Job Discussion Forums

[Teacher in Rome]

Do you mostly use ELT textbooks, or do you develop all the materials yourselves?

I end up writing a lot of material for courses - especially at advanced levels - and I was wondering if people had similar experiences. I'm also getting to the point where I feel a little worn out and jaded - any tips on keeping materials development fresh and exciting?

Thanks in advance for comments / advice.

[Glenski]

You will have to qualify WHERE someone teachers first.

In my old eikaiwa, we had 2 textbook series (Spectrum and New Interchange). Teachers were supposed to follow them and create supplemental materials as needed.

In private lessons, I never ask students to buy a book. I make my own materials. Other teachers sometimes use a text.

In HS and JHS, it depends on the class. Sometimes there is no text (like in my speech-making class or my English projects class). Sometimes there is (but often requires making supplemental materials, even if it is a grammar-based text approved by the Ministry).

For any advanced level students, textbooks will be hard to find, and they will have to be focused on a certain aspect, like writing, or learning idioms, or debate.

[ls650]

[denise]

Both.

Our classes are all skills-based (reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, TOEFL), and there are five levels. We are free to choose our own texts and/or to make our own materials. I will not be using a textbook for two of my classes next term--a writing class in which the students will spend most of the course working on their own papers and a speaking class in which they will be preparing speeches & doing impromptu speaking. I haven't yet seen books that I like enough to follow for an entire term--I just photocopy as needed and make the rest of the materials myself.

Even when I do use a book, I still find myself preparing hand-outs and activities. I know that eventually I will get to recycle them (assuming that I will teach the same course again), so I don't mind putting the time in.

d

[willy]

never been happy with books i make my one and dowenload lots of lissining
look here for a start http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/K_12/English_Language_Arts/
its better than efl/esl stuff

[FGT]

But I bet the books can spell!


Seriously though, I'm sure we all supplement the course books (assuming we have them) to a variable extent depending on time available (our own and the set exam times etc), the students, the type of class, the other materials available etc etc.
I'm reluctant to dismiss a (modern/widely accepted) coursebook and think that I can do better on the grounds of a few years' experience in the classroom. The coursebooks get published for a reason. I can often adapt a coursebook to a particular class - skip/expand an exercise, give extra gist questions prior to intensive reading/listening etc but I wouldn't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.

[Sianage]

Hi there

I know exactly what you mean about materials design - it's fun but it can take forever. I'm doing an MEd (ELT) at the mo, just done a unit on materials design and it basically echos what I thought: just supplement where you need to, and try to create reusable materials and put them in some kind of bank. What's your teaching situation? Can you share resources with other teachers? What levels? If they are Upper Intermediate plus, I can recommend an activity that entails students finding their own texts and answering a set of generic questions on it.

Hope this is helpful - let me know if you have more specific questions.

Sianage

[Teacher in Rome]

Many thanks for all your comments.

I like the idea of having students find a text, but I think my students might revolt at the thought! The class I write material for are studying online, so I have to prepare material to deadlines. However, I do try to find texts that relate to their individual areas of work, then send them to the students for their comments - as they all work for the same company, I assume they will all benefit.

The problem I have is finding suitable material week in, week out, and I was wondering if there was anyone out there in a similar situation. Luckily, the students I have are more than happy to talk, and it's not difficult to find group work activities that practise target language and vocabulary. Maybe it's only the relentlessness of it all that's hard.

[naturegirl321]

Use the book as a guide then supplement as needed.

[dmb]

A coursebook is a guide not a bible

[Teacher in Rome]

There is no coursebook! Nothing to use as a guide, except for the students' needs and aspirations.

[arioch36]

Usually, if the english level of the class is low, or their confidence level is low, I will use the book more. Once the english level/confidence level is higher, I use the book less ...for oral english.

I could work 100 hours a week, and still not teach a perfect class with perfect materials. I could teach a perfect class, and that would have little difference in impact then if I taught a pretty good class. My job is not too create a perfect learning environment. I will try to put in a good work week, but I also want time for a life outside the classroom. That is the same advice I would give to my students. If you work so hard on materials that you are too burned out to teach with patience, what good is it.

I also think the law of diminishing returns kick in. You may be proud for making lots of perfect teaching materials, but how much does it really impact the learning curve.

If you have no life outside the classroom, you are spending too much time on lesson prep

[willy]

YA arioch36 has hit the nail om the headright now i am teaching 28hrs+35hrs in the officeso my kids classes lose out, but in a short time they and all the teachers abd students who fallow will be better off as will my $$$. thats life when you are the only whit face andf have 28 classes who all want me., funny thing no one wants to work here, its the best working i have ever had.

well at worst i will have all in need to teach bennger thru adv. may i can sell it....

[Clancy]

Try assigning them fun homework. Free choice reading, English TV or movies. Then have them discuss their choice in class.

They must be interested or they will not participate. It is called motivation.