Unit 23

23.2 Key concepts

There are many reasons for using reference resources. Think of at least three.

Checking the form and use of grammatical structures

Some grammar books are written for teachers and have very detailed explanations.
Others, designed for learners at different levels, use simpler language to give essential
information about grammatical structures. Grammar books for learners can help us to
see what information our learners need about grammatical structures and can provide
us with suitable ways of describing or explaining grammar. The easiest books to use are
those organised in alphabetical order, or which have a detailed index or table of
contents. Some grammar books also include practice exercises, which teachers (and
learners) often find useful.

Some more recent grammar books are based on huge electronic collections of
examples of spoken and written language in use (corpora). These books now tell us
how people really use the language.

Checking the spelling, pronunciation and use of lexical items

Advanced learnersʼ dictionaries are very useful for teachers to use themselves, as they
include example sentences, as well as information about the form and use of words.
Most of these are also available on CD-ROM and online on publishersʼ websites.
Bilingual dictionaries (where the word and its meaning are in different languages),
including electronic dictionaries, are useful when learners are looking for a word that
they donʼt know in English. But these dictionaries usually give very little information
about how to use a word, so itʼs a good idea for learners to check the words they find in
a monolingual dictionary (where the word and its meaning are in the same language).
Learner dictionaries, like learner grammar books, can help teachers to find the most
suitable ways of defining words and giving examples of their use. All languages change
over time, and because English is so widely spoken in so many parts of the world, it
changes faster and more frequently than many other languages. So new editions of
dictionaries are published every few years. The most recent editions of monolingual

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams ©
Cambridge University Press 2011  
learner dictionaries include many new features, such as information about collocation,
synonyms, antonyms and related words, indications of frequency, notes warning
learners about common errors and extra examples on a CD- or DVD-ROM, or on a
website.

There is also a wide range of special dictionaries, e.g. dictionaries of collocations, of

idioms and of phrasal verbs, pronouncing dictionaries, dictionaries of culture and
dictionaries of common errors, dictionaries of synonyms, picture dictionaries for younger
learners and dictionaries of different curriculum subjects for secondary and university
students.

Developing your own understanding of language

There are a number of books for teachers which aim to increase our language
awareness (our understanding of how language works) and our awareness of how to
teach language. They often include tasks that we can do by ourselves or with a
colleague, and detailed explanations and comments as well as answer keys.

Anticipating learnersʼ difficulties

Reference materials about learnersʼ errors can help us anticipate particular language
problems that our learners might have. Many difficulties with vocabulary or grammar
are the result of interference from L1. Books or articles about specific differences
between the learnerʼs L1 and English can help to explain these problems.

Looking for new approaches to teaching lessons and new classroom activities
If we are looking for new approaches or activities, or if we want to give our learners
something different from their coursebook, there is a wide range of supplementary
materials (i.e. materials you can use in addition to or instead of your coursebook),
focusing on grammar, vocabulary and particular skills. There are also very many
teacherʼs resource books with ideas and materials for all kinds of lessons, as well as a
growing number of free websites with articles, ideas and activities for teachers on
different teaching topics.

Finding out how to use the material in your coursebook

Teacherʼs books provide suggestions about how to use the material in the coursebook.

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams ©
Cambridge University Press 2011  
Many teacherʼs books also include suggestions for alternatives to the procedures in the
coursebook, as well as explanations of answers to exercises and extra resources (i.e.
things teachers can use to support their teaching in the classroom), such as homework
tasks and activities for further practice. Many new teacherʼs books provide extra
material, such as supplementary worksheets (pieces of paper with an exercise or task
for learners to complete), progress tests, photocopiables (practice material for
teachers to photocopy), and a choice of easier or more challenging activities for classes
with mixed levels.

Getting advice about particular lessons or teaching materials

Colleagues who have taught at the same level or used the same teaching materials may
be able to offer useful advice. As with the suggestions in teacherʼs books, a colleagueʼs
approach may not suit us, but may help us to think about our own planning.
 

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams ©
Cambridge University Press 2011