New and Improved or Back to Basics

New and Improved or Back to Basics?

Ryan James, Ed.D.

Are there too many books being published and not enough in your wallet to stock your bookcase? An EFL professional colleague had this complaint recently on an Internet TEFL group. He was stating that his daughter, new to the EFL profession, asked him to buy her just six good books to get her on the road to teaching success. The father’s lament was that six good books could empty his bank account and require a bank loan besides.

On that particular day, a brochure for a new EFL publication arrived in his mailbox, adding to his grief and guilt revolving around his capability to be a supportive parent. Like all good marketing ploys, it was a direct hit to the nurturing and enabling center of all conscientious teachers, "...anyone who makes a living by teaching the English language owes it to their pupils to keep a copy in the classroom." This new revised, improved, expanded, recently updated, with never before seen entries, was coincidently close to a month’s salary for most teachers in this region.

How is a teacher to cope with these expenses? On the other side of the issue, how can we be viewed as credible when we do not have the latest tools in our toolbox? These are issues that plague teachers both new and inexperienced as well as the more seasoned long timers amongst us.

Being one of the latter, I have had my share of emotional dichotomies over whether to purchase a new book or buy food. Since I am a self-professed bibliophile, it is a nerve-wracking decision at times. However, I have realized that there is a bit of emotional blackmail involved. Coming from the States, I realized the similarity of ploys when the toy manufacturers make people feel like bad parents because they have not purchased the latest gizmo with the declaration of “every child needs to have this toy or they will not have a functional childhood and could be in therapy for years”. The book or the toy is only good enough until the next one arrives on the market either from the same company or their competitor. This is usually about the time you have made the last loan payment made on the last purchase. The cycle continues and the publishers and toy manufacturers are happy, and we are financially depleted. Our closets and bookshelves are exploding with things that are no longer any good; the new improved version is now better.

To appease my mind, but to remain on the cutting edge of professionalism, I have had to resort to something different. It is called creativity. The cost is not as heavily weighted as the books that are touted as the best on the market and it is substantially less expensive. Let me share with you some suggestions for teaching EFL without spending your whole salary on reference materials.

Every university that offers a degree in English, regardless of the country, must have some books in English. Most private language schools worth their salt should have a TEFL library for staff to use. Old books do not necessarily mean outdated, but publishers stay in business by getting us to buy the "NEW Improved" version just as we buy a new brand of toothpaste because we are promised something better. However, old books are still a treasure trove of ideas and information that should not be discounted.

Second hand English bookstores are a good and inexpensive source for all kinds of ideas. By buying a few used books in good condition and getting your students to read, is helping them to learn the living language. Regardless of what level your student is placed, there are books to meet their needs. Adults even enjoy children’s books when they are from a different culture. Perhaps you have a student interested in folktales or fairy tales. Children’s books are a natural supplement. This can further be expanded to having your students write their favorite folktale, legend, or any story from their childhood. If this is done with a class, a book can be created for future students.

Use the pictures from your local paper for exercises in writing and oral practice. Cut out the pictures and have students create a story in English. It does not have to be based on the facts of the publication. Allow them the freedom to express themselves any way they wish.

Form a book exchange with other teachers in your area. What books do your colleagues have in their libraries that they are willing to share? As emotionally comforting as a new reference book may be, how many of us use it on a daily basis after the novelty has worn off? Sharing with others is one of the fundamental socialization skills of early childhood, but we seem to forget it as adults. Perhaps different teachers belong to different professional organizations and they have journals or newsletters they no longer want.

Use the brochures of new publications you receive with your students. Assist them in developing their critical thinking skills. What could have changed in this edition to make it so much better than the last edition? Do the changes justify the cost? How do we know that this publisher’s book is better than the same book by another publisher? This is a great way to start using advertisements as a tool for reading, writing, and critical thinking about the structure of words. What emotional impact do some advertisements have that are different than others? What different emotions do the ads appeal to? How do they manipulate the words to elicit that emotional response? Using the pictures of ads from your local paper or magazines, have the students write an advertisement campaign eliciting different emotions.

Never disregard toys when teaching adults. There have been many adult students who are transformed into 10 year olds, when a game was presented in the class. Rummage toy stores and second hand shops for things that may be turned into a “teaching moment”.

Find a teacher pen pal who is interested in exchanging ideas with you. The pen pal does not have to be an English teacher. As long as you have a common language and are both language teachers, you will have ideas to share. Your pen pal can be within your country or abroad. This is also a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange too.

Contact the embassy of your citizenship in whatever country you are from. Find out what resources they offer. The Regional English Language Officer (U.S.) here in Budapest has provided some great books on U.S. history and culture free. His territory spans sixteen countries. If you are reading this, chances are he (Damon Anderson) is your RELO and can be contacted at www.usis.hu/relo.html . There are resources available to others regardless of whether or not you are an U.S. citizen or not. The British Council is a wonderful resource also and is in many countries.

If you have Internet access, there are many Internet newsletters free of charge. They come to your mailbox. You do not need to search the net for ideas. Two of my favorite search engines are www.google.com and www.kartoo.com .

Networking with others is a powerful tool. Conferences are the best way to get to know and meet your colleagues. Once again, time and expense can be an obstacle. There are many groups on the Internet devoted to teaching, but if you do not find one that meets your needs, why not start one. First go to Yahoo at www.yahoo.com and create a free e-mail account. After you are registered, go to www.groups.yahoo.com and browse the existing groups. With your Yahoo, you are able to join any of thousands of groups and you are able to start your own. All of this is free.

Remember that too many books preach to us. This is "the way" to teach such and
such. You have to have this book or you are a failure or just not good enough. It is a concern that this will be a professional life script for young teachers. It can become difficult to change later on. Not books, but listening to students and becoming aware of a student’s needs one by one, allows a teacher to be responsive to her/his students. It is not prescriptive with a "one method teaches all - approach". Many of the reference books targeted to the EFL classroom would be more applicable to a linguistics class than they are to an EFL setting. Some of these books should be titled, "Everything Most Native English Speakers Do Not Know About Their Language.”

The most important tools any teacher needs are within her/him. Creativity is the foundation for motivation for both the teacher and the student. It is what keeps both of you inspired and wanting to continue the teaching/learning process.

I can be reached at drjames@aces-hungary.org