Textbook vs. Authentic Materials - Unit 2

In my opinion, coursebooks are extremely helpful and useful in a classroom, whether ESL or other. The sheer number of textbooks available is clear evidence that they have a place. (“Should we use textbooks in the ESL classroom?” 2016). Coursebooks give good direction to teachers to keep in line with how the course should be proceeding. The website Teacher Vision says, “textbooks provide organized units of work” (“Textbooks: Advantages and Disadvantages”, 2007). This advantage definitely helps teachers plan out their course material and know what should be covered. It gives them a good idea of what topics/skills should be being covered as well as important key terms and ideas that should accompany their student’s learning. As a student in this course, I find that the textbook reiterates what is being expressed to me through other resources. This helps me in comprehending information and hearing it again in a different way, reminding me of what I had already heard and therefore allowing the information to stick clearer in my head. There are some courses that require you to get a coursebook but then never use it, I rarely take my own time to page through it and instead get frustrated with the teacher for wasting my money. There are other courses that the teacher basically reads through the textbook in class. This is not helpful either and I find myself wondering why I paid for a course when I could have just read the textbook.

All this being said, I think it is important to use a coursebook in the classroom. It may not be wise to stick so closely to the book that students are not allowed to engage with the knowledge being presented to them. However, using the coursebook as a guide, it can lead students into further understanding. It can allow them to take the material home and go over similar information that was presented in class.

As teachers, we should be well aware of our contexts. Some students delight in using coursebooks while others despair at the thought. Some coursebooks are extremely helpful and have good ideas, resources, activities, information etc. while others are dreadfully boring and lose students quickly.

I think it is a good idea to integrate authentic material into your classroom whether you are working with a specific coursebook or not. Authentic material can highlight and further advance student’s knowledge that might be already presented in a coursebook but is brought to life in other ways. Being aware of the context that we are in and how students learn best (as mentioned before) is key to knowing how to handle the coursebook with your class. Cater to the learning styles found in your classroom.

Bibliography

Harmer, J. (2007). How to teach English. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

Should we use textbooks in the ESL classroom? (2016, October 14). Retrieved February 21, 2019, from http://eslarticle.com/pub/english-language-teaching-elt/139076-Should-we-use-textbooks-in-the-ESL-classroom.html

Textbooks: Advantages and Disadvantages. (2007, January 25). Retrieved February 21, 2019, from https://www.teachervision.com/curriculum-planning/textbooks-advantages-disadvantages