The Language Teaching Matrix: Curriculum, Methodology, and Materials (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) [Paperback]

Jack C. Richards (Author), Jonathan C. Hull (Contributor), Susan Proctor (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521387949 | ISBN-13: 978-0521387941 | Publication Date: February 23, 1990

Richards explains how effective language teaching involves a network of interactions between curriculum, methodology, teachers, learners, instructional materials. Each chapter discusses and examines the theoretical and practical dimensions of a central issue in language teaching. Topics covered include the nature of effective teaching, self-monitoring in teacher development, language and content, and teaching listening, speaking, reading and writing. Richards presents key issues in an accessible and highly readable style, and shows how teachers and teachers-in-training can be involved in the investigation of classroom teaching and learning. The emphasis is not on prescriptions but rather on developing effective teaching through understanding the various factors that interact in second language learning and in the second language classroom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...gives needed suggestions for this often-neglected aspect of ESL instruction and is a worthy contribution to the field of applied linguistics." TESOL Quarterly "...an inspiring book that calls on language teachers to reflect on their work, monitor themselves...and grow by analysing their failures, never standing still, but exploring in interaction with their students how they can best facilitate language learning." EFL Gazette

Book Description

Each chapter discusses and examines the theoretical and practical dimensions of a central issue in language teaching. Topics covered include the nature of effective teaching, self-monitoring in teacher development, language and content, and teaching listening, speaking, reading and writing. Richards presents key issues in an accessible and highly readable style, and shows how teachers and teachers-in-training can be involved in the investigation of classroom teaching and learning. The emphasis is not on prescriptions but rather on developing effective teaching through understanding the various factors that interact in second language learning and in the second language classroom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (February 23, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521387949
• ISBN-13: 978-0521387941
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,332,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Professor Jack C. Richards is an internationally recognized authority on English-language acquisition, teacher training, and materials design. A well-known lecturer and consultant, he has taught at universities in the United States, China, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, and Brazil. Professor Richards' many successful publications include the Interchange series, Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, and Curriculum Development in Language Teaching.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars TESOL methodology - plain and simple, August 19, 2000

By 

Chris Elvin (Kanagawa, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Language Teaching Matrix: Curriculum, Methodology, and Materials (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

"The Language Teaching Matrix" was a required text for the methodology component of my masters course in education that I took in 1994. It is scholarly, thorough, easy to read, and a worthy choice for any TESOL graduate program, but I'll have to admit that I didn't really enjoy using it. In Nunan's Second Language Teaching and Learning, which was published in 1999, we get to meet real students and hear humorous and occasionally humbling anecdotes. The Language Teaching Matrix, however, only talks of "the teacher" and "the learner", and the materials that Richards develops and uses are invariably generic and lifeless to be beyond belief. But then again, if you are one of the world's most successful EFL textbook writers, why change anything? Buy this book only if you love Jack Richards' textbooks and want to emulate his undeniable professionalism. Otherwise, go for Nunan's SLTL, which I think is far more useful and interesting to read.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Language Teaching Matrix - a guide for course design, February 13, 2009

By 

Dr. Solaiman Ali - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Language Teaching Matrix: Curriculum, Methodology, and Materials (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

I'm nervous to comment on Professor Jack C. Richards' titles. He's the great guru and has heavily impacted the profession. I've been his blind follower and keep all his titles inluding: 1. THE LANGUAGE TEACHING MATRIX... (1990); 2. APPROACHES & METHODS...(2004); 3. REFLECTIVE TEACHING IN SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS (1994) (used it as one of the textbooks in my MA TESOL/App Ling program at Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1996-1997); 4. DICTIONARY OF LANGUAGE TEACHING & APP. LINGUISTICS (2002); 5. METHODOLOGY IN LANGUAGE TEACHING: AN ANTHOLOGY... (2002); etc.,in my personal library. I always reach out to his books for answers to any serious professional questions.

"The Language Teaching Matrix" (1990) is one such book that I rely on. I consult this particular title when designing instructional materials or a course, or when I need to re-examine my own pedagogical assumptions and beliefs.

As a Technical Communication instructor at the university, I found CHAPTER 6 (FROM MEANING INTO WORDS: WRITING IN A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE) to be very helpful and I return to it to re-check my personal assumptions, theory, beliefs and strategies about teaching writing, in general, and technical report writing, in particular. I would like to highly recommend any writing instructor to read this particular chapter of the book.

The book, in general, is a great resource for course design and classroom teaching. However, this title alone perhaps isn't sufficient to guide course design and instruction. If used in combination with other similar titles, this can be of great help. Also, I was hoping to see the latest edition of the book on Amazon.com but was disappointed.

Dr. M. Solaiman Ali
ESP Unit, Faculty of Engineering
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah