Teaching materials and resources

‘I structure my classes around the coursebook, but there may be whole lessons where we don't

even open it.’

‘Nowadays learners expect schools to have state-of-the-art resources and they also expect that teachers will use them. Not

to do so might be considered unprofessional.’

‘I could teach anywhere, so

long as I had a blackboard.’

'A lot of the boring stuff associated with language learning can now be

done by the learners working on their own, using computers, for example. This frees up the classroom for the

really interesting stuff.'

EFL Teaching Materials and Resources

Eliane Carolina de Oliveira

• Resources are tools every ESL, EFL or TESOL teacher uses daily in order to enhance the language learning environment, motivate students or assist in student comprehension. (HINES, 2010)

• They are tools to help teachers in whatever approaches and techniques they have chosen to use and offer students an amazing variety of routes for learning and discovery. (HARMER, 2007)

• What teaching resources and materials have you / your teachers used?

Where do you look for resources?

• They are available at the place where I work.• I adapt and expand on the available resources.• I borrow resources from a professional resource

centre.• I buy my own resources.• I create my own resources.• I find resources on the internet.• I bring authentic materials to the classroom.• I involve students in the preparation of

resources.• Other _______________________________

coursebook

CD/cassete/DVD player

handouts/worksheets

Pictures, flashcards

and word cards

The overheadprojector

The board

dictionary

EXAMPLES

The photocopier

computer

Video/songs realia

The learning environment

Authenticprinted materials

maps/charts

EXAMPLES

• TASK• Imagine you are going off to teach English to adults

in a remote part of the world. There are absolutely no teaching resources available and no electricity. Weight restrictions limit what you can take with you.

• Choose three items from this list that you would take.

• six copies of a student's reference grammar plus exercises• a year's subscription to an English language weekly

newspaper• a set of Cuisenaire rods• the collected works of William Shakespeare• a dozen copies of a current coursebook• a teacher's resource book of classroom games and warmers • a selection of graded readers at different levels• a battery-operated digital audio recorder, plus speakers• four copies of an advanced learner's dictionary• a phonemic chart • an encyclopedia• a set of 100 magazine pictures mounted on card• a guitar

• TASK• Imagine that you are to be given a grant of enough

money to buy a package of supplementary materials for your institution out of the list below. The question is: in what order will you buy them, and how will you decide? Work out an order of priority together with a colleague.

• PACKAGES OF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

• Package 1: A set of computers for learners use, with accompaning language learning programs on a DVD.

• Package 2: A set of reference books for the teachers including grammars, dictionaries, various specialized textbooks, handbooks of activities and a subscription of a teachers journal of your choice.

• Package 3: A number of overhead projectors and slide projectors with all necessary film, slides and markers.

• Package 4: Video equipment with assorted cassettes including language-learning material and films in the target language.

• Package 5: Computers and printers for teachers use; each computer has a hard disk with the latest word processor and various programs that enable you to compose your own computer tasks for learners.

• Package 6: Several cassette recorders with accompaning ear phones (so that several learners can listen quietly to one machine) a selection of accompanying cassettes for language learning.

• Package 7: A wide variety of posters and sets of coloured pictures plus board and card games for language learning,

• Package 8: A library of simplified readers in the target language ranging from very simple to advanced. There would be enough books in this library to enable all students to borrow freely.

The board

• The most versatile piece of classroom teaching

equipment is the board – whether the more

traditional chalkboard, a greenboard or a

whiteboard or an interactive whiteboard. They

provide a motivating focal point during whole-class

grouping.

The board

• DODO• maintain eye contact with the

classroom;• stand sideways without stand sideways without

hiding what you are writing;hiding what you are writing;• write as legibly, neatly and

clearly as you can;• while writing, keep the while writing, keep the

students’ attention by students’ attention by reading key words and reading key words and phrases aloud;phrases aloud;

• whenever possible, find opportunities to write things up on the board while students are working on something else;

• get learners to write up get learners to write up answers and ideas, draw answers and ideas, draw pictures and timelines etc.pictures and timelines etc.

• DON’TDON’T• write with your back to the

class in silence. They can take this as a chance to chatter;

• spend a long time at the spend a long time at the board because it can cause board because it can cause boredom and disruption;boredom and disruption;

• hide what your are writing with your body;

• write in capital letters as write in capital letters as learners need to know when learners need to know when they are necessary or not;they are necessary or not;

• start writing with no instruction to the class or they will try to copy and not listen to you;

• forget to erase it at the end of forget to erase it at the end of the class.the class.

OHP (overhead projector)• An OHP is used to display information to a class.• • ReasonsReasons

• The whole class can see the projected image.• No need to darken the room.• You can prepare OHTs (Overhead Transparencies)

in advance and use them again and again. • It saves time in the classroom.• Using an OHP you can face the class. • What you write in front of you is projected behind you.

OHP (over head projector)• Reasons (cont.)Reasons (cont.)

• You can use it for drawings and illustrations that might be difficult as well as time-consuming to do freehand on the board.

• Text and pictures can be modified in front of the class:– adding a transparency or taking one away.– writing on the transparency or wiping lines off.– obscuring or revealing parts of the transparency.

• OHTs can be made by photocopying or printing.• Ss can write on OHTs and the results can be shown

to the class.• Using erasable or washable pens makes it possible

to re-use the OHT.

VisualsPictures and Images

• FlashcardsFlashcards – smallish cards which we can hold up for our students to see.

• Wall picturesWall pictures – big enough for everyone to see details.

• Cue cardsCue cards – small cards which students use in pair or groupwork.

• Photographs or illustrationsPhotographs or illustrations – typically in a textbook.

http://www.eslflashcards.com/

• Take pictures from magazines;• Draw them;• Buy them;

– Stick them on card– Transparent covering– Make sure they are big enough, appropriate to

the Ss’ age, level and culture;– Copyright– Storing

VisualsPictures and Images

http://adsoftheworld.com/

Printed ad

Drawing

Realia• Which of the following definition best

describes “realia”?( ) real objects

( ) examples of the world outside brought into the classroom

( ) things made out of natural materials

( ) everyday objects that most of us recognize

( ) all of the above

• Reasons why adding real life materials makes class even better!

• Kinesthetics ... it's always better to have something to hold, touch, smell or feel.

• It makes the learning experience more enjoyable. 

• Real-life connection. • It generates excitement. • Breaking out of the worksheet monotony is

always beneficial.• There is no limit to the things you can create.

• Ideas• A lesson on food?

– snacks, fruits, or canned goods. • Teaching about shopping/prices?

– fliers or coupons. • Teaching about nutrition?

– real food labels.• Teaching about finding a job?

– real job applications. • Practicing making an appointment or leaving a

message?– real telephones

• Teaching about cultures? – have a cultural day where the students must bring

an item from a specific culture. 

TV, DVD and Video

• What have the TV, DVD and Video got that the classroom / board / textbook / CD player / other visuals haven’t got?– Sound– Moving pictures– A ‘reward’ button– A ‘pause’ button– A volume control– Subtitles– Background context, eye contact, facial

expressions, gestures, physical relationship

• Below is a list of 6 video techniques. What are the possible pedagogical implications and objectives of each technique?

• Videos can generally be presented in 6 forms:• 1. With sound only (sound on / vision off: only

listening with the screen covered with a cloth, a newspaper or turned away from the Ss’ vision).

• 2. Without sound (sound off / vision on: silent viewing).

• 3. Right through from beginning to end (complete viewing: sound and vision on).

• 4. In parts (jumbling sequences). • 5. Freeze-frame (motionless pictures: pause

control). • 6. Split viewing (jigsaw-viewing: some of the class

listen without watching while the others watch without listening).

• Viewing should not be introduced for its own sake;

• It should be an active viewing; • tasks and activities - help learners

understand, and guide their viewing and comprehension.

• To foster active viewing:– three types of activities

• pre-viewing activities; • (while) viewing activities; • post-viewing activities.

• ELT materials vs. Non-ELT materials

PRE-VIEWING

anticipate

FIRST-VIEWING

present

EXPLOITATION

practice /communicate

SECOND-VIEWING

reinforce

FOLLOW-UP

consolidate

Pre-Viewing

activities

Viewing

activities

Post-Viewing

activities

discussion of the video title information gathering setting the scene discussion/debate film summary reading matching exercisesfilm interruptions a list of characters prediction/guessing film summary writing note-taking alternative endingssetting a task for viewing true/false jigsaw viewing/listening blank-filling dictionary/vocabulary work pre-viewing questions directed listening/viewing using notes for writing practice brain-storming activities role-plays/simulation games freeze-frame paragraph organisation completing cloze dialogues comprehension check putting the scenes in chronological order comparison with native culture

• Teaching without technology• Imagine you are teaching in a place where

resources are limited. How could you manage without coursebooks, audio or video equipment, or photocopying facilities? Suggest ways to do the following:– grammar presentation– grammar practice– listening activities– reading activities– testing

• TASK 1: Discuss • a) some reasons of heavy reliance on the

textbook. • b) the effect of heavy reliance on the

textbook. • TASK 2:• Read the following statements and decide

which ones you agree with. • The textbook:

– 1. Indicates to teachers and students where they are going, where they are and where they have been.

• 2. Provides both teachers and students with a sense of security and self-confidence.

• 3. Predicts the content to be learned. • 4. Saves teachers money and frees them

from the time consuming task of preparing teaching materials.

• 5. Saves learners from our deficiencies as teachers.

• 6. Specifies teachers and students needs. • 7. Standardizes the teaching practices

regardless of the teachers various training backgrounds.

• 8. Specifies in advance what is to be taught and what is to be learned.

References• HARMER, J. The practice of English language teaching. London:

Longman, 2008. • HINES, M. Evaluating ESL, TEFL, TESOL Resources For Use in

the ClassroomAvailable at <http://EzineArticles.com/81446> Access on May, 2010.

• GOWER, R. et al. Teaching Practice Handbook. Heinemann. 1995.

• SCRIVENER, J. Learning Teaching: a guidebook for English language

teachers, 2nd Edition, Oxford: Macmillan, 2005.