Textbook Advice
 

Hi,

My hagwon manager has decided that we will get textbooks for our elementary school students and has asked me for some recommendations.

From browsing the forums I've noticed that 4 textbooks are very popular,

Let's Go

English Time

New English File

New Headway

I was wondering if you could tell me the pros and cons of each of these textbooks.

Thanks in advance,

Marc

Re: Textbook Advice
 

I think Headway is overrated. I like the Reward series

Re: Textbook Advice
 

I quite like Headway actually, but I only use it for adults. The first two books of the American series work well. I've used the third book, but it doesn't seem focused enough. I've heard the fourth book wasn't at all well thought out. Liz and John Soars have redesigned the books recently. Yet again, I don't know how applicable they are for children.

A lot of people like Side by Side. Expressions isn't such a bad textbook either. With elementary school children, I would use something that gets everyone up and moving about as much as possible. Have you looked at any of the stuff at Genki English?

Re: Textbook Advice
 

I totally agree. I think it's more of a self study book, too many listening activities. If the students want some listening activities then they can listen to me talk but mostly they want to learn how to speak properly. I like Interchange but I never do the listening activities. Again students can do that themselves. Other than that I use "Talk your head off" and Small Discussion Activities Books.

Side by Side is purely grammar teaching. It depends on what your students need but it can become very boring at times and is usually used for lower level students.

For kids you might want to try Hip Hip Hurray. I have used levels 1~6 and it's good. I like them. Also I use a lot of materials from here :becky:

Re: Textbook Advice
 

I used the "Let's Go" series and had no real problems with them.... apart from the fact that they are American (for spelling and what not). I did find them a little slow, but it's always easy to find an activity to fit into the lesson.

Re: Textbook Advice
 

I also used Let's Go and found them easy to use. Another series I've used was Target, which was entertaining in that it had product placement from McDonalds. McChicken and Big Mac were actually vocabulary words presented in the series.

Good luck!
Dave