Using coursebooks

CHAPTER 11

Using coursebooks

Options for coursebook

use
Course books are very important teaching tool

that supports teacher to clarify and simplify

material and provide needed assistance.
They are organized and carefully planned and
provide the students assistance.
The sequential presentation of information in an
orderly manner, allows the teacher to present
didactic and extra material in a balanced and
sequential way and also provides a sequence of
teaching procedures, that tells what and when to
do it.

Options for coursebook

use
On the other hand, it is necessary to provide

teachers strategies and extra activities, so

that everything is carefully planned for the
students in this important process. As a result,
we will obtain teachers with a complete and
comprehensive program.

Options for coursebook

use
There are four alternatives to take in consideration,

if we do not agree with a course book:

Firstly, there is no problem if we omit lessons, teachers
are evaluating all the time.
Secondly, provide our own material, should be better than
exercises from course book and also could be more
interesting than exercises provided by mention course
book.
Thirdly, teachers could add activities and exercises, in
order to have enthusiastic and interested activities, using
and revising grammar and vocabulary according the topic
they are working on.

Options for coursebook

use
The last alternative is for teacher to adapt

what is on the course book, rewriting, redoing,

reordering, replacing, reducing, etc. so
students and teacher can feel more
comfortable using the course book in
adequate way.

Adding, adapting and

replacing
Course books are probably the teachers and

the students most valuable resource as they

work together through the school curriculum.
Course books are normally quite well
organized and help us to progress step by
step through everything the curriculum wants
us to work on.

Adding, adapting and

replacing
TO USE THE COURSEBOOKS MORE
CREATIVELY
ADAPTING
ADDING
REPLACING

Add some
activities
that are
not in the
course
book.

Adjust the
extra
activities
to be
suitable for
your lesson
and for

To use
variety of
activities,
to the
lesson
class .

Adding, adapting and

replacing
Teacher will be able to address your students

needs in a more accurate, targeted way by

having greater control over what materials
you use with them and what activities you
provide for them in your lessons for achieving
a better developing in learning process.

Reason for (and against) coursebook

use
SOME ADVANTAGES

GOOD course books present:

Well-structured syllabus
Interesting content
Consistent grammar
Appropriate vocabulary and use of language
Excellent reading and listening material

Reason for (and against) coursebook

use
Because of the lack of time for teacher to

plan, that takes the course book as an ideal

option to prepare each class. Besides, there
we can find teachers guide which is an
excellent monitor for every lesson plan.
Students feel comfortable with course books,

they can see through the contents and be

ready to the next topic.

Reason for (and against) coursebook

use
ON THE OTHER HAND
There is the risk that the course book

becomes the ONLY material to work with.

Both, students and teacher will feel locked in
the book suggestions
Each class might develop a course book
centered approach causing lack of creativity.

Reason for (and against) coursebook

use
ASPECTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
The best thing teachers and students should do

is taking the course book as a proposal for action

without rejecting ideas from other sources.
The course book might work as a primary source
accompanied by multiply fonts of information.
The teacher is who decides how and when the
material is used and of course it must be
employed according to the students progress.

Choosing coursebooks
Teachers have to make competent choice

what books to employ. To carry out it teacher

should determine the pertinent course book
analyzing the books under consideration
through checklist of questions
Besides, Teacher asks the learners point of
view to take into account students needs and
discuss with colleagues which benefit teacher
come to a final decision.

Choosing coursebooks
There are possible areas for consideration

which are fundamental to take a precise

decision such as: Price and availability, Addons and extras, Layout and design,
Instructions, Methodology, Syllabus, Language
skills, Topics, Cultural appropriacy, Teachers
guide

Choosing coursebooks
So when choosing books, these factors should

be taken into consideration:

Analyze it. Check areas like the list in the
further chart.
Pilot it. Use it in one or two classes and see
the results.
Consult other teachers.
Consider opinion from students.

Choosing coursebooks
POSSIBLE AREAS POSSIBLE QUESTIONS FOR COURSEBOOK ANALYSIS
FOR
CONSIDERATION
Price and
Consider the students acquisition power
availability
Add-ons and extras Check amount if extra resources in comparison with
other books
Layout and design See the structure design and if it is easy to manage
Instructions
Check if language instructions and how independent
could be its use.
Methodology
Test the relation between study and activation. Analyze
the steps from learning to production
Syllabus
Compare the objectives and learning goals with class
levels
Language skills
Take a look of how the book covers each language skills
Topics
Take in consideration attractive issues for your students
considering age and social context.
Cultural
Customs, ethnicities, economic context should be taken

Conclusions
In this chapter we have considered an important issue

because it is decisive for the teaching-learning process to

choose an appropriate course book .
Initially, we have analyzed several options for adding,
adapting and replacing and how important is the teachers
creativeness in selecting these options apart from not to
depend on merely the book content but assessing with
extra resources for reinforcing lessons.
It is very important to realize that a textbook is an aid, not
a sacred text. Teachers should work out the best ways to
use their books but they should never let the book use
them. Course books must be at the service of teacher and
learners, not their masters.

Conclusions
Quite often teachers complain about course books that

need supplementing. The truth is: all course books need

supplementing. The point is just to decide how much
and what kind of supplementing a course book requires,
always according to the needs and characteristics of a
particular learner or a group of learners.
After that we have consider a range of elements before
choosing an appropriate course book.
With these guidelines, we as teachers will get the best
of our selected book and students will be comfortable
when working with an appropriate material on their
hands.