Books and other fun things!

Books & Fun things...

I thought it might be useful/interesting to keep a record of the books I've read in my time as a teacher - things which have been useful, that kind of thing, as well as duff stuff (as a warning). Click on the link or scroll down the page.

Basics - Useful books for starting out, or reviewing what you know.
In Detail - handy references and further ideas
Collections - some of the collections with some great books in.
Over-Rated - Only here as a warning.
A Crystal Ball! - Just for Fun What's in store for you?

Teaching Books - Basics

The Practice of English Language Teaching - Jeremy Harmer

Ok, it's not original, but then it is a good basic intro - vital if you're on either of the Certificate courses, handy to remind yourself of the basics if you're about to do one of the Diploma courses or higher. It's not without its weaknesses, of course, in particular it's dull, but then what book about ELT is "exciting"? A good ground coverer, but if you're working and fairly confident in your background knowledge then don't bother. There are other simialr books on the market, but this is by far the widest reaching of them all - although Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener comes a close second. There's also a Penny Ur one, but the title escapes me.

About Language - Scott Thornbury

If you haven't really thought about the language aspect of language teaching (i.e. you have relied on the trite Headway syllabus to help you), are about to embark on a further teachiong qualification (I have been reliably informed that this more than covers the entire language analysis section of the Cambridge DELTA), or just need to brush up, this is great. Work through as it suggests, or just read it, it's a very comprehensive overview of the main language systems (structure, lexis, phonology etc.)

Keep Talking - Friedricke Klippel

I couldn't live without this book, really. I tend to ignore for about six months, then come back and rediscover it, using a couple of new activities each time. But if you've no idea about teaching, this is a goodie. My only criticism is that the indexing is a bit weird.

Grammar Practice Activities - Penny Ur

When I started teaching, this was my bible! The activites are a bit hackneyed and the pictures humourously old, but they are sturdy, and can be easiyl adapted. If you've never taught grammar, then this is a great help. This is also one of the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers (see below)

Discussions That Work - Penny Ur

She strikes again - but don't panic, we're not in cahoots - she's not always great (see below). But this is a good one for getting Discussion classes to go well, with "safe" activities that won't upset anyone! Again, criticisms are the datedness, meaning a bit of legwork to update it all.

Teaching Books - In Detail

Practical English Usage - Michael Swan

Name a grammar question, any question, and this book can answer it. Once you get round the weird alphabetic/numerical indexing system, it's great. Handy to keep in the staff room for those "Teacher, what/why/how ..." moments where you can only say "I can tell you, but it's not really relevant to this lesson".

Grammar for English Language Teachers - Martin Parrott

A kind of halfway house between Swan, Thornbury and Aitken, very modern, very good. Dead handy on my DELTA course!

Sound Foundations - Adrian Underhill

Look, teaching pronunciation isn't even slightly scary with this all-encompassing introduction to phonology. Pronunciation is always the bit people tend to hate, but this is a fairly accessible bash at introducing it and some great ideas for how to teach it. Trust me.

Teaching Tenses - Rosemary Aitken

A good primer for teaching tense and aspect - probably better for newer teachers, but it gives a good overview of the whole thing with some hints about problems students have, and good ideas for teaching.

Teaching Books - Collections

Cambridge Copy Collection

Some great books here - Pronunciation Games by Mark Hancock and Discussions A-Z Intermediate & Advancedare my personal favourites.

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Some corkers (mentioned above) and some stinkers (see below). Worth a browse through their lists though. The Video and Internet books are worth a look, though.

Oxford Resource Books for Teachers

My favourite set - a bit hard to work your way through owing to their weird layout - you have to read them rather than look thourg the contents/index. But some great ideas and things, personal favourites are Film, The Internet, and Role Play which I have used many many times.

Penguin English Photocopiables

Some great books here - Grammar Games, Instant Lessons Elem-Advanved, Group Work Elem - Advanced. Invaluable, if you're loaded/a language school.

LTP Photocopiables

Some stunning books, Taboos & Issues is a favourite, but avoid th ...with Laughter books - crap jokes and the students never laugh.

Cambridge Teacher Training & Development

Less deep & complex than the OUP's Applied Linguistics series, but infinitely more accessible. About Language (above) is part of this series. OUP do a simlar series confusingly called Handbooks for Language Teachers.

Teaching Books - Over-Rated

Grammar games & More Grammar Games - Mario Rinvolucri et al.

I have a real grudge against these books - these seemingly great ideas, lots of imagination, etc. BUT have you ever tried prsuading your students that pretednig to be candle is a really interesting way to practise passive voice? (I am lit, I am blown out etc.) Come off it. There's also the fact that Mario Rinvolucri comes from the "copy, cut up and faff around for thirty minutes for an activity that lasts five minutes" school of ELT which I think sucks, as should any self respecting teacher. Yes, I know you can laminate or copy onto card, but then a bit goes mising, as you can't use the materials for at least six months, and you don't realise until the day you need it, and you have to do it all again. Bloody stupid.

Five Minute Activites - Penny Ur & Andrew Wright

Sounds great, but the ideas are old, and unoriginal. Maybe if you haven't set foot in a classroom itmight be useful, but that's afairly tenuous claim.

New Headway Elementary - Advanced - John & Liz Soars

Any EL teacher should run at the thought of yet another stake in the heart of originality and credibility in ELT as the latest "new" Headway is published (Advanced). Yet we all rush out and buy this junk, with its fleeting moments of timeless brilliance (the five radio advertisements in the old Headway Pre-Int is a cracker), but generally using swiftly dating or downright cheesy texts (here's a hip and happening band called "Style" talking about their experiences in laboured present perfect sentences. Puh-lease) and enforcing a horrible Anglo-centric cultural viewpoint (who really gives a shit about Marks and Spencer?) rather than drawing on students ideas and interests. There are infintely better books around, including Wavelength, Cutting Edge and Inside Out. Not forgetting the new series from OUP, Natural English which looks interesting too.