The Academic Encounters series uses a sustained content approach to teach skills necessary for taking academic courses in English. There are two books for each content area. Academic Listening Encounters: The Natural World engages students through interviews and academic lectures on stimulating topics from the fields of earth science and biology. Topics include the water cycle and access to water, global warming, systems of the human body, and genetics. Students practice listening skills, such as listening for numerical information and listening for examples. They also practice note-taking skills, discuss content, conduct interviews, and make presentations. A Student Audio CD with the lecture portion of the audio program is included. Topics correspond with those in Academic Encounters: The Natural World. The books may be used independently or together.