You're qualified, you've been interviewed over the phone, next week you're leaving for China. The day after you'll be in the classroom. You're talented, you're enthusiastic, you're dedicated. But you can't do it alone. You need friends. Here are five that will always be there for you.
Grammar for English Language Teachers – Martin Parrott
You may think you know English grammar. You don't. Sooner or later a student will ask you a question, and you won't have a clue what the answer is. You need a grammar reference book, and this is the one you should get. If you need to know something, it's here. And unlike other books on the market, Parrott has a logical easy-to-read format which means you can actually find what you're looking for. This book will save your life.
The Practice of English Language Teaching – Jeremy Harmer
You're a fully qualified EFL teacher, you've completed your training course, and you're starting your first job. You know all the theory, you know how to teach a lesson, you know how to present grammar, you know how to manage a classroom. So, do you use this? Of course you don't. Starting to teach is overwhelming, and there's a big difference between presenting the present perfect continuous on your CELTA course, and presenting it to twelve bored Spanish teenagers. You'll forget things, you'll get into bad habits. But when you feel comfortable in the classroom, you should go back to what you learned. The Practice of English Language Teaching is where you can find this information. This is the book for when you want to refresh your methodology, when you want to avoid bad habits, and to keep learning and progressing as a teacher.
Five-Minute Activities: A Resource Book of Short Activities – Penny Ur and Andrew Wright
A book to get you out of sticky situations. The ideas in here are perfect for warmers, fillers, and will help keep the lesson moving along. Most activities require little or no preparation, and – although this is not recommended – it can even be consulted during lessons. There are enough short activities in here to get you through a whole year with a class.
English Pronunciation in Use – Mark Hancock
No one likes teaching pronunciation. It's difficult to prepare, it's not obviously fun, and you need to read phonemic script. This is where English Pronunciation in Use comes in. The book and CDs are fantastically easy to use, with clear models for students to listen to and repeat. The book will help you tailor the exercises to your specific needs – whether you're teaching Russians, Spaniards or Japanese, you can target weaknesses specific to their mother tongues. And there are also exercises on phonemic script that are useful for students and teachers alike.
Discussions A-Z – Adrian Wallwork
Students want to speak. They can learn grammar at school, but there's no substitute for talking with a native speaker. This can be trickier than it sounds. How do you keep a discussion lesson going for two hours, ensure students are being challenged in their use of English, and prevent them from getting bored. Well, you could do worse than consult this book. Divided into interesting, thought-provoking topics, it helps the teacher structure the lesson, provides listening activities, and gives ideas for further discussion.
