Job Discussion Forums

[davidmsgi]

Thanks to everyone for your recommendations on ESL teaching material.

Now that I've had a chance to examine Market Leader course material, I have reached the conclusion that Market Leader is actually too focused on Business to fully serve my needs. Although my students are/will be predominantly college students, adults, and business people, and my classes will include classes at companies, I believe many of my students will need more 'general' English language instruction and development, as opposed to a focus on topics that relate to the workplace. And I want to be able to work with lower-level students at my company accounts - to broaden my possibilities for work.

Business English is probably beyond the capabilities of many lower-level students of English, as near as I can tell after review of Market Leader.
Even Market Leader Elementary has a heavy focus on workplace and business-related topics and instruction, as opposed to 'general' ESL.

So if we use the standard "level 1-10" as the benchmark, as used in the chain-school environment where I recently have been operating, I need to be able to effectively assist students who are levels 1-5. Even though they are taking classes with the support of their companies, and the companies are willing to pay for the classes, these students aren't seeking business-focused instruction at lower levels - they need general and fundamental English instruction to get them from levels 1-5 before they can advance to higher levels with topics focused on the workplace.

Market Leader looks great for 'Business English' and I will use it as such.

What are the best options for adult lower-level students who need the fundamentals and basics before advancing to more specialized instruction?

Thanks for your input and assistance.

[Sashadroogie]

Cutting Edge, Inside Out, English File. They all have their champions and detractors. But one thing is fairly clear to me: any of the above is better than solely depending on a Business English book. Something like Market Leader Pre-Int is best used after a class has completed a Pre-Int General course.

In fact, it seems to me, that such Business books are designed that way, i.e. as follow-ups to a General course - hence the near absence of grammar presentation and the assumed knowledge of a high proportion of lexis.

[Enchilada Potosina]

Inside Out is the only one I can personally tolerate. I find Cutting Edge and English File to be aimed more at teenagers - which in actual fact is about the mental age of most adult students here. No offence but I used an even more kiddish book (English in Mind) in a *top* company and no one even noticed it wasn't 'business' orientated.

[BadBeagleBad]

[Gregory.]

I would highly recommend Top Notch. Its a new edition and offers teachers a huge amount of flexibility through hundreds of extra activities.

Its interesting for adults and you could decide to start with Fundamentals - true beginners or TN1 for false beginners.

Modern, flexible and interesting!

[Isla Guapa]

[Enchilada Potosina]

Top Notch - most unusable book in my opinion, especially if you're in a non-English speaking country. Maybe it works in multi-lingual classes where the material is almost relevant. My trainee teachers had to use it. They hated it though it did force them to come up with their own material as that of the book is so lacklustre.

[Phil_K]

I have to disagree with the claim that ML Elementary can't be used for absolute general beginners. Effectively, it begins with much the same as general books - introductions, descriptions with adjectives, etc. I know it doesn't expand the grammar much, but surely that is where you actually TEACH, and provide additional material for practice.

[Sashadroogie]

Going up the levels with Market Leader will mean so many extra materials it defeats the purpose of having a course book. These books are not really designed as an alternative to a General course - they are an add-on.

[Gregory.]

Isla - I have just changed the books in my school from Interchange to Top notch second edition.

The second edition is much much better than the first editions.

Isla have you seen the new series?

[New Haven]

I will be teaching college-age students at the pre-intermediate and intermediate levels using a combination of general ESL texts and Business Life. I have used BL intermediate in the past and found it very accessible and useful.

Sharon