Product Description
10 units of work for students at Key Stages 3 and 4, offering opportunities to: * experiment creatively with language * find out more about how we use language and communicate * explore how our language contributes to our identities as individuals and members of groups and communities * investigate language change in relation to our changing society * discover the way in language can help - or hamper - what we do in the workplace and in school learning* find out about the differences between spoken and written texts * explore the language of 21st-century texts such as texts, emails and blogs.Language Works DVD Central to Language Works is the DVD, an eclectic and lively collection of clips, from 'vox pops' on accent, dialect, RP and Standard English to cookery programmes through time (Fanny Craddock to Jamie and Nigella). Extracts from The Apprentice reveal the way groups use language to get things done, while a Catherine Tate Show sketch highlights the role language plays in peer group conversation.'Mathilda Talking' traces the language acquisition of one baby over an 18-month period, while 'Texts for Tots' explores the language and grammar of picture books and the ways children begin to read. ... Read more

Product Description
The fully revised edition of this 'classic' helps teachers give their learners the tools they need to express themselves through a range of stimulating drama contexts.This completely revised edition of the classic title Drama Techniques provides:*150 ideas for interesting and productive fluency practice*a large selection of drama-based techniques which focus learners' attention on communicative tasks or activities*techniques suitable for all levels*clear instructions for the teacher*advice on how to use the techniques in the classroom ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Indispensable - particularly the introduction
The introduction (not given in "Look Inside"), provides the premises behind this resource book of communication activities, and is a must for any teacher, and not only for EFL teachers.
The approach to learning is so different from what we have all endured at school, and even though clearly presented with tangible examples, it is so rich that no review could do justice to the massive foundation stones provided.
The introduction is a tool: what to consider when creating a living classroom environment for sparking natural communication. The instructions for choosing and leading the exercises provided (use "Look Inside" to see the categories in Contents) show how to put the theory into practice in your language acquiring workshop. Competence in the use of the target language in the real world is clearly acquired, even though the language isn't directly ""taught" during these workshops.
Each and every student is emotionally and physically involved and the lively group dynamics engendered, the imaginative creating, and the obvious fun of the students make the class a joy for the teacher to witness.
It is advisable to use professional level classrooms where movement is possible, and where more than one person can speak at the same time without it becoming irritating noise. The ideal group size for any EFL workshop is 12, but I have used the approach successfully with 40, and once 80 (:o) in an appropriately sized room.
The edition used for this review dates back to 1982 but the the whole approach is still revolutionary for most teachers.
First, read the introduction again and again, try out the "A day's work" (9am to 5pm for an intensive course but which can be spread out over an extensive course), and from then on design your own mix. Quite soon, you will adapt the exercises and even design your own exercises based on this common sense approach.
Have fun :)

Drama review
this book contains plenty of drama activities which vary from mime to action role play.However, I wish there was more information about drama techniques- the theory not only the practical usage. All in all, it is useful to all the teachers planning to introduce some drama techniques to their lessons. ... Read more

Product Description
This important new book provides a critical collection of recent research on on-line communication for second language learning, including uses of electronic mail, real-time writing, and the World Wide Web. Chapters analyze the theories underlying computer assisted learning, explore the contexts that affect network-based teaching, and examine the linguistic nature of computer-mediated interaction in both textual and multimedia environments. Each chapter has been specially written for this collection by an individual who has done extensive research on the topic explored. The result is a highly readable but in-depth analysis of the way that on-line communication is reshaping language teaching. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is for teachers who are asking whether, when, and how to teach grammar. It addresses general questions of grammar in ESL theory and classroom practice. Ideas for teaching grammar creatively are suggested, including specific suggestions for most beginning-level structures.
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Product Description
This lively collection of over 100 classroom activities allows teachers to exploit the language learning potential of extensive reading.The activities were contributed by teachers who have used them successfully in classrooms all over the world, introduce extensive reading to students, and link it with the rest of the language curriculum.Here is a wealth of ideas for encouraging students to read, and for using students' reading experiences for further language practice and learning.These creative and enjoyable speaking, listening, role play, reading, writing, and vocabulary activities are suitable for students of all ages and levels.Each activity is clearly explained, together with a personal note from its author. This is a handbook for teachers of general language courses, or grammar, listening, speaking, writing, or reading courses. It is written for teachers both non-native and native speaking, and for teachers both novice and experienced. It will also be of interest to teacher-educators. ... Read more

Product Description
How does a mainstream elementary classroom teacher with little or no specialized ESL training meet the challenge of teaching linguistically diverse students? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A must for professionals working in any international setting
I recommend this book to anyone interested in receiving a multititude of practical ideas for the classroom, supported by the latest research in the field of ESL.

Better for elementary teachers
Gibbons does a good job of balancing theory and practice in this book.Although some of the practice can be applied at middle school level, the book is most useful to elemntary teachers.The 6 period day common at the secondary level does not lend itself to the integrated curriculum that Gibbons recommends. This is still a good read for ESL teachers of all levels.It is a book an elementary ESL teacher or ESL coordinator should read in order to set up a good ESL program at the elementary school level.

Short and to the point!
If you are a teacher, you know there are a lot of crappy teacher "resources" out there. This book is NOT one of them. I bought it as a requirement for a class and devoured it in a couple of days.
As other reviewers have stated, it's great because it talks about the theories behind learning a second language through content in the classroom, but it doesn't go so in-depth as to bore you to death. Gibbons also has a great balance between talking about the theories behind her work and giving teachers concrete examples and activities to try out on our own. If you follow the SIOP method (or are trying to) this book supports much of the content of the SIOP book, but in more accessible language and organization.
This book covers teaching speaking, writing, reading, and listening to ESL students, in homogeneous groups as well as in an integrated classrooms of native and non-native speakers. It also made me aware of aspects of my teaching that can either facilitate language learning or create a roadblock for ESL students.
Overall, great book!

excellent
The book I recived was brand new as stated by Amazon. I also recieved it in a timely manor.

Big help for National Board Assessment Center!
This book was recommended to me as a good resource for preparing for National Board Certification in the area of English as a New Language.I found the book to be easy to follow and informative.It provides suggested activities that are applicable to various grades at the elementary level.My students enjoyed several lessons based on suggestions from this book.

[...] ... Read more

Product Description
Exemplary teacher research has established that explicit teaching plays a vital role in the K-8 classroom, with particular benefits for struggling readers. This book is a practical resource for explaining reading to students who do not learn to read easily. Identified are 22 major skills and strategies associated with vocabulary development, comprehension, word recognition, and fluency. Ways to explain each skill or strategy are illustrated with abundant concrete examples, which teachers can use as starting points for developing lessons tailored to the needs, strengths, and interests of their own students. The book also shows how to move from the teacher's explanation to the student's independent use of new concepts, and how to embed explicit teaching within a context of rich, engaging literacy experiences.
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Customer Reviews (5)

Review for literacy needs
This is a good supplemental text for a literacy coach or reading teacher to have on hand to explain breakdowns in students' reading.

Analytical explanation of reading
I am a tutor for third and fourth graders (employed by the school) and have found this book to be priceless in explaining the strategies of reading to 8, 9 and ten year olds - my target audience.The book is structured well and offers many examples of how to help struggling readers learn the "secrets" of good readers.After looking at several other 'Reading Comprehension' books, I chose this one based on the TOC and the foreward. It has proven to REALLY help me clarify each objective and teach the invisible process of active reading to my students. I'm very excited about the book and what it has to offer. Thanks!

Excellent book
I bought this book last year from Amazon, after being recommended it by a resource literacy teacher.It is very helpful to me, a classroom teacher.I would recommend it as great value for any teacher. I recently had the pleasure of hearing G Duffy speak at a day's conference here in New Zealand. He was so clear, so able to show the recent history of the teaching of reading, and how we might go about showing students the skills of comprehension, and what good readers do. In this book, G Duffy helps teachers model what good readers do. He is realistic and down to earth.

Great Resource for Literacy Coaches
This is a wonderful book to use while working with teachers in your building. Use it as a resource for yourself or share it with teachers to support what you are saying or modeling in their classrooms. After you have identified the strategy or skill the students are having trouble with, locate the skill in the index. Then read through the pages as Dr. Duffy describes the conceptual understanding that must be in place for the students to learn the skill. He also outlines how to introduce the skill, model the thinking, scaffold towards independence, apply it in reading and writing, and determine how to know if the lesson was successful. Some topic categories are vocabulary, comprehension strategies, word recognition, and fluency.

Individual chapters cogently provide examples
Gerald G. Duffy is a former classroom teacher and professor emeritus at Michigan State University. He draws upon his many years of experience and his considerable expertise in Explaining Reading: A Resource For Teaching Concepts, Skills, And Strategies to provide the reader with a solid guide for aiding in their teaching literacy to students who are slow to absorb the skill. Individual chapters cogently provide examples and ideas for explaining vocabulary, teaching word recognition, comprehension strategies, and a great deal more. Explaining Reading is highly recommended as an excellent and detailed advice guide -- especially for classroom teachers and home schoolers involved in a literacy instructional program. ... Read more

Product Description
This second edition is an extensive revision of the first edition of this successful text.Like the first edition, the second edition surveys the major approaches and methods in language teaching, such as grammar translation, audiolingualism, communicative language teaching, and the natural approach. The text examines each approach and method in terms of its theory of language and language learning, goals, syllabus, teaching activities, teacher and learner roles, materials, and classroom techniques.In addition to the approaches and methods covered in the first edition, this edition includes new chapters, such as whole language, multiple intelligences, neurolinguistic programming, competency-based language teaching, cooperative language learning, content-based instruction, task-based language teaching, and The Post-Methods Era.Teachers and teachers-in-training will discover that this second edition is a comprehensive survey and analysis of the major and minor teaching methods used around the world.The book seeks not only to clarify the assumptions behind these methods and their similarities and differences, but also to help teachers explore their own beliefs and practices in language teaching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

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I actually bought it for someone else but all arrived in timely fashion and good condition. thank you

Very complete
It's a very detailed book for those who would like to have a general idea about some of the most traditionalapproaches and methodologies in Language teaching. I like it very much.

Good theoretical overview on language teaching
I read this book for my graduate class and also used for my private group study. Overall this book is an excellent theoretical overview of various approaches and methods of teaching languages, especially English.

Pro - very systematic and organized. A good book to start with. Various kinds of resources.

Con - Too theoretical. If you are not an experienced teacher, you might want to start with Teacher's Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction. Also, because it's all text-based, it's sometimes hard to understand what it's talking about. The authors might better help readers by adding video clips of different methods and approaches.

I recommend this book.

Greatly surprised

This book surprised me greatly. I was familiar with the first edition of the book. When I bought the book I expected improvements in this second edition, but to my surprise the improvements were a lot more than I had expected. I highly recommend the book for any trainer or trainee.

Organised and No Frills
Unlike some books on English language teaching, "Approaches and Methods" by Richards and Rodgers is a logically organised, relatively jargon-free and easily grasped book. It is almost certain you will not be diving for the headache tablets after this book.

Covering a large range of the historical and current second language teaching methodologies, the book discusses methods in a logical format that is the same throughout. They discuss three broad areas: Approach, (the theories and ideas underpinning the method), Design, (roles, materials and so on), and Procedure, (what happens in the classroom). This makes each chapter exceptionally well-organised.

The book covers a lot of different methods, including those that are less in favour these days, as well as some that are more recent. However, some very recent developments are not included, such as the controversial Dogme of Thornbury and Medding. What *is* in the book includes Suggestopaedia, TPR, NLP, Natural Way, Multiple Intelligences and more. All of them come with a brief discussion on the background that they came from.

This is an incredibly valuable book for a run down on the methodologies that have come and gone, (some still on the way out). It is an excellent resource that serves well as a reference, or something to be read from cover-to-cover. Or both. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching Spelling: A Practical Resource will enhance teachers' understanding of how their students learn to spell and provide a wealth of advice and practical activities for the day-to-day classroom program. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must for Elementary Teachers
This book provides a wealth of ideas to help teach spelling in a way thatis natural and not forced.Weekly spelling lists of contrived words onlyprove that your "good" spellers will always score high and theother won't; Bolton and Snowball offer a refreshing and successfulalternative.This book offers practical techniques and strategies to helpall children spell better and with a more critical eye than any mere listcould possibly do.It shows teachers how to empower students to make goodchoices with spelling.I highly recommend this book; I obtained a copy three years ago and it never fails to come in handy.I use it all thetime! ... Read more