Job Discussion Forums

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

I use English File every morning and think it is an excellent course. It's modern, communicative, relevant and interesting. It has been well thought out by writers.

I use Headway every afternoon. I despise it. It is not well thought out, is boring and irrelevant.

Any arguments for Headway?

Any other books in the vein of English File?

tttompatz · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:40 pm Post subject:

I would like to 2nd your nomination of Headway as trash and I concur with your assessment of it being irrelevant, not well thought out and boring.

.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Third.

Can we officially retire it now>?

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

It's all a matter of perspective. If you've used English Time's own books, 'Headway' comes across as being rather good.

Personally, I don't think it's the worst book I've ever used, there's plenty of other dross out there that's just as bad.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

Skyblue2 · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 127

I like them both. New Cutting Edge is another trusty old standby.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Maybe it depends on how experienced the teacher is. I know experienced teachers who consider New English File as like painting by numbers and much prefer Headway as a well-structured framework which can be supplemented with materials as the teacher sees fit.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:06 pm Post subject:

Having never found the "perfect textbook' (or even one that comes close,) I use whatever is mandated/supplied as a "take-off" point (i.e. I use the syllabus the text mandates - although not always in the order that the text has it - and, perhaps, a little of the content. But any handouts /quizzes /tests I use are ones that I make myself.

Regards,
John

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I've actually met more than a few teachers at conferences that like Headway. Why they do is beyond me. Actually, come to think of it, I think we were actually supposed to use Headway for one of my classes last year, though since supplementary material was encouraged, I don't think I really used it at all. Laughing

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:12 am Post subject:

If English File is like painting by numbers then Headway is like being stripped, handcuffed, gagged and then painted into the corner of a deranged portrait. Surprised

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Well said. English File seems to produce students capable of expressing opinions, a solid range of vocabulary, and covers most bases.

Headway belongs to another era. Maybe it suits adult Saudi males, but doesn't work with lively Koreans, Indonesians, Thais that I spend my days with and who expect readings, listening passages and grammaticalanalysis that reflect reality rather than the stodgy, thoughtless crap in Headway. I mean, seriously, the article Clown Doctors in Headway Int is simply awful.

Yes, yes we need to supplement. But surely the less we need to do so the better. I have 150 hours to get through one coursebook and with English File this is just enough with limited supplements (the extra materials they have are quite good). 150 hours for a Headway book is way too long, I have to supplement it to oblivion.

MotherF · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:33 pm Post subject:

I used the old English File for a number of years and liked it. I've never had the oportunity to really look at the new version.

I'm not really a fan of packaged courses, but I'm currently using Touchstone 1 with a group of beginners and finding it quite good.

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject:

I quite liked the Inside Out series but I don't know if they've been updated.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I would join in with johnslat and naturegirl321 in saying that regardless of which text I use (and I have a few courses where there is no text), there are some parts of the text I skip and I always supplement. What I supplement with is some stuff that I found (and often modified to fit my particular teaching situation) and some that I made. I think it's usual, perhaps 35% course book, 65% supplemental material.

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Rather depends on the course being offered by the institution. The tests my school gives students very closely mirrors the text in terms of vocab, writing etc and so supplementary material can't veer too far off tangent as there is limited time as it is.

Other schools I have taught at have not used any textbook, instead providing a list of outcomes students are expected to have acheived before testing. It is up to the teacher to find ways to get to those outcomes. These courses are more or less built on supplements/own developed materials.

The former is easier, though restrictive. The latter is wonderfully liberating, but highly time consuming.