English Teaching

Orlando Sanchez
September 2nd
Assignment one: Textbooks ReviewTextbook Review: English as a Second Language
High School Level

English as a Second Language by Sherry Boguchwal, Dianne Ramdeholl, Johanna Pugni, and Linda Robbian, is a textbook designed to assist high school teachers and learners in the complex task of teaching and learning English as a Second Language (ESL). Below, I will discuss the strengths andweaknesses found in this course book along with some recommendations for its usage.
Because of the credentials of the authors, ESL instructors and ESL skills consultants, the textbook effectively addresses some crucial elements that enable language learners to develop at least three communicative skills. First, the fact that the textbook offers individual, pair and group work activities significantlyincreases the opportunities for the learners to build meaning while using the target language. Second, the complexity of writing tasks progressively increases throughout the text, as a result, the students are able to practice self-assessment and take necessary actions that will contribute to a better preparation of this skill. With respect to the reading component, the textbook presents avariety of reading material that includes conversations, situations, and short stories that are often accompanied by activities where students are asked to practice reading comprehension, discussion, and performance. Other considerations that would turn English as a Second Language into an excellent vehicle for learning ESL include the following: 1) concise and pertinent grammar explanationsaccompanied by brief and easy examples, 2) authentic and engaging reading material that makes learning fun and meaningful, 3) a convenient distribution between free and controlled exercises, and 4) a good number of quizzes and tests that can be accessed by the students while promoting self-assessment.
With respect to the weak points, the textbook completely lacks listening activities which, as aconsequence, might cause learners to develop this skill at a slower pace. However, if the instructor is a native or a native-like English speaker, he or she might serve as an authentic model for teaching pronunciation patterns such as intonation or stress. In regards to the cultural content, this textbook only exposes students to the American culture. Again, this limitation might be suited by the abilityof the ESL teacher to create the environment where such connections can be made.
In conclusion, this textbook would be a good option for teaching and learning ESL. However, I would recommend to find a different course book in which the mentioned missing points were properly integrated, so that teachers and learners could spend more time using the textbook rather than adapting it.

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Textbook Evaluation Checklist
Source David R. A. Litz

Textbook Title: English as a Second Language
Publisher: Research & Education Association
Author(s): Sherry Boguchwal, Dianne Ramdeholl, Johanna Pugni,
School level: High school
Student Language Level: Beginner
Date of Publication: 2000

A/ Practical Considerations:
1. The price of the textbook is reasonable.
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2. The textbook is easily accessible.
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3. The textbook is a recent publication.
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4. . A teacher's guide, workbook, and audio-CDs accompany the textbook.
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B/ Layout and Design:
5. The...