Job Discussion Forums

[Bule_Gila]

I was wondering if there are any Expat ESl instructors in Indonesia who are interested in creating ESL textbooks for Indonesian EFL students (something similar to Headway)? I would like to get a small group of us together so we could create a uniquely 'Indonesian' ESL textbook series, that deal with Indonesian topics (in bahasa Inggris of course lol).

As I am sure all of you know, the cost of printing and production of books in Indonesia is cheap, as is the ability to create and produce audio CD's. I think this would be a great idea that could fetch a lot of money, if done properly.

[marcusuk]

I love this idea.

Personally I'm influenced by Headway, Cutting Edge and Language to Go. I've also used the EF 'Real English' books but am less impressed by them. I think the key to a good book is to get topics the students are interested in then share them around various authors, get loads of pictures and drawings (photographers and artists welcome!) and then circulate the completed chapters for editing and style matching. Of course the styles need to be agreed upon and a model chapter needs to be designed.

It's hard work but possible. I'd certainly be interested.

[Flicka]

Count me in!!

[Flicka]

But pleease, no more EF Real English.... :-p

[wailing_imam]

The majority of ESL students worldwide wish to learn not just a language, but also a culture, or a number of cultures, which is different from their own. Therefore, a textbook dealing with Indonesian issues will probably be looked at as rather interesting for the majority of Indonesian ESL students.

However, there certainly is a need for more regional focused texts ie East Asian contexts, which would be of real interest to Koreans, Chinese and Southeast Asian students wishing to move around the region for business, leisure and study.

[geoboz]

Greetings,
Your idea is on target. I'd like to point out one possible modification based on my experience as a teacher over several years. The single concern that I have about any textbook is relevance. It seems that, by the time a book is published and finds its way into the hands of students, the topics are stale and impertinent. Because of this pervasive problem, I'd like to suggest creating a virtual book where the topics could be updated and books reaccessed with little effort from a production point of view, and where the paperless version of a textbook would be totally environmentally friendly. I've often wondered what happens to all of those old ESL books when students finish them or when newer versions replace them.
A real innovation would be to go paperless with a pay-as-you-use approach or something similar.