Teacher Discussion Forums

[Karenne]

I don't like most textbooks I come across? I can use bits of one and bits of the other. But sometimes I completely dislike them...

1. Too much information on the page
2. Lack of cultural sensitivity
3. Replicas of each other

Here's the series I've started on my blog - let me know what you think (there or here).

http://kalinago.blogspot.com/search/label/reasons-i-dont-like-textbooks

Karenne

[bethany27]

I can surely agree with you that there are way too many books that are full of useless information. I really like what I saw of this book by Scott Thornbury. The only thing I'm not sure of is if it would be good for beginners. I think I would know better if I could see the index and probably first chapter. But otherwise, I really like this book. Thanks for the post.

[OxfordBlues]

Juergen Kurtz has written quite a bit on his blog about the role of the textbook within the ESL classroom:

http://juergenkurtz.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/the-role-of-the-textbook-in-the-efl-classroom-3/

I for one do not like to use textbooks in class. I think they're designed for the students to use outside of class and really see no reason to stand in front of a group of learners and act as page turner.

The point of a textbook is to create confusion in the students so that they will ask questions. The role of the teacher is to answer those questions.

[fluffyhamster]

How true, Oxford Blues, how true!

Welcome to the forums, by the way!

[OxfordBlues]

Thanks Fluffy!