Job Discussion Forums

RoscoeTX · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 56 Location: Moscow, Russia

I'm doing some side work for Pearson Publishing and I've come across and am using a great new grammar book called "My Grammar Lab". I feel that it eclipses Murphy in the quality and quantity of exercises, online features, and fascinating and up-to-date practice texts. I think it's an especially great book for younger generation students (under 55). It's got mobile phone downloadable exercises as well.

I was a adamant Murphy fan before coming across this book, now, I'm giving my Murphy a rest.

JN · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 214

I wouldn't say don't use English Unlimited. It does have intesting stories. It also depends on your student or students. Some may want to discuss the same topic in detail, while the 2 students I had didn't.
With any textbook I have used, I have had to supplement to make the best course possible for the student(s).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:18 pm Post subject:

amisexy · Joined: 24 May 2012 Posts: 78

English Unlimited is OK. I find it quite repetitive (Read very repetitive), as it covers the same topic for several lessons usually. It does however have some fairly interesting discussion topics, and the listening exercises have a wide range of native and non-native accents (sadly much to the bewilderment of the students sometimes!).

I like Cutting Edge. I think it has lots of interesting activities, and is of course tried and tested by teachers for many years. The teachers book is also very good and provides lots of extra interesting activities. I find the series very suitable for my general English, adult classes here in Europe.

Thanks for the pointer towards My Grammar Lab. I think I shall have a look. Smile

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

If your focus is S/L, whichever coursebook you use won't be the best there is for either you, your class, or your students. That's because they're written in complete ignorance of those 3 important criteria. Most aren't even designed for in-class use--even those boldly claiming so are clearly intended for self-study. I presume that's why many of you favour the didactic 'Face2face', a clear DIY course-in-a-book. If assigned as homework, you can spend class time consolidating S/L skills with follow-up practice activities in class (Nobody other than newbs actually uses it in class, do they?)

Due to what I consider the 'methodist approach' in ELT, I refuse to be limited to one 'best' coursebook, preferring instead to draw from a variety of resources and methods quite often outside of ELT.

In the end, the 'best' coursebook(s?) will be whatever is chosen---hopefully by a consensus between you, your students, and DoS.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject:

Cool Teacher · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:14 pm Post subject:

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

Yes, by S/L I meant speaking/listening.

nenna-978 · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:06 am Post subject:

Aim High, Oxford edition, great books for practicing speaking, reading and writing. Lots of activities for new vocabulary. Students usually enjoy doing them and are being quite satisfied when they find out they could complete exercise without any help. You should look at their faces at the end of the lesson. After all, they want to understand the thing they read about and it encourages them to speak as well. Sometimes too many similar activities but they don't mind. They even use the workbooks alone, at home Shocked

Cutting edge and Inside Out quite good books, but they hate workbooks, mostly because they find them hard for the individual work so they don't even want to try them.

Jellyfish666 · Joined: 03 Apr 2013 Posts: 15 Location: South China

I've heard tons of good stuff about Face2Face... But I never used it before.

I personally don't like to use textbooks. I like free discussions and picking topics to discuss.

But of the textbooks I've used, I kida prefer Interchange...

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

[quote="Jellyfish666"I personally don't like to use textbooks. I like free discussions and picking topics to discuss.[/quote]

What are the aims of such a course and how do you assess your students over time to ensure they're progressing?

Seems to me it's more work on your part--it certainly is for me. I'm now working at a school for 4-12 yr olds where books are only for self-study at home but it seems students either don't do this or have difficulty doing this on their own, possibly on account of their age. The drawbacks are readily apparent---reading, writing and grammatical understanding is much less developed than in schools I've worked where oral skills work reinforces book-work although, we do some written work in class. A well-designed course book is a ready-made language presentation tool and serves as a useful review/preview for weaker students.

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

For grammar the slam-dunk best books I have ever used or seen are "Grammar Express Basic" and "Grammar Express" (for intermediate to advanced students), Fuchs/Bonner, PearsonLongman. As to general texts, Cutting Edge is as good as any I have seen.

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

I like Focus on Grammar, Murphy's Grammar in Use is a particular fave of mine and, for reference, the Longman A-Z of English Grammar and Usage. For business, I'm quite a fan of the whole Pearson Longman Market Leader series of products.

Harbin · Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 161

I'm a very happy former New English File user. I still use activities, worksheets, and communicative games from NEF on a daily basis.