Job Discussion Forums

[Legolarse]

I'm probably going to teach Burmese refugees for a year starting in June. I intend to base the teaching around a coursebook so they can measure their progress and so I have some kind of structure to follow. (I have a few months' teaching experience but I'm not competent/creative enough to ignore the books and construct an entirely new course.) Trouble is, the standard books - Headway, Matters, Language in Use, Reward etc - are not really relevant to their situation or culture. The grammar obviously is, but the topics used to present it (celebrities, fashion, shopping, money, air travel, etc), and often the vocabulary used, aren't. So what do you recommend?

I'll be teaching around 40 students, aged roughly 19-26, split over two classes, at (low) intermediate level. I've used New Headway Elementary and Pre-Int before with other refugees and they didn't like them, largely because they didn't cover topics that interested them (politics, war, culture, current affairs, etc) and didn't have enough freer practice, but I haven't used Intermediate HW much. Flicking through them, Language in Use Intermediate seems a little more interesting/relevant than others (esp Matters) so I might use that, but it's still not great.

Any opinions? If not about relevance then about the general relative quality of the various books on offer (in British English)? I notice Matters and Lang in Use are pretty old - 1995 and 1994 - whereas New Headway is 2003, but I don't know how much difference that makes. HW also has a parallel pronunciation course and a good website, but they don't have internet access anyway.

I'll obviously use other materials, such as Murphy's Eng Gram in Use, Grammar Dimensions 3 and various activity books, but I'd still like a general coursebook to be the backbone of my course.

Also, I won't have access to an OHP or photocopier, and perhaps not a printer, so if you know of any good grammar/vocab activity books that don't require more than pens, paper and a whiteboard then I'd be interested. I'd like a good vocabulary book too, with plenty of freer practice activities - Eng Vocab in Use is mostly gap-filling and is often a bit short on explanation of the meanings of words.

Cheers,
Legolarse

[saint57]

Legolarse, I commend on wanting to help the Burmese refugees. I saw ads for that a year or two ago. You should post a blog or something. The best conversation book I ever used is called, "A Conversation Book." It works with all levels. Honestly, my gut told me something wasn't on the up and up with the Burmese refugee ESL thing. I'm thinking someone somewhere is going to be making a profit off your labour. If you post a blog you can either warn others of your experience or you can give a good program some publicity.

[saint57]

On second thought blogging might be difficult from where you will be. Do something though.

[Legolarse]

Cheers Saint.

I always appreciate cynicism, and I think some ppl here (including some Burmese pro-democracy groups) do take unfair advantage of well-meaning foreigners. However, there are others who are genuinely interested in learning English - and may benefit considerably from doing so - and do not seek to profit financially from us. I taught my group for a couple months at the end of the last school year so I know what I'm getting into. And I'm getting paid this time.

There are plenty of jobs going with Burmese refugees, some paid, most voluntary, for the right people (no dossers just looking for free accommdation and food, no sex tourists, etc; relevant experience highly desirable). If you contact me I can give further info, but generally the volunteer ones are minimum three months and the paid ones minimum 1 year with salaries from around 10,000 baht. Most positions have basic if not uncomfortable living and working conditions, and there are a number of other reasons why they wouldn't suit most ppl.

Loads of ppl work with burmese refugees along the border so a blog, even if it were possible - which it isn't really - would be pretty uninteresting and unoriginal.

The Conversation Book sounds quite good but is in US Eng. I'm also wondering whether the topics'd be relevant to my ss - most have only known life in traditional Burmese villages and refugee camps. I may have a look for it in DK's in Bangers when I next go there. I was just thinking actually that I could do with good books, esp activity books, in all areas - speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as grammar and vocabulary. It's hard to find decent, culturally-relevant stuff. So do feel free to make suggestions, all.

[poof]

I'm currently trying IMPACT - VALUES. In fact, there's a series of 3 impact books which have various issues in them. They combine a decent text with activities that encourage open discussion. There's also an audio CD. Issues don't exactly cover asylum and genocide, but I don't think you'll find any ESL book that does.
Perhaps you could download some movie scripts of films that deal with these issues if it doesn't seem too crass, and try some drama/roleplay (scriptorama.com) and print the scripts before you go. Also, some newspapers could help, as well as the excellent site www.breakingnewsenglish.com This has inexhaustible current affairs topics designed for ESL classroom with lots of accompanying activities. You could print off a load of these before you go, or save the files to disk in case you can find a computer with printer.
I think you have a tough job ahead, but good luck - it will be great experience, I'm sure!