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This unit explained the use of course books and created material, as well as the advantages and disadvantages to using already-made materials versus non-authentic work created by the teacher.
Authentic and created material are the 2 main categories in this unit. Authentic materials are real materials that native speakers would hear or read on the day to day. Where they are good for beginners, can be interesting for students, giving them confidence in their understanding, they are not typically made for EFL/ESL students. They can come in the form of books, songs, poems, videos, etc. Created materials are designed by the teacher to supplement and/or replace materials from course book lessons. These materials can include, crossword puzzles, flashcards, gap-fill activities, etc.
Course books are either hated or loved by teachers and the use of them comes with pros and cons. When using a course book, the students will expect to use it, and they can notice progression in the language points as the make their way through the book. Teachers can benefit from using the book as it is much easier and less time consuming than making materials from scratch, and it provides teacher with a syllabus, a balance of skills, tried and tested materials, and is especially great for inexperienced teachers.
Although the use of the course book can be very helpful, it doesn’t always fit specific needs or interests of all the class members and doesn’t cover enough depth language problems specific to the nationality of some students. Students or teachers may dislike the book, especially if it is outdated and unappealing, and one’s classes can be come predictable and boring. When using the course books teachers can be come lazy and lose creativity for creating their own materials.
The when the book is used, a suitable one should be used if possible. It should not be used for the entire lesson and is not a solution for all. Teachers must choose material that will motivate students, and assess the time needed to complete tasks. It should match the needs of the students. There are four options when using the book with your own materials. The first is omitting a part of a lesson or even an entire lesson from the book. Secondly, you can replace some of the book material with your own. Third, you can supplement the course book material by adding extra to reinforce a language point. Finally, you can adapt by using the course book material, but presenting it in your own way.
If given the opportunity to choose the course book, teachers should consider if the book is affordable and available to all students, if the methodologies and skills suit the students needs, and how difficult it might be. They should look at the books syllabus and topics, and go through the teachers guide while checking to see if there are any additional materials (CD’s, workbooks, etc)
