Crossroads Café

The result of a collaboration between nine educational agencies and first shown on PBS in the fall of 1996, this 26-tape "dramedy" is intended for ESL learners, and focuses on the real-life problems, joys, and relationships of the six multicultural denizens of a neighborhood café. In Episode 12, for example, the café is vandalized, and Rosa learns to drive; in Episode 15, Henry and his Caucasian girlfriend deal with parental reaction to their relationship, and a laundromat opens next door. Although Crossroads Café has won high praise from everyone who's seen it, from Secretary of Education Richard Riley on down, potential purchasers should note that the series is appropriate for "high beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL students; it may not be the best way to learn English for students at lower proficiency levels." Also, students must have access to the separately-priced workbook materials, a requirement escalating the price (and hassle) of an already very expensive series. I really liked the series itself and wished I could have seen all the episodes (I guess I'll never know whether Brashov recovers from his heart attack!). Highly recommended, but only for flush literacy collections and schools where needed. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)