Portfolio - Task #4

      Task 4: Based on Chapter 3

Textbook analysis.  Have teachers analyze the textbooks for their classes. (Refer to pp. 44-46 in Snow)

            When I’ve taught first time in public schools of Pernambuco Government in August 2006 we didn’t have any textbooks even a planning course for we work with students.  In this moment in Brazil the basic education had just eight years and we didn’t have yet the Integral Program only Regular schools.

English teachers had to improvise, more than it we had to create ourselves planning course and make our material that in major of our schools were use the blackboard. If a student had to change of school because s/he were moving to another city probably s/he will find many problems for understanding and try to follow her/his new class.

In 2008 our schools received the book Globetrekker by Marcelo Baccarin Costa - Macmillan Press but just for High School. This book was amazing but the majority of teachers didn’t like it because its level was higher than students could learn. So it ‘provide more material than we could teach in the expected amount of time’[1] (SNOW:2007) we had to adapt the material for classes we had for making it useful in our classrooms. Although all schools had the book, some teachers refused to use it using the argument I’ve mentioned, that the level was incompatible with the reality in their classrooms, and the left side during the three years that a textbook is used.

It’s important to say that this problem happened because the textbook was granted and the secretary of education has not requested the opinion of teachers.

Last year, 2011, it was the first time teacher could choose their didactic material, the textbook they will used in next three years. We had three options:

1. English For All[2] – Saraiva Press

2. Upgrade[3] – Richmond Press

3. Globetrekker – Macmillan Press

 

In school I’ve taught the teachers preferred choose the option 2, Upgrade – Richmond Press.

Textbook Evaluation:  Group Activity of Analyzing an ESL textbook        

Name of your textbook:         Upgrade – Richmond Press                     

What level would you use this book? (beginner, intermediate, advanced)? Intermediate

For what age group would you use this book? Teenagers

Textbook Evaluation Checklist

Textbook Content	Excellent	Good	Average	Poor	Totally lacking
i. Does the book target all of the language skills equally?			X
ii. Does the content serve as a window into learning about the target language culture (American, British, ect.)?		X
iii. Are the reading selections authentic pieces of language?		X
iv. Compared to texts for native speakers, does the content contain real-life issues that challenge the reader to think critically about his/her worldview?		X
Vocabulary & Grammar
i. Are the grammar rules presented in a logical manner and in increasing order of difficulty?		X
ii. Are the new vocabulary words presented at an appropriate rate so that the text is understandable and so that students are able to retain new vocabulary?			X
iii. Are the new vocabulary words repeated in subsequent lessons to reinforce their meaning and use?				X
iv. Are the new vocabulary words presented in a variety of ways (e.g. glosses, multi-glosses, appositives)?		X
Exercises and Activities
Are there interactive and task-based activities that require students to communicate?			X
Do the activities facilitate students’ use of new vocabulary and grammar?			X
Are there a variety of different exercises that target all the language skills?				X
Do the exercises promote critical thinking?			X
Attractiveness of the book
Is the cover of the book appealing?			X
Is the visual imagery of high aesthetic quality?			X
Are the illustrations simple enough and close enough to the text that they add to its meaning rather than detracting from it?		X
Is the material current and interesting for the target audience?			X

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[1] SNOW, Don. From Language Laerner to Language Teacher – Na introduction to teaching English as a foreign language. Page 44. TESOL, Inc. USA. 2007.

[2] http://www.editorasaraiva.com.br/pnld2012/livro_ing_eng.asp

[3] http://www.richmond.com.br/catalogo/ensino-medio/upgrade/