Page 137 - Teaching English at Primary Level: From Theory into the Classroom

Language Learning Materials

Table 8.2 Continued from the previous page
Questions Comments, additional questions
Activities How is language intro- Several books use comics or stories to introduce the linguistic
context of the unit.
ducedineachunit?
What is the balance be-
tween controlled, guided Controlled activities are aimed at manipulating form and
meaning while in free activities learners are encouraged to use
and free activities? the language freely to create new contexts.
How much interaction do Does the textbook contain tasks which encourage interaction
the activities encourage? and cooperation in pairs or groups?
In what way do the activi- Do the activities reflect the learners’ interests? For example,
ties motivate the learners? can they identify with the characters or activities in the stories?
How efficient are the in- Are the instructions in English or in L1? How detailed are they?
structions? Are they scaffolded by symbols (e.g. pen for writing) or illustra-
tions?
Are individual units structured in the same way? Do the activi-
Textbook layout and structure Are there any revision Some textbooks contain special pages aimed at revision and
Does the textbook have a
ties in different units have recognizable formats?
clear structure?
pages or quizzes?
assessment.
Does the textbook con-
Are the learners encouraged to assess their own learning? Is
tain self-assessment or
peer-assessment included?
peer-assessment tasks?
How easy is it for YLs to find their way through the course
Is the textbook layout
book? Look at the numbering, colour codes, special symbols
young-learner-friendly?
used. Are the format, size and type of font suitable for children?
Does the book provide additional materials (e.g. digital access,
flashcards, games, etc.)?
How efficient is the visual What kind of illustrations are used? Are the illustrations and
material in the textbook? photos appropriate for the learner’s age level? What is the
balance between illustrations/drawings and real-life photos?
Comment on the cover of the book.

effective strategy. When selecting the appropriate materials for our teach-
ing situation, it is also advisable to choose materials which enhance higher
levelthinking-skillsandencourageactive,discoveryandtask-basedlearning.
This has also been increasingly recognized by the authors of several modern
course books which feature activities that cater for YLLs. These include sto-
ries, projects, experiments, interactive tasks, daily routines, drama and other
activities which take into full consideration the characteristics of this age
group.
Last but not least, learners may be encouraged to create their own mate-
rials which does not require only cooperation but also creativity and higher-

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