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ESL Textbook Components and Evaluation

A typical ESL student textbook contains several major components including an introduction, scope and sequence, units, tape scripts, answer keys, grammar appendices, and an index. While components may vary, publishers include these standard elements because teachers and students find them helpful for designing effective and appropriate curriculum. When evaluating instructional materials, considerations include whether the content is up-to-date, relevant, and sensitive to student diversity, and whether formatting and visuals are clear and appropriate for the intended learners. Effective textbooks also integrate key language skills, incorporate life skills, and use a variety of teaching strategies and methods matched to the course outline and student learning styles.

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Ricardo Ribeiro
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257 views2 pages

ESL Textbook Components and Evaluation

A typical ESL student textbook contains several major components including an introduction, scope and sequence, units, tape scripts, answer keys, grammar appendices, and an index. While components may vary, publishers include these standard elements because teachers and students find them helpful for designing effective and appropriate curriculum. When evaluating instructional materials, considerations include whether the content is up-to-date, relevant, and sensitive to student diversity, and whether formatting and visuals are clear and appropriate for the intended learners. Effective textbooks also integrate key language skills, incorporate life skills, and use a variety of teaching strategies and methods matched to the course outline and student learning styles.

Uploaded by

Ricardo Ribeiro
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

A typical ESL student book may contain these major components.

o Introduction -- notes to the teacher and/or learner o Scope and sequence -- a table of contents listing the topics, vocabulary, skills, outcomes and standards covered in each unit o Units -- each unit may include a presentation of new language (vocabulary, content, structures), practice activities, application activities, and an evaluation or end of unit performance assessment o Tape scripts o Answer keys o Grammar appendices o Index While the components listed above are found in most core textbook series, there are certainly books with additional components and features. The above components are usually included by publishers because textbook consumers (teachers and students) find them helpful in designing effective, level appropriate curriculum and course design.

Sample Measures for Instructional Materials:


1. They are up to date (e.g. published within the past 10 years). 2. They contain relevant content. 3. They take into account the linguistic and cultural diversity of the student population. 4. The layout and formatting (including font size) is appropriate for the students. 5. Visuals and graphics are clear, appropriate for adults and culturally sensitive. 6. Voice and sound in audiovisual materials are clear, authentic, and appropriate. 7. The materials address a variety of learning styles. 8. The materials are conducive to being used with a variety of grouping strategies. 9. The materials contain exercises in which learners share previous experience with prior knowledge of the content.

The following model standards, current teaching strategies and methods are used to rate textbook effectiveness:
Integrates four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing Incorporates life skills included in course outline. Receptive skills before productive (listen/read before speak/write) Integrates different learning styles: aural, oral, visual, kinesthetic Incorporates and varies different methodologies and techniques:
Natural Approach, Communicative Competence, TPR, meaningful interchanges, conversations, drill, role play, information gap, problem solving, jazz chants, interview etc.

Grouping strategies: individual, pair, group and team work Incorporates higher level thinking skills and problem solving Sufficient student practice Grammar: taught in context; spiraling activities Interactive/communicative approaches Vocabulary: target vocabulary in lesson, recycled in lesson Reading: pre-read, read, post-read activities; theme recycled Writing activities integrated in text Assessments and self evaluations at end of unit; final tests Design and Format: illustrations, type size, color/black white layout Pace appropriate to level Promotes cross-cultural awareness

Source: Los Angeles Unified School District Textbook Evaluation (2002)

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