About a Coursebook ...

 "a book that is used by students and teachers as the basis of a course of study"

the pros of a coursebook

1. Framework teacher and learners know where they are going and what is coming next, they have the sense of a structure

2. Syllabus It is a systematic and a carefully planned and balanced selection of language content that will be covered.
3. Ready-made texts and tasks The coursebook provides texts and learning tasks which are likely to be of anappropriate level for most of the class. This of course saves time for the teacher who would otherwise have to prepare his or her own.
4. Economy A book is the cheapest way of providing learning material for each learner.
5. Convenience A book is a convenient package. It is bound, so that its components stick together and stay in order; it is light and small enough to carry around easily;it is of a shape that is easily packed and stacked; it does not depend for its use on hardware or a supply of electricity.
6. Guidance For teachers who are inexperienced or occasionally unsure of their knowledge of the language, the coursebook can provide useful guidance and support.
7. Autonomy The learner can use the coursebook to learn new material, review and monitor progress with some degree of autonomy. A learner without a coursebook is more teacher-dependent.


the cons of a coursebook


1. Inadequacy Every class – in fact, every learner – has their own learning needs: no one coursebook can possibly supply these satisfactorily.
2. Irrelevance, lack of interest The topics dealt with in the coursebook may not necessarily be relevant or interesting for your class.
3. Limitation A coursebook is confining: its set structure and sequence may inhibit a teacher’s initiative and creativity, and lead to boredom and lack of motivation on the part of the learners.
4. Homogeneity Coursebooks have their own rationale and chosen teaching/learning approach.They do not usually cater for the variety of levels of ability and knowledge, or of learning styles and strategies that exist in most classes.
5. Over-easiness Teachers find it too easy to follow the coursebook uncritically instead of using their initiative; they may find themselves functioning merely as mediators of its content instead of as teachers in their own right.

My own opinion about a coursebook...


I think that the coursebook is very useful specially for the teacher, because he/she has an idea about the content for that period and it could plan in advance the lesson plans and objectives for the class, but in a classroom every student have their own way of learning, therefore, using a coursebook is too sistematic and it's designed in one way that it can't be modified. And it has to be into account the learning pace of the course, and from that point, begin to create the syllabus according to the needs of the students and not what the coursebook calls.


  

PACKAGE OF SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS (MISS PLEASE CHECK THIS)

Package 5: Computers and printers for teachers’use; each computer has a hard disk with the latest word processor and various programs that enable you to compose your own computer tasks for learners.

Package 1: A set of computers for learners’use, with accompanying language-learning programs on floppy disk.

Package 4: Video equipment, with assorted cassettes, including language-learning material and films in the target language.

Package 6: Several cassette recorders with accompanying earphones (so that several learners can listen quietly to one machine); a selection of accompanying cassettes for language learning.

Package 2: A set of reference books for the teachers, including: grammars,dictionaries; various specialized textbooks; handbooks of activities; and a subscription to a teachers’journal of your choice.

Package 8: A library of simplified readers in the target language, ranging from very simple to advanced. There would be enough books in this library to enable all students to borrow freely.

Package 3: A number of overhead projectors and slide projectors, with all necessary film, slides and markers.

Package 7: A wide variety of posters and sets of coloured pictures, plus board and card games for language learning.

WHY IN THAT ORDER?

 To start my institution, first of all I have to think in the materials that will help me as a teacher be efficient to give them a good learning materials, understanding that in internet we can find many resources, relying on the processor for creating tasks for students and printing them. With this in the first instance you can create a meaningful learning and teaching resources at the same time for both, the teacher and the student. That's why I'm start with all that means ICT because it gives me a variety in terms of the 4 skills as a complement, wich in books we couldn't find most of the time. Then I continue with the books that it could be the references to the teacher as a support to the use of ICT followed by books (library) as a guide for the students. To finish, I thought in the resources that are done to make learning much more didactic and entertaining for students like the use of slide projectors, games, posters, etc.

Coursebook analysis "In contact" 4°medio

Criterion
yes	Objectives explicitly laid out in an introduction, and implemented in the material	60
yes	Approach educationally and socially acceptable to target community	65
yes	Clear attractive layout; print easy to read	60
yes	Appropriate visual materials available Interesting topics and tasks	60
yes	Varied topics and tasks, so as to provide for different learner levels, learning styles, interests, etc.	50
yes	Clear instructions	50
yes	Systematic coverage of syllabus	60
yes	Content clearly organized and graded (sequenced by difficulty)	50
yes	Periodic review and test sections	60
yes	Plenty of authentic language	55
yes	Good pronunciation explanation and practice	60
yes	Good vocabulary explanation and practice	60
yes	Good grammar presentation and practice	50
yes	Fluency practice in all four skills	50
yes	Encourages learners to develop own learning strategies and to become independent in their learning	40
yes	Adequate guidance for the teacher; not too heavy preparation load	50
yes	Audio cassettes	70
no	Readily available locally	40