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GreatApe · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 4:12 am Post subject:

@ talentedcrayon

I use a book called "Challenge to Speak" at my university gig, where I teach Oral English 1, 2, and 3. "Challenge to Speak" has at least 2 edition levels
(I use 1 and 2) and, while it's certainly not a "perfect" textbook. It's decent enough. It's topical, has exercises for students to practice and review and can be easily supplemented with your own materials to expand the lessons and units.

I rarely use one text, but have used "Challenge to Speak" for 5 years now with decent success. It also comes with an MP3 disc.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck! and KEEP GOING!

--GA

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

fpshangzhou · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 280

I use Side by Side with a group of Adult beginners. It's alright, but I'm not a fan of those all inclusive books. Most of the activities are very dull and I tend to only use the dialogues and vocabulary to get the class to start talking, whether on topic or off topic.

The few resources I combine on my ppts include:

"English Podcast" dialogues/vocabulary (download from net)

"Compelling Conversations" Questions (download from net)

"King Topics of Oral English" for the dialogues (buy on taobao site)

"100 Topics for Daily English Situations" for dialogues, vocabulary, exercises (buy on taobao site)

Using material from these can easily create a 2 hour class, but most of these books are for low intermediate learners. However, you can modify the material according to the learner's proficiency level.

I might go ahead and get that "Challenge to Speak" series 1-3, which can be found on taobao for quite cheap.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

GreatApe · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:59 am Post subject:

Non Sequitur wrote:

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu

The interchange books work well with adults. They definitely allow for some controversial questions to be posed to potentially cause some discussion.

I also use breakingnewsenglish.com and print off an article from there. This also includes full lesson plans with a load of questions to go along with the article. Great for the lazy lesson planners.. AHEM, of course not myself :p

talentedcrayon · Joined: 19 Mar 2013 Posts: 91

Thanks for the recommendations.

Basically what I decided to do is just create my own curriculum and materials.

It's taking more hours to prepare than I spend in the classroom teaching. But, my classes are exactly what I want them to be...

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

Bumping for NS

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Thanks toteach.
I was more interested in who makes decisions and who pays.
i.e
1. School decides and pays for textbook which is then supplied 'free' to students.
2. School decides and students buy independently.
3. Which schools use non-Chinese texts and what might be reasons.

LeiFeng · Joined: 23 Apr 2015 Posts: 21

fpshangzhou mentioned downloading "Compelling Conversations." I would second this recommendation, but add that it is well worth buying your own copy of the full book (there seem to be only a few chapters online). I have found that book to be a particularly valuable resource when it comes to planning conversation lessons, even when I just use it for ideas and don't bring copies of the actual chapters.

I also like the site http://www.elllo.org, which has much better/more interesting dialogues (recordings and transcripts) than your average EFL textbook (i.e. the banal dialogues in New Interchange). It is geared toward ELLs and not teachers, but it is very easy to find dialogues from there for all levels and topics, and integrate them into a lesson.

As far as basic textbooks for speaking go, I have used the "Exploring English" series for years for teaching beginner students. They are a bit low on content, but they have more flair than your average barf-worthy EFL textbook. It looks like someone actually had fun coming up with the dialogue and artwork, and students respond well to them.