Customer Reviews

Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching (Teaching Techniques in English as a Second Language)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an ESL teacher and I teach Methods and Materials of TESOL at the University Level and I am very pleased with this book. It is clearly written and the methods, from the Audio-Lingual Method to Content Based Instruction, are presented in a format that facilitates pre-service and in-service teachers' understanding of the theoretical background of language teaching, and the book provides relevant follow up activities that promote professional growth and allow the learner to apply what they have just learned. My students have given me very positive feedback about the chioce of this as one of the texts that we use, and they all say that they wish to keep the book on the shelves of their professional libraries.I refer to it frequently as both a professional in the feild and as a teacher educator.

Unlike many texts for educators, Larsen-Freeman's survey of the methodologies that can be used in ESL is concrete and practical. The book devotes a chapter to each technique, from Grammar/Translation to ALM to Communicative Language Learning. In each case the author describes a lesson in minute detail, breaks apart the pieces, and then examines the principles underlying the steps in the lesson. Larsen-Freeman's point, which I think every good teacher instinctively realizes, is that every method has something to recommend it, and the best approach is to have a cookbook of methods at one's disposal. In an individual class, with any individual student, it's hard to predict what the key to learning will be. This book is simple when explaining theory, and detailed when it comes to practice--a good combination for the working teacher.

The methodologies presented in the first six chapters are each a compendium of obsolete second language teaching techniques. The information is interesting but not valuable. In its later chapters, this book successfully describes common methods used in today's classroom. It is a fairly good reference book for beginning ESL teachers to have.

Strictly an overview, and a good concise introduction to the major techniques for introducing English as an L2 to ELL's.
Typically one good example of a class session for each topic, then a side-by-side summary of characteristics and applicable principals.

If you are learning about different methods, or trying to decide which might best fit your style, this is an excellent place to start. If you are looking for in-depth training and applications, more specifically-oriented material would be better.

Covers all current techniques for language teaching. Impartial treatment of each method and good arguments of how they may be actually implemented.

This little book is a great introduction to some of the methods in use for teaching ESL. It gives a sample lesson, key features and an overview. It provides a great taste of what it would be like to be in that classroom and why the lesson is structured in that way.

I am a language instructor and a methodology instructor. This book goes through many language teaching methodologies with mediocre definitions and explanations. Then it provides samples and some discussion questions. What is painfully lacking is that there is ZERO support/research for any methodology. I guess it never promised this in the first place but would you read a book on cancer treatments that provided zero research on the effectiveness or outcomes of those treatments? The only reason that language instruction ever takes place is the goal of language acquisition and communicative competence and a book that completely ignores that can offer minor value at best.

Excellent book for different methods of teaching.

The delivery of the book was quite prompt. The book had multiple highlights and writing throughout. It was listed in good condition, but I was not impressed with the condition. I was unable to put my own markings in the book, because there was so much writing and highlighting in it.

I was very pleased to get a used book in a very good condition. It looks just like new and when I opened it, it had a couple of highlights in it, but they were not bad at all.