HOW NECESSARY IS A COURSEBOOK?

 Based on Penny Ur. "A Course in Language Teaching".

HOW NECESSARY IS A COURSEBOOK?

That’s the question that Penny Ur asks in her book “A course in Language Teaching”. Actually, is an excellent question, considering that the most of our schools use coursebooks, and, furthermore, our Ministry of Education distribute coursebooks to every school supported by the Goverment.

But, again, how necessary are they? Can we, teachers of English, live without them?

Few sessions ago, we checked this testimony:

“Maria:.They  made  us  read  the  national  syllabus  in my  teacher-training  course,  but  I haven't  looked  at  it  since.  What  for?  ln my  [state]  school  we use  a  class coursebook  which  lays  out  all  the  language  I have  to  teach,  as  well  as  giving  me texts,  exercises  and  ideas  for  activities.  I  assume  the Ministrv  would  not  have authorized  the  book  if  it  didn't  accord  with  the  syllabus,  so  there's  no  reason  for me  to double-check  if  l'm  teaching  the  right  things”. (Penny Ur. A Course in Language Teaching, p.180.)

I, personally, have no doubt that the material given by the Ministry is good material. I have checked some books, and found that they are just  unfairly branded as tools that cannot be used. I found there are many activities that are very useful. Actually, whole books are very useful! What really called my attention was that, although these books are plenty of material to develope the four skills of language, teachers are just using the activities that have to do with grammar, writing and reading.

So, its very easy to blame a book, or the Ministry of having not communicative achievments, but, if teachers followed the instructions or, at least, implemented oral activities as writen, I’m sure the results would be far different from now. You just need to take a look of the Syllabus of the Ministry to realize that leaders have great ideas, but the ones that carry them out, are doing just half of their work.

http://www.curriculum-mineduc.cl/curriculum/

But, getting back to the first question. How necessary is a coursebook?

Penny Ur sets out some benefits of using a course book, such as:

1.A course provides a clear framework that gives a sense of structure and progress.

2.In many  places  the  coursebook  serves  as  a  syllabus.

3. It provides ready-made  texts and  tasks what saves  time  for  the  teacher.

4. A book  is  the  cheapest  way  of providing  learning  material  for  each  learner.

5. It  is  of a  shape that  is  easily  packed  and  stacked;  it  does  not  depend  for  its  use  on hardware  or  a supply  of electricity.

6. The  coursebook  can  provide  useful  guidance  and  support.

7. The  learner  can  use  the  coursebook  to  learn  new material,  review  and  monitor progress  with  some  degree  of  autonomy.

Of course I agree with all those benefits! If we followed each of those points, teaching  would be something much more easier than now!

But again, how necessary is a coursebook?  A coursebook is NOT neccesary to teach. It’s an excellent tool that we have to check, then double check, and then go straight to our syllabus to work on the activities and the contents that we are going to give to our students.

If we are good teachers, we can create our own framework and syllabus, according, of course, to the plan of the institution we are working for. The activities in a book can be developed, but also can be modifed according to the needs of our students. We also can pick up activities from other books, from the internet, from a class we remember, etc. We are free and capable of creating our own activities that will supply the needs, considering that books are not made for every context. And remember, each student has a different context.

A book given by the goverment is, of course, the cheapest material. They are free! No discussion at this point. But a good teacher make up a wonderful class without a penny.

The only idea that I cannot refute is that a coursebook gives the student autonomy. And, when someone wants to make progress, it’s a wonderful idea that this person had his own material, and take a step forward by his/her own.

So, How necessary is a coursebook? It isn’t neccesary, but is an excellent tool.

Here you can find a very complete set of advices to adapt your coursebook much better to your class: http://prezi.com/obwlifsldwlh/adapting-your-coursebook/ by Tim Dalby.