Unit 8

[Eva]

1. "I think it is impossible to find the perfect book; each one has good and bad features."

I agree. In every book you can find good and bad features and it's up to teacher to take the best of the book.

2. "A good coursebook should have themes which relate to the children, lots of recycling and lots of pictures."

I agree but of courese a good coursebook should be well sequenced and have a balance between the focus on language and topics.

3. "It isn't enough to have a Students' Book, Teacher's Book and Workbook; a teacher needs other things, like flash cards and supplementary components."

I agree the more good supplementary components that the teachear and the children enjoy the better.
It helps to make lessons more attractive and not boring.

4. "My school chooses the coursebook. I don't have any say in the matter."

Unfortunately it's true as I came to this school when the coursebook was choosen and buyed and school doesn't have money now to change it. But in future I hope to choose the coursebook myself.

5. "I like coursebooks with central characters and a story."

Yes, I do as I think also children like it when they can follow the story and what happens with central characters.

6. "If the workbook has an answer key, the children just copy the answers."

I agree. It's better to correct answers together with children then let them to do it themselves with the answer key.


7. "We don't use coursebooks for very young learners at my school. I make all my own materials."

For chidren from 5 to 7 years old we use only materials we make or some books for teachers that inspires us for some activities. But children in this age don't read and write so it's not neccesary to use coursebooks with them.

[Admin]

Thanks for sending us your opinions Eva. I agree with a lot of what you say - coursebooks are often written for the global market and it's not guaranteed that the materials will be appropriate for the particular situation in which you are teaching.
See you again soon!
Pieter