However, one concern I have is that there are not enough texts, a learning tool that I feel is essential for language development, particularly for non-English speakers. This shortcoming can easily be resolved by bringing in outside sources, such as magazine articles, books and newspapers, to use as text examples.
As a whole, the texts that the book does present are clearly states, easy to read in terms of font type, and are of appropriate interest level for the adult learner.
The teaching of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and functional language use are all well done in this course book. Instead of separating these skills from the rest of the course book, as many similar texts do, this text places the language sections in a strategic manner with the purpose of guiding the student in discovering rules not through rote memorization but by individually noticing tasks. To add to the actual learning of these acquired skills, the course book can be supplemented with grammar and audio exercises, along with workbook and role playing tasks.
In terms of guiding the teacher in presenting the materials, the teacher book does an excellent job at providing detailed guidance. The book comes with a brief training guide on how to best use the course book as a guide for teaching the English language to non-native English speakers. Further, it provides detailed instructions on the best procedure for teaching each individual unit and skill level.
Unique to the new fourth addition of this book is the DVD program, which contains clips from real classrooms, along with observation tasks and interviews with both students and teachers. With...
Not only does this allow the teacher to use the book as a teaching guide, it also allows the teacher to use the DVD as a reference in visually seeing how the text can be used in the
classroom. Together, the book and DVD provides the teacher of English Language with the resources needed to successfully teach English language to their classes.
Other benefits to the new, fourth addition of the book not present in earlier versions include a section regarding the evolving identities of global English, focused on the teaching of English in non-English speaking nations. Harmer also focuses on the impact that developing
technology has had on the teaching of English. In this section he gives suggestions on how technology can be used to add to the learners' experiences and successes. Finally, Harmer also spends some time touching on the issue of context-sensitive methodology, an issue that becomes more and more important as classrooms become more and more culturally diverse.
Overall, Jeremy Harmer's the Practice of English
Language Teaching is an excellent text for the teacher of English language. As a result of its organization, attention to detail, suggestions on procedure and practicality in methods, Harmer has created a resource that will benefit not only the student of becoming an English language teacher, but also those who are already in the field.
Bibliography
Brown, Douglas H. (2006). Principles of
Language Learning and Teaching. Essex: Pearson ESL.
Harmer, Jeremy. (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Richards, Jack C. (2001). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Richards, Jack C. (2002). Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swan, Michael. (2001). Learner English: A Teacher's Guide to Interface and Other Problems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thornbury, Scott. (1997). About Language: Tasks for Teachers of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
