unit FourteenEvaluating and AdaptingTextbooks
Unit Fourteen Evaluating and Adapting Textbooks
I. Warming-up questions:+Do you think it is necessary to havetextbooks?Think about the advantages anddisadvantages of using textbooks
Do you think it is necessary to have textbooks? I. Warming-up questions: Think about the advantages and disadvantages of using textbooks
Aduantag eschers and learners know where theyare going and what is coming next.Syllabus: if it is followed systematically, a carefully plannedand balanced selection of language content will be covered.Ready-made texts and tasks: it saves time for the teacherwho would otherwise have to prepare his or her own.Economy: a book is the cheapest way of providing learningmaterialsfor eachlearner.Convenience: a book is a convenient package.Guidance: it can provide useful guidance and support toteachers who are inexperienced or occasionally unsure oftheir knowledge of the language.Autonomy:thelearner can use it to learn new materials,review and monitor progress with some degree of autonomy
Advantages A clear framework: teachers and learners know where they are going and what is coming next. Syllabus: if it is followed systematically, a carefully planned and balanced selection of language content will be covered. Ready-made texts and tasks: it saves time for the teacher who would otherwise have to prepare his or her own. Economy: a book is the cheapest way of providing learning materials for each learner. Convenience: a book is a convenient package. Guidance: it can provide useful guidance and support to teachers who are inexperienced or occasionally unsure of their knowledge of the language. Autonomy: the learner can use it to learn new materials, review and monitor progress with some degree of autonomy
Disadvantages:Inadequacy: no one textbook can possibly supply everylearner's own learning needs.Irrelevance,lack of interest:the topics may not necessarilybe relevant or interesting for your class.Limitation: its set structure and sequence may inhibit ateacher's initiative and creativity, and lead to boredom andlack of motivation on the part of the learners.Homogeneity:it does not usually caterfor the variety oflevels of ability and knowledge, or of learning styles andstrategies that exist in most classes.（同一性）Over-easiness: teachers find it too easy to follow thetextbook uncritically instead of using their initiative
Disadvantages: Inadequacy: no one textbook can possibly supply every learner’s own learning needs. Limitation: its set structure and sequence may inhibit a teacher’s initiative and creativity, and lead to boredom and lack of motivation on the part of the learners. Irrelevance, lack of interest: the topics may not necessarily be relevant or interesting for your class. Homogeneity: it does not usually cater for the variety of levels of ability and knowledge, or of learning styles and strategies that exist in most classes. Over-easiness: teachers find it too easy to follow the textbook uncritically instead of using their initiative. ( 同一性 )
Il.EvaluatingTextbooksCriteria for evaluating textbooks:Macro-level evaluation: developing criteria that could beused with any kind of textbookMicro-level evaluation:developing criteria for a specifickind of textbook, such as a conversation textRichards'Beyond training, 2000: 137-138
II. Evaluating Textbooks Criteria for evaluating textbooks: Macro-level evaluation: developing criteria that could be used with any kind of textbook Micro-level evaluation: developing criteria for a specific kind of textbook, such as a conversation text Richards’ Beyond training, 2000: 137-138