Bài giảng Phương pháp giảng dạy Tiếng Anh - Chapter 11: How to use textbooks

Chapter 11
How to use textbooks
Harmer, J.(1998). How to 
teach English. Longman
I. Different options for textbook use
 To omit the lesson
 To replace the textbook lesson with one of the 
teacher’s own
 To add to what is in the textbook
 To adapt what is in the textbook (using the 
material but doing it in the teacher’s own style 
 Using textbooks creatively: one of the 
premier teaching skills
II. Reasons for using textbooks
Disadvantages of textbooks
 Boring & inappropriate lessons
 Lack of variety
 Collection of materials
 Advantages of textbooks
 Clarity, solid progression & attractiveness
 Consistent syllabus
 Well-chosen vocabulary
 Listening & reading materials including 
workbooks (helpful in case the teacher runs 
out of ideas) 
III. How to choose textbooks
4-stage procedure
 Analysis
 Piloting
 Consultation
 Gathering opinions
1. Analysis
 Looking through all of the books on offer
 Analyzing each book by answering questions 
on: prices, availability, layout & design, 
methodology, skills, syllabus, topic, 
stereotyping & teacher’s guide (page 118) 
2. Piloting
 The best way to find a book’s strengths & 
weaknesses
 Trying it out in a class or different groups of the 
same level in order to see which lesson works 
well and which one doesn’t
3. Consultation
 Trying to find out if colleagues have used 
it before and how well they got on with it 
 This discussion is helpful.
4. Gathering opinions
By getting opinions on the book from anyone, 
e.g.
 The publisher
 Bookshop owners
 Colleagues
 Friends
 Students