ADAPTING A TEXTBOOK

Just as a piano does not play music, a textbook

does not teach language. The textbook is a stimulus or instrument for teaching

and learning.

Reflect about it!• I plan my lessons to respond to my learners´ needs,

so I never use a textbook.• I always plan my lessons following the suggestions in

the teacher´s book.• I use all the materials in every unit in the order given

in the book.• I use a textbook, but I change most of it so that

learners don´t get bored.• I have got a good textbook and have not got time to

adapt any of it.

Advantages of Using a Textbook

It provides:• A syllabus for the course. • Security for the students.• Sets of visuals, activities, readings.• Basis for assessing students’ learning.• Consistency with a program across a given level.• Supporting materials.

Disadvantages of Using a Textbook

• The content may not be relevant- right level• There may be too much focus on specific

aspects of language and not enough focus on others.

• It may not include everything.• There may not be the right mix of activities.• The sequence is lockstep.• The material may go out of date.• The timetible is unrealistic.

Starting Points• Own experience, beliefs and • undestandings• Needs analysis- Class Profile• Goals and objectives• Context requirenments

Adapt a textbook by: Changing, supplementing, eliminating and resequencing material.

Facets to Understanding How to Use a Textbook

1. The textbook itself: “getting inside it”- what are you adapting or supplementing.

a. Conceptualizing content: language, learning and social context.

b. Formulating goals and objectivesc. Organizing the course

2. Everything other than the textbook: context, students, teacher-What are you adapting it to.

A Range of Choices with Respect to Adopting a Textbook

• The activity level: Change, supplement, eliminate material.

• The unit level: Change the order of the activities and adapt existing ones.

• The book/syllabus level: Change, add new areas or eliminate parts of the syllabus.

The Cycle of Textbook AdaptationStage 1

Planning how to teach with the text

Stage 3 Replanning how to

teach

Ongoing assesment

and decision making

Stage 4Reteaching

Stage 2Teaching with

the text