Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi. I'm teaching VESL to a beginning-high beginning-low intermediate mix of Spanish-speaking maintenance workers. I create my own workplace- related materials, which we use as the basis of class activities, but, since the employer is willing to spend a little, I'd like to recommend that they buy some good general ESL books for the students.

Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Spanish-English ESL textbooks for self/home study.
By Spanish-English, I mean either a) instructions and some presentation in Spanish and/or b) materials written in English but directed toward areas of interest for Spanish speakers.
Any area of ESL (grammar, pronunciation, literacy, mixed skills, etc.) is fine, but preferably not a video based course, as I imagine the employer will not want to spend that much.

2. Spanish-English ESL textbooks for class use. Again any area of ESL is helpful.

I don't speak Spanish and have never in my teaching career used anything but English-only materials. I'm happy with this approach, but I'd like to find out if there are any good Spanish-oriented ESL texts I could offer the students to supplement my materials.

Thanks for any recommendations!

Hello. I've been using the English/Spanish Oxford Picture Dictionary (from Oxford University Press) to introduce practical vocabulary words and phrases. I borrowed it from my public library, so I don't have the most current edition (I've got the 1998 ed.). It's completely bilingual (thus suitable for home study) and has great illustrations, which makes it more interesting than a standard textbook. It is definitely suitable for adults. Oxford University Press has also put out accompanying workbooks, which I have not tried. Perhaps a combination of the dictionary and a workbook would be a good thing for your students to have for home study? Might be worth checking out, if your students are interested in bulking up their English vocabulary.