Practice II-    Prof. Estela N. Braun.          Class August 13TH, 2015.

A) HOW TO CHOOSE TEXTBOOKS. Oral presentation / Critical thinking about advantages –disadvantages of using textbooks. (20’)

B) In pairs, students will analyze one of the following textbooks:

Storyline 1+Audio CD www.pearsonlongman.com.ar

Storyline 2+Audio CD

Storyline4+Audio CD

New Treetops 3. Classbook and WB. Oxford www.oup.com / www.oup.com/elt/newtreetops

New Treetops 2. Classbook and WB. Oxford

New Treetops 1. Classbook and WB. Oxford

First Explorers. Oxford. www.oup.com/elt/oxfordparents

My English Trip 2. Macmillan Education. www.myenglishtrip.com.ar

Quest 1. Macmillan. www.macmillan.com.ar

BIG English 1.  Pearson. www.pearsonELT.com/bigenglish

http://www.macmillanenglish.com/resources/

https://elt.oup.com/cat/courses/young_learners/?cc=fr&selLanguage=en&mode=hub

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/young_learners/

PRACTICAL 12: ANALYSIS OF TEXTBOOKS

Rizzo Antonella, Simon Sofía

TASK: ANÁLISIS Y DISEÑO /CONTEXTUALIZACION DE MATERIALES Y RECURSOS DIDACTICOS.

Work in pairs. . Analyze the textbooks provided using the following criteria:

1. Is there a balance in the development of the four macroskills?There is a balance between reading and listening, but there is little focus on writing and speaking.

2. Is the grammatical, lexical and communicative progression suitable for the age of the students?Considering that the book is oriented to a fourth or fifth grade, the communicative, lexical and grammatical progression is suitable for the age of the students.

3. Is the material enough/excessive for the number of hours you teach during a school year?As we teach eighty minutes a week, we consider that the material is excessive.

4. Are the thematic units suitable for the age and social context of our learners? Do they favour intercultural awareness?The thematic units are suitable for the age and social context of our learners, especially because it is a book edited and printed here in Argentina, but it does not favour intercultural awareness.

5. Is there variety in the textual types offered? Is there language learning which can be linked to the development of other disciplines: Social Sciences, L1, Natural Science, Art, etc?(CLIL)There is a special link with Natural Sciences, especially with animals, jungle and nature, but not with other disciplines.

6. What kind of didactic approach is fostered: PPP, CLT, Task Based, Project work, others?In this textbook the didactic approach fostered is mainly PPP.

7. Do the activities included in the textbook provide integration with prior knowledge, extensive practice, revision and instances of self-assessment?The activities in the book provide integration with prior knowledge, extensive practice, revision and self-assessment.

8. Is the workbook integrated with the book or is it presented separately? Does it provide meaningful practice?

Rizzo Antonella, Simon Sofía

The book is integrated with the workbook and it provides meaningful practice because it is related to what they have learned.

9. Would you recommend the use of this textbook for Primary/ at which level? Why/not?We would recommend the use of this textbook because it is a national production; it integrates different abilities and links with other subjects. But we recommend adding some intercultural awareness activities and some other activities so that the children can develop all the four macro abilities.

10. Would it be suitable to follow the main contents for Primary Schools present in our curricular guidelines?Yes, it is suitable to follow the main contents for Primary Schools present in our curricular guidelines.

11. Complete these book features:

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: $290, AVAILABLE

ADD-ONS AND EXTRAS: CD-ROM, WEBPAGE

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: COLORFUL

INSTRUCTIONS: it has instructions for children and also for teachers.

SYLLABUS: in the page web there is an annual planification.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Reading, writing, listening.

TOPICS: the book is divided in these titles: Hello, I like basketball, the shadow has a big head, Is Mr. treeman under Alex’s desk?, Alex isn’t working, there’s a note in my copybook, bats sleep all day, Miss green talks and talks, there’s a fire in the jungle.The topics children learn are: colors, numbers, animals, greetings, adjectives, parts of the face and body, toys, school objects, actions, food, the house (furniture), feelings, clothes, sports and family members.

CULTURAL APPROPRIACY: Children learn values, learn about nature, animals and sports.

TEACHER’S GUIDE: On Pearson web page there is a guide for teachers.

WEB COMPANION: http://www.pearsonelt.com.ar/catalogue/storyline.html

Rizzo Antonella, Simon Sofía