Materials Development in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) [Hardcover]

Brian Tomlinson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521574188 | ISBN-13: 978-0521574181 | Publication Date: March 28, 1998

This volume consists of fifteen articles on current issues in developing materials for language teaching. The main objectives are to help readers to apply current theoretical principles and research findings to the practical realities of developing and/or exploiting classroom materials and to offer new ideas and directions in materials design that readers can pursue for themselves. The chapters are grouped into the following five themes: - Research and materials development; - Data collection and materials development; - Methodology and materials development; - Teachers and materials development; - Evaluation of materials. The contributors are all well known in the fields of applied linguistics and language teaching for their publications on language teaching methodology and many have additionally published language teaching materials for students and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a useful and thought-provoking book which discusses the world of materials development from pedagogical, academic and commercial angles. There is much for the practising language teacher to reflect on and use, in an area which still has plenty of room for development.' QATESOL, 1998

'... a number of features make this book a candidate for reading lists on TESOL courses. The examples selected are from current text books for both school age and adult learners, there is a balance between theory and examples, writers draw on a combination of theoretical bases and their own experiences ...' TESOL in Context, 1998

Book Description

This book engages with current issues in developing materials for language teaching.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 382 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521574188
• ISBN-13: 978-0521574181
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,911,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars something in it for everyone in the EFL profession, October 15, 2000

By 

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

This review is from: Materials Development in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Hardcover)

Materials Development in Language Teaching consists of four sections, divided into seventeen chapters on theoretical and practical issues relating to creating or evaluating EFL materials. Section A deals with data collection and language analysis, which was interesting to read, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get round to doing a concordance by hand! Section B is about the process of materials writing, from the exploration of language, its contextual and pedagogical realisations, to the physical production of materials, their use and their evaluation. These chapters also focus on learner differences and learner choice, the need for constant evaluation and revision of one's work and the importance of compromise when dealing with publishers, schools, teachers, and learners. Section C focuses on the process of materials evaluation. It includes chapters on piloting, evaluating teaching materials, evaluating communicative tasks, and an investigation into what teachers are looking for when they choose a coursebook. All these papers are well worth reading, but I particularly enjoyed Andrew Littlejohn's systematic approach to the analysis of textbooks. As there are many more teachers who use textbooks than there are writers who write them, I suspect that his chapter will also have the widest appeal. Finally, section D is called "ideas for materials development", but unfortunately, rather than give much in the way of practical examples, it instead focuses on the weaknesses of present-day coursebooks, which typically do not cater to different learners or learning styles very well. One suggestion is to give students more autonomy by developing sourcebooks, which sounds like a great idea, but perhaps for practical or financial reasons, this may be difficult to realise. The final note comes from the editor, Brian Tomlinson, in the final summary when he looks ahead and behoves researchers, teachers, writers and publishers to pool their resources and expertise in order to create materials that will have greater value to learners. I enjoyed reading Materials Development in Language Teaching and I think that there is something in it for everyone in the language teaching profession. I only wish that I had been able to read it before I wrote and had my own textbook published!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Materials Development in Language Teaching, November 3, 2010

By 

sinora Q - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Materials Development in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

The item came in 2 weeks after I ordered it and in plenty of time for my College class. I am very happy with the service and speed in which I was able to receive the book. And the book came in better condition than I thought it would.