Choosing coursebooks can be a daunting task. There are a lot of options out there.
Teachers should start by asking themselves these questions: can I create a lesson plan? Am I capable of designing a syllabus to offer my learners a cohesive path to achieve their learning goals?
If you’re not sure that you can, a coursebook is the way to go. Experienced teachers will have worked for years writing and testing the materials you’ll see in front of you. Plus, if you have different class levels and age groups for instance, it might come in handy to have a coursebook to support you when teaching a variety of class profiles.
Another reason to consider a coursebook is that some students may actually prefer to have one. To some (mainly adults), it gives a sense of control over their learning process; others may be used to a traditional school setting and may find it difficult not have a textbook to follow. Having said that, we must be aware that not every learner likes to use coursebooks. I conducted an informal survey in 2016 among my own private students and one of them was very frank about her disliking coursebooks in general.
If you work as a freelance teacher, I believe this decision should be discussed with your student. We always have to bear in mind that the learner comes first.
If you’re interested in learning more about it, and how you can adapt coursebooks to your learners’ needs, I’ll be offering a course on “Making the best of coursebooks: how to choose and adapt them” on a regular basis.
Please check the calendar to see when the next session will be. Leave a message if interested and I’ll be in touch.
Professora Andréa Câmara 