the four academic skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking while providing reinforcement and systematic recycling of key vocabulary and further exposure to grammar issues. In order to participate in academic settings, ELLs need focused activities to develop and then maintain their use of vocabulary and grammar. Each book in the series focuses heavily on vocabulary in particular, highlighting between 125-150 key vocabulary items including individual words, compound words, phrasal verbs, short phrases, idioms, metaphors, collocations, and longer set lexical phrases.

Listening-Speaking 1 contains six two-part lectures on the topic within a field of academic study: political science, health, business, mathematics, sociology, and astronomy. The lectures range from four to seven minutes in length and are provided on the audio CD packaged with the book. The exercises practice an array of important academic listening and speaking skills, including making presentations, and also reinforce vocabulary and reading and writing skills. Each unit includes activities based on the in-class interactions students will encounter in academic settings--including group discussions, debates, and You Be the Judge activities. Toward this end, six video scenes (available on the companion website) model student behavior and incorporate key words and phrases typically used when working in groups. By addressing the breadth and depth of listening and speaking tasks required in academic settings, students will grow confident in areas that build the fluencies needed to succeed in their academic endeavors. Interactive vocabulary activities are available on the book's companion website.