Tools and Tips for Using ELT Materials: A Guide for Teachers

by Ruth Epstein, Mary Ormiston

Overview

A vibrant ESL classroom depends on good materials used in creative and resourceful ways. In Tools and Tips for Using ELT Materials, the authors provide a wealth of information on resources for English language teaching materials.

The book begins by addressing basic considerations in selecting and designing materials for classroom use. Textbooks themselves are covered in depth, which is very helpful for teachers choosing or assessing a textbook. An abundance of information is provided on how to use written texts from different genres (including teacher- and student-created texts), teacher-created resources, audio-visual aids, computers and the Internet, and how to provide community and service learning.

This resource aims to help instructors choose the most effective, appropriate, and flexible materials for their students and their programs. Teachers and teachers-in-training will find this to be a practical and comprehensive guide to integrating ELT materials and resources into a curriculum.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780472032037
Publisher:	University of Michigan Press
Publication date:	02/22/2007
Series:	Michigan Teacher Resource Series
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

About This Book     xi
Basic Considerations in Materials Design and Evaluation     1
A Materials Selection Dilemma     1
Some Challenging Questions     2
Materials, Resources, Technology, and Medium: Some Definitions     3
Authentic Materials     3
Selecting Published Materials     4
Teacher-Made Materials     5
Student-Generated Materials     5
Selecting Materials for Your Syllabus     5
Selecting Materials to Support Topics or Themes     7
Criteria for Developing and Evaluating Materials     9
Textbooks     11
A Teacher's Tale     11
Some Challenging Questions     12
Textbooks as Language Teaching Materials     13
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Textbooks in Language Teaching     13
The Uses of Textbooks in Language Teaching     14
Criteria for Textbook Selection     14
Asessing the Syllabus in a Textbook     15
Assessing Methodology in Textbooks     17
Assessing Presentation and Practice of New Language in Textbooks     18
Assessing Personalization in Textbooks     18
Assessing Grammar Coverage in Multiskills Textbooks     19
Assessing Pronunciation Coverage in Textbooks     20
Assessing Vocabulary Coverage in Textbooks     20
Coverage of the Four Skills     22
Assessing Variety in Textbooks     22
Assessing Grading in Textbooks     23
Assessing Meaningful Context     23
Considering Textbooks Series     24
Watching for -isms and Stereotyping in Textbooks     24
Watching for Language and Cultural Relevancy in Textbooks     24
Assessing Self-Directed Learning in Textbooks     25
Assessing Literacy Level in a Textbook     25
Inclusion of Supplementary Materials in Textbooks     25
Assessing Specialized Types of Textbooks     27
Adapting Textbooks     28
Examples of Textbook Adaptations     28
Copyright     34
Written Texts     35
Learning or Slacking Off?     35
Some Challenging Questions     36
Written Text as Language Teaching Material     36
Matching Text to Student     36
Knowing Your Teaching and Program Objectives     37
Students' Interests and Ages     38
Children's Literature for Adults     38
Students' Background Knowledge      39
Students' Reading Ability and English Language Proficiency Levels     40
Text Layout and Presentation     41
Linguistic Difficulty of the Text     42
Text Genre and Writing Style     42
Authentic versus Simplified Written Text     45
Selecting Books for Extensive Reading     46
Books in Students' Native Languages     47
Written Text on the Internet     47
Student-Generated Written Text     48
Teacher-Created Written Text     53
Using Written Text     54
Published Written Text     57
Newspapers     57
Other Published Materials     58
Developing Activities for Written Text     59
Copyright     59
Visual Aids: Pictures, Charts, and Realia     61
The Dual Identity of Language Teachers     61
Some Challenging Questions     62
The Importance of Visual Aids     62
Characteristics of Good Visuals     63
Types of Visual Aids and Their Uses     63
Drawings     64
Magazine Pictures     64
Sources     64
Selecting Pictures for a Picture File or Library     65
Classifying and Storing Pictures     65
Preparing Pictures     66
Activities for Using Drawings and Pictures     67
Developing Picture Activities for Teaching Meaning     67
Developing Picture Activities for Grammar and Vocabulary Practice     68
Developing Picture Activities for Practicing Descriptions     70
Developing Picture Activities for Writing     71
Developing Picture Activities for Problem-Posing     71
Picture Stories     72
Student-Found Pictures     73
Photographs     74
Flashcards     75
Preparation and Classification     75
Uses of Flashcards     75
Charts and Graphs     77
Wall Charts     77
Charts versus Board Drawings     80
Displaying Wall Charts and Pictures     80
Realia     80
Forms and Schedules     81
Post Office Items     82
Menus     82
Food and Related Items     82
Maps     83
Puppets and Toys     84
Cultural Artifacts     85
Collections of Objects     85
Rods     86
Key Visuals for Language and Content      87
Three Ideas for Developing Key Visuals     88
Developing Thinking Skills with Key Visuals     88
Thematic Webbing     89
Semantic Maps     90
Example of a Graphing Activity     91
Basic Classroom Resources     92
Learning to Teach with the Basics     92
Some Challenging Questions     93
What Are the Basic Classroom Resources?     93
The Board as Language Teaching Material     94
Advantages of the Board     94
Considerations in Board Selection and Use     95
Dividing the Board     95
Writing on the Board     96
Developing and Adapting Substitution Tables for the Board     97
Developing Simple Prompts on the Board     97
Developing and Adapting Dialogues on the Board     98
Developing and Adapting Drawings on the Board     99
Student Drawings on the Board     100
Developing Student Handwriting on the Board     100
Chart Paper as Language Teaching Material     100
Advantages of Chart Paper     100
Uses of Chart Paper     101
Other Types of Boards and Charts     101
Advantages of Other Types of Boards      101
Developing Uses for Other Types of Boards     101
Making Boards     101
Worksheets as Language Teaching Material     102
Why Develop Worksheets and Work Cards for Your Students?     103
Making Worksheets     103
Sample Worksheets     104
The Overhead Projector     121
Advantages of Using Overhead Projectors     121
General Considerations in Using Overhead Projectors     121
Activities with Overhead Projectors     123
The Power of Audiovisual     124
Audio as Language Teaching Material     124
Attributes of Audio CDs and Audiotapes     124
Types of Audio Material     125
Considerations in Selecting or Making Audio Recordings     127
Audio Listening Tasks     128
Language Labs     128
Advantages of Language Labs     128
Language Labs for Skills Development     129
Listening and Replying, and Free Speech     130
Video as Language Teaching Material     131
Attributes of Video Technology     131
Types of Recorded Video Material     131
Selecting Video Material     135
Options for Presenting Video      136
Activities with Video Material     136
Tips for Presenting Video     140
Video Recording Tips     140
Using Video Abroad     141
Copyright Restrictions Related to Audiovisual Material     142
Computers and the Internet     143
Computer Lab Blues     143
Some Challenging Questions     145
Introduction to Computers and Computer Materials     145
Advantages and Limitations of Using Computers and Computer-Based Materials     146
Call     149
CD-ROM Technology     149
Types of Call Programs     149
More on the Benefits and Drawbacks of Call Programs     153
The Teacher's Role     154
Integrating Call Material into Your Curriculum     155
Evaluating Call Materials     155
Designing Call Materials     156
The Internet     156
Online Interactive Technologies     158
E-Mail and Live Chat     158
Internet Tips     161
Tips to Get Students Started on the Internet     162
Sample Computer-Based Activities     162
Sample Online Conference Activity     163
Computer-Based and Internet-Based Testing      164
Project and Community Contact Materials     167
Tanya's Language Learning Highlights     167
Some Challenging Questions     168
Projects     168
The Benefits of Project and Community Contacts     168
Stages in Project Development     169
Evaluation Tools for Project Work     177
Materials and Equipment for Projects     178
Project Ideas     178
Adapting Projects to EFL Contexts     180
Service Learning: Another Kind of Project     180
Benefits of Service Learning     180
General Structure of a Service Learning Project     181
Examples of Service Learning     181
Resources for Service Learning     183
Small-Scale Community Contact Materials and Tasks     183
Scavenger and Information Hunts and Materials     183
The Community and School as Resources     185
Maps and Map-Related Tasks as Material for Community Contacts     187
Pictures and Realia as Material for Community Contacts     189
Radio and Television as Material for Community Contacts     190
Telephone as Material for Community Contacts     190
Guest Speakers as Resources for Community Contacts      192
Other Possibilities     192
Resources Index     192
Major Publishers and Distributors of ELT Materials     193
Choosing Software     194
Computer Applications for Language Teaching and Learning     195
References     198