Handout 1

Advantages of using a textbook

Teachers find a textbook useful because:
 Teachers can have a carefully planned syllabus with a balanced selection of language
content – can save the teacher a lot of time
 Teachers can identify what should be taught and the order in which it should be
taught
 A textbook can indicate what teaching methods should be used
 A textbook can provide attractively designed materials: ready –made texts and tasks,
prepared tests and supplementary materials
 A Teacher’s Book can act as on-going training/support, especially for inexperienced
teachers
 A textbook is a cheaper way of providing learning materials for each learner,
compared to photocopied papers or computer software
Learners like to have a textbook because:
 A textbook is semi-authentic/authentic language material
 Learners can see where they’re going and what is coming next, so a textbook can
help maintain a sense of progress
 A textbook can provide cultural input of the target country
 A textbook is a convenient package: its components stick together and stay in order,
it is light and small enough to carry around easily
 A textbook can help learners develop some degree of autonomy: they can learn new
materials, review and monitor progress
Disadvantages of using a textbook
 Teachers can become over-reliant on a textbook: its structure and sequence may
inhibit a teacher’s initiative and creativity
 Teachers may simply follow a textbook, ignoring learner’s needs
 The approach/methodology of the textbook may not suit the teacher or learners
 Topics may not interest learners
 Texts and tasks may not completely relevant to the learners’ needs
 A textbook can be monotonous and predictable
 A textbook can give a false sense of security (e.g. just because learners have done
Unit 3, doesn’t mean they know its content)