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Jessb52 · Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 16

Hi,

What TEFL books do you recommend?

I've been looking on Amazon etc for TEFL books and as naive as this may sound, I didn't realise there would be so many!

Ideally, I'd like maybe a couple of books - perhaps a general all rounder, and then maybe something more in depth on grammar or specific lesson plans.

Also, if the books were available as PDF or if they weren't too heavy would be advantageous for obvious reasons.

I'm sure there will be another post on this site with the same topic, but I couldn't find it using the search facility, so my apologies on that.

My thanks in advance,

Jess Laughing

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

Too general a question for me. I think you need to pinpoint just what sort of TEFL you mean...

...as well as what age group.

Also, are these books you seek to be used in the classroom or just for your own general reference?

chinaamber · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Guiyang

From your post I think you want books on how the teach. If that is correct the following are ones I used in my CELTA and YL extension:

How to Teach English or The Practice of English Language Teaching; Jeremy Harmer
Learning Teaching; Jim Scrivener

For young learners;

Teaching Languages to You Learners' Lynne Cameron
Young Learners; Sarah Phillips

You are right, there are a ton of books. I also like work by Penny Ur, she is quite practical so is good once teaching for real.

I'm sure others will have their own ideas especially if you are after something more specific.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Jessb52 · Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 16

Hi,

Sorry for late reply - but really helpful replies and some pm stuff.

Definitely going to go for the Swan book on grammar and then i'll look into more on the other suggestions.

Glenski, sorry if it was vague, like I said in the op - I didn't realise there would be so much so thanks for putting the different 'themes' or 'strands', this will certainly help me when I'm looking.

Thanks again,

Jess

fdmi · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 13

I found 700 classroom activities very helpful when I was just starting to teach. It has a few ideas for stimulating creative lessons when you're stuck. Use it as a starting point for interesting lessons.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/700-Classroom-Activities-D-Seymour/dp/1405080019

For grammar you can learn most of what you need to know from the back of Cutting Edge Wink

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I dont think you can beat buying some student textbooks and the accompanying teachers books. This gives you usable material, and more importantly, shows you how to teach and present it, with handy notes to point out tricky language points and grammar issues.

Taking this approach allows you to see the grammar in use, and how it can be presented in a classroom. It allows you to learn the grammar or TL from the viewpoint of the students and this makes it really accessible and highly relevent.

It is for this reason that I wouldnt recommend Swan, which in my humble opinion, is the worst TEFL book I have ever bought! I would personally avoid reference books totally, and I sold my copy of Swan not long after I bought it.

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject:

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

@ Agoodstory - I like Face2Face. I have 4 levels of student books and I find it helps me for the reasons mentioned above.

@ islaguapa - I should say I post as a new teacher really. I dont work in the right environments to have developed skills that match my experience in terms of years worked. Coursebooks are something I need and can learn from. I was pretty put off by Swan on my Trinity course....at the point of being issued the language awareness module, I and my peers all reached for Swan, but found it wasnt clear enough to help any of us answer the tasks we had been assigned. If a grammar reference book doesnt offer enough in the way of clear explanation and examples to help a group of trainee teachers, Its never going to score highly for my needs.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject:

Nickpellatt, obviously, we are coming to this discussion from different TEFL directions. By the time I'd bought my copy of Swan, I knew a great deal about English grammar, partly because I began my professional life as a Spanish teacher, which involved learning a lot about English as well as Spanish grammar. I've found it an indispensable addition to my professional library. I don't know what reaction I'd have had to Swan if I�d come to it as a novice teacher or teacher trainee without the benefit of extensive training in foreign language pedagogy.

Jessb52 · Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 16

I generally like the idea of having a reference book, even it's not something i'd use all the time, I like the peace of mind that comes with it so I think i'll definitely be getting Swan.

@Nick...great idea of using the student and teacher text books, not thought of that before. Will look for face2face.

Thanks again everybody,

Jess

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Jess - find a well stocked bookstore if possible, and browse your selections before you buy them. Face2Face suits me, Swan didnt....but looking at the books (if possible) is the way to go.

Jessb52 · Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 16

will do Nick - if I can find one - thanks.

Dragonlady · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 1:50 am Post subject: