Group No. 1Gladys AltamiranoRebeca CarreraFreddy CedeñoMelida FarinangoMaria GavilanesCristina Gómez

Using coursebooks

CHAPTER 11

Using coursebooks

Options for coursebook useCourse books are very important teaching tool

that supports teacher to clarify and simplify material and provide needed assistance.

They are organized and carefully planned and provide the students assistance.

The sequential presentation of information in an orderly manner, allows the teacher to present didactic and extra material in a balanced and sequential way and also provides a sequence of teaching procedures, that tells what and when to do it.

Options for coursebook useOn the other hand, it is necessary to provide

teachers strategies and extra activities, so that everything is carefully planned for the students in this important process. As a result, we will obtain teachers with a complete and comprehensive program.

Options for coursebook useThere are four alternatives to take in

consideration, if we do not agree with a course book:

Firstly, there is no problem if we omit lessons, teachers are evaluating all the time.

Secondly, provide our own material, should be better than exercises from course book and also could be more interesting than exercises provided by mention course book.

Thirdly, teachers could add activities and exercises, in order to have enthusiastic and interested activities, using and revising grammar and vocabulary according the topic they are working on.

Options for coursebook useThe last alternative is for teacher to adapt

what is on the course book, rewriting, redoing, reordering, replacing, reducing, etc. so students and teacher can feel more comfortable using the course book in adequate way.

Adding, adapting and replacingCourse books are probably the teacher’s and

the student’s most valuable resource as they work together through the school curriculum.

Course books are normally quite well organized and help us to progress step by step through everything the curriculum wants us to work on.

Adding, adapting and replacing

ADDINGADDING ADAPTINGADAPTING REPLACINGREPLACING

TO USE THE COURSEBOOKS MORE CREATIVELYTO USE THE COURSEBOOKS MORE CREATIVELY

Add some activities that are not in the course book.

Add some activities that are not in the course book.

Adjust the extra activities to be suitable for your lesson and for your students’ needs.

Adjust the extra activities to be suitable for your lesson and for your students’ needs.

To use variety of activities, to the lesson class .

To use variety of activities, to the lesson class .

Adding, adapting and replacingTeacher will be able to address your students’

needs in a more accurate, targeted way by having greater control over what materials you use with them and what activities you provide for them in your lessons for achieving a better developing in learning process.

Reason for (and against) coursebook useSOME ADVANTAGES

GOOD course books present:Well-structured syllabus Interesting contentConsistent grammarAppropriate vocabulary and use of language Excellent reading and listening material

Reason for (and against) coursebook useBecause of the lack of time for teacher to

plan, that takes the course book as an ideal option to prepare each class. Besides, there we can find teacher´s guide which is an excellent monitor for every lesson plan.

Students feel comfortable with course books, they can see through the contents and be ready to the next topic.

Reason for (and against) coursebook useON THE OTHER HANDThere is the risk that the course book

becomes the ONLY material to work with. Both, students and teacher will feel locked in the book suggestions

Each class might develop a course book – centered approach causing lack of creativity.

Reason for (and against) coursebook useASPECTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

The best thing teachers and students should do is taking the course book as a proposal for action without rejecting ideas from other sources.

The course book might work as a primary source accompanied by multiply fonts of information.

The teacher is who decides how and when the material is used and of course it must be employed according to the students´ progress.

Choosing coursebooksTeachers have to make competent choice

what books to employ. To carry out it teacher should determine the pertinent course book analyzing the books under consideration through checklist of questions

Besides, Teacher asks the learners´ point of view to take into account students´ needs and discuss with colleagues which benefit teacher come to a final decision.

Choosing coursebooksThere are possible areas for consideration

which are fundamental to take a precise decision such as: Price and availability, Add-ons and extras, Layout and design, Instructions, Methodology, Syllabus, Language skills, Topics, Cultural appropriacy, Teacher’s guide

Choosing coursebooksSo when choosing books, these factors should

be taken into consideration: Analyze it. Check areas like the list in the

further chart.Pilot it. Use it in one or two classes and see

the results. Consult other teachers.Consider opinion from students.

Choosing coursebooksPOSSIBLE AREAS FORCONSIDERATION

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS FOR COURSEBOOK ANALYSIS

Price and availability

Consider the students´ acquisition power

Add-ons and extras

Check amount if extra resources in comparison with other books

Layout and design See the structure design and if it is easy to manageInstructions Check if language instructions and how independent

could be its use.Methodology Test the relation between study and activation. Analyze

the steps from learning to productionSyllabus Compare the objectives and learning goals with class

levelsLanguage skills Take a look of how the book covers each language skillsTopics Take in consideration attractive issues for your students

considering age and social context.Cultural appropriacy

Customs, ethnicities, economic context should be taken in consideration which may be engaging at the teaching time.

Teacher’s guide Review the teacher´s guide and how easy to follow is.

ConclusionsIn this chapter we have considered an important issue

because it is decisive for the teaching-learning process to choose an appropriate course book .

Initially, we have analyzed several options for adding, adapting and replacing and how important is the teacher´s creativeness in selecting these options apart from not to depend on merely the book content but assessing with extra resources for reinforcing lessons.

It is very important to realize that a textbook is an aid, not a sacred text. Teachers should work out the best ways to use their books but they should never let the book use them. Course books must be at the service of teacher and learners, not their masters.

ConclusionsQuite often teachers complain about course books that

need supplementing. The truth is: all course books need supplementing. The point is just to decide how much and what kind of supplementing a course book requires, always according to the needs and characteristics of a particular learner or a group of learners.

After that we have consider a range of elements before choosing an appropriate course book.

With these guidelines, we as teachers will get the best of our selected book and students will be comfortable when working with an appropriate material on their hands.