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davidmsgi
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Mexico City
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 Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject: New Headway Coursebooks - Feedback? |
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I have been researching and examining the New Headway series of coursebooks as the potential 'foundation' for my ESL private and company classes.
I like the combination of student and teacher textbooks, workbooks, test books, and CDs. They seem as though they might be a good foundation for my ESL classes targeting students who range from middle school, high school, and college students, to adults, employees, and business executives who I teach at companies.
Has anyone evaluated or used this material?
Thanks! |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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It's one of the more tolerable coursebook series. A good book for supplementing.
I think if you find one that you like, that you believe in, this will reflect in the way you teach it and the students will in turn believe they are learning something from it. For example, if I have to give a course using the horrific Top Notch series, my hatred of the book will affect they way I teach whereas if I'm using a more tolerable book then the course will be better for all concerned. |
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davidmsgi
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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That's some valuable feedback, I agree.
I've been examining and comparing different coursebooks, and New Headway is one that I like a lot, so I will be able to more easily convey my enthusiasm to students as I introduce their textbooks, workbooks, CDs and related material. New Headway also has some good teacher's books and tests to go along with each level.
It sounds as though most independent teachers are 'mixing and matching' a combination of their favorite resources, which I think is the best approach to take. |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, EP,
Would consider re-sizing your avatar? The width of the photo leaves very little room for text on my screen.
Thanks,
AGS |
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FreddyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 180
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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You can resize images here.
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/
I've no real experience with any of these coursebooks. A friend gave me a set of materials for Top Notch and Inside Out (including workbooks, cds, even dvds). Right now I have a class of secondary students who are doing a short term summer course at the beginning level. I have them for 5 hours a day, and so far have been using a mix of online content (shertonengilsh.com), a grammar book I've used in primary school, with accompanying CDROM software activities, Cambridge young learners exams, stuff I make up off the top of my head, and youtube videos (annoying orange and mr. bean). It's being an interesting experience so far. |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I have them for 5 hours a day, |
Eeeek! And you've survived long enough to refer to it as "an interesting experience!" It's hard for me to imagine maintaining interest for 5 hours. Do you move the class, go out at all? Any tips? |
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FreddyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 180
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| AGoodStory wrote: |
Eeeek! And you've survived long enough to refer to it as "an interesting experience!" It's hard for me to imagine maintaining interest for 5 hours. Do you move the class, go out at all? Any tips? |
Hahah! I've only had them for two weeks so far, and it's only three times a week. But yeah, previous experience with young teenagers in the classroom has not been very positive, but these kids are pretty well behaved. Some of them are starting with zero English abilities however, so it's been a little rough with this "crash" course. They do get 2 short recesses and I only have 4 more classes with them before it's over. Surprisingly, the 5 hours have gone by fast each time, I haven't been able to finish a planned day's lesson so far. We do all the heavy lifting, grammar, in the morning, and loosen up towards the end with videos and more interactive activities, so they all go home happy.
Tips? I use no handouts (I detest worksheets), and all my "teaching" is done with a projector and computer. Grammar explanations are typed out, using fancy graphics and color, using as many visuals as possible, they copy to their notebooks. Some written activities are done together as a group...again using the projector. Software is used to make exercises for reinforcement more interesting and interactive (again done as a class). We do the Cambridge exams together also, to get exposure to more vocabulary and to practice reading, listening, speaking, pronunciation. And finally I use the videos to laugh a little and pick out more examples of what we've covered in that day's class. That pretty much fills up 5 hours. |
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