Job Discussion Forums

[kaililynn]

What would you guys say are the most critical books for a teacher to have (grammar, teaching methods, etc etc), for both classroom and private lessons?

Thanks!

[Glenski]

A good grammar reference book, obviously (like Practical English Usage) and a good bilingual dictionary, as well as a good English/English dictionary.

Beyond that, it depends on the age and fluency level or goals of your students.

[Chasgul]

A thesaurus never hurts. And a dictionary that covers things like casuistry will see you through most levels.

[Moore]

Raymond Murphy: English Grammar in Use, Intermediate, Cambridge University Press.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello kaililynn


Here's a recently updated link-list of ESL books & software

so you can find the stuff that people are recommending:




ESL BOOKS & SOFTWARE


http://www.oup.com/teach/ (Oxford University Press / Teaching & Learning Resources)

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/ (Cambridge University Press / ELT Resources for 2005)

http://www.longman-elt.com/ (Longman ELT / English Language Teaching Resources)

http://www.altaesl.com/index.cfm (Alta Books / offers a large selection of ESL books)

http://www.market-leader.net/ (Market Leader / popular Business English textbook)

http://sdkrashen.com/main.php3 (Books & Articles by author Stephen D. Krashen)

http://www.tefl.net/resources/idx1.htm (ESL resources by TEFL.net)

http://www.eflbooks.co.uk/ (Cambridge International Book Centre)

http://www.ets.org/ (ETS Homepage / GRE, SAT, TOEIC, TOEFL)

http://www.rayslearning.com/ (Ray's Educational Software)

http://www.esl.net/ (ESL books & software by ESL.net)



reposted from The Master Index Thailand

[wix]

I have compiled a list of useful books here.

I probably should add a good learner's dictionary to the list like the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary or Collins Cobuild Dictionary.

[Spiderman Too]

For anyone in China, wix's link can be accessed here

http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.geocities.com/wix99/teachtaiwan.html#reading

and

http://www.google.com/translate?langpair=en|en&u=geocities.com/wix99/teachtaiwan.html#reading

[Deconstructor]

A must have book in ESL/EFL? There's a laugh!

Not only there are no must have books in ESL/EFL, you should avoid any like gangbusters, if you have a single ounce of respect for the teaching profession!

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I agree with deconstructor--

Anyone who uses any book is a failure as a teacher. One shouldn't even allow English dictionaries like Oxford or Webster's in the classroom. One should use only one's inherent knowledge to teach a class. A whiteboard and a blackboard marker alone should suffice, and if you're a real teacher, you don't even need these. In fact, the best teacher needs no materials whatsoever as having any materials at all (least of all, books) is totally disrespectful to your students, colleagues, and yourself. Furthermore, textbooks are only in the marketplace to make money off of people who call themselves "professionals" (or "educators"), and other people who call themselves "devoted students." This brings up another point--students should have no form of textbook to rely on in their studies, and if they have said textbook, they are a discredit to language learners everywhere. The best English students need no materials whatsoever (least of all books).

[Spinoza]

[Deconstructor]

[Justin Trullinger]

Hey Decon! I knew you'd get into this one eventually. I think Jizzo was being sarcastic, but it's hard to tell online.

While I've gathered that you're not a fan of many EFL textbooks, what about reference books for teachers? For example, I find having a few good grammar references in the library to be invaluable.(Especially to newish teachers.) I like Practical English Usage, among others. Teaching Kids English is also a good book on theory and practice of teaching children. How English Works, by Michael Swan, is also good for new teachers looking for grammar pointers.

Take care,
Justin

PS- I'm hoping to self publish a teaching related book within a year or so. Can I send you a copy, Decon, for your comments? I figure that if it withstands your criticism, it's ready for the market.

[Deconstructor]

[Boy Wonder]

Coursebooks are good grammar referencing points and useful for Listening exercises....they also usually provide a couple of decent stabs at the written english a student will need.

The guys who teach without coursebboks are right however..there is so much dross and dry rot out there in the TEFL world penned by middle class middle aged wine collecting Saab/Volvo drivers that usually you are better off not using one.

The garbage books given to Inlingua students is useful only as toilet paper whilst i can hardly say i am a fan of Headway/Cutting Edge/Reward/English File.etc..

The last 18 months of my teaching i havent used coursebooks at all.....

A whiteboard
Plain paper
Microphone
Cassette paper
A few good resource books

I have found this is all i need....and all i want to use.

Indispensibles for Adults include the Reward Resource book series
Indispensibles for Kids include Jet Primary Resource books plus English Timesavers....

Thats all folks!!!

[Moore]

Textbooks may well be a mere prop and nothing more than a way of giving a semblance of structure, direction and general feeling of proper-teacherness to things, but people expect them just like they expect you to shave, iron your shirt and arrive on time, especially in a business English context.