Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Wildman]

Just wondered if anyone has any recommendations for text books for children aged between about 7-13, with an elementary knowledge of English?

I've arrived at the school here and am due to start teaching next week - but there is no curriculum in place and I'm not sure where to start.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Cheers!

[tomato]

Hello, Wildman!

A teacher without a textbook is like a fish without a bicycle.
If I had my way, I would prefer centering the class around colorful picture books which have simple and repetitive text. Such picture books are adaptable for different tenses and different persons.

For instance, the text for the book I See Colors goes "I see red, I see blue . . ." You can adapt that to "He sees red, he sees blue . . ." You can also substitute names of individual students. You can also change the text to "I saw red, I saw blue . . ."

There are several books which I have ordered from Amazon, but you can get many of these books in English bookstores here in Korea. For further information, go to:

http://eslideas.hypermart.net/picturebooks.html

[oneiros]

Everyone's got their own personal favourite. I think Let's Go is not bad, if you can get your school to spring for the extras that go with it.


Stay away from New Parade, unless you're keen on honing your student's cutting and pasting skills, rather than teaching them English.

[jazblanc77]

Books to avoid:

Basically anything by Longman Press including Go Go Loves English (which I have redubbed "Babo Loves English") and New Parade

Books to seek out:

Magic Time and English Time (they are basically what Oxford University Press released to improve upon the Let's Go series... the best out there IMHO)

Let's Go English (pretty good but has some pretty major problems in terms of the organisation in the presentation of the content... still a very good series that should be used alongside the English Time series).

For both of these series, it is a good idea to get the teacher's books (the have tests in there and extra activities), as well as the Let's Go Picture DIctionary, and the Let's Go Test Book (which may be out of print but very worthwhile if you can find it). Don't forget to get the Let's Go cue cards as well. It would be a good idea to get all of these extra aids to use with either English Time or Let's Go.

[Wildman]

Thanks very much for all your help, it's sorted out a few things and forced the director to sit up at listen. I'm off down the bookstore with her wallet as we speak!

[riverboy]

Those books stated previously are all on my list. High five is pretty good as well, It has a nice narative to it but, can be a bit confusing.

[margaret]

We used and liked Let's Go also. Keep us posted on what your boss ends up springing for and how you like it.
Margaret

[riverboy]

Up and Away in English is okay as well.

[ulsanchris]

used to think let's GO was the best until I discovered English Time.

For students about 13 years or older I would suggest a different series. Something more mature. Perhaps Open House. I have only glanced through this book but it seems ok.