English Language Learning Materials: A Critical Review

by Brian Tomlinson

Overview

This research collection presents a critical review of the materials used for learning English around the world. The first section includes a discussion of materials for specific learners and purposes, such as young learners, self-study, academic writing and general proficiency. The second section presents a detailed study of the materials used in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australia, and critically evaluates their effectiveness in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages. Taking both the teacher's and the learner's needs into consideration, the book makes a positive contribution to the future of research in materials development, and has practical applications.

This comprehensive, critical analysis of materials in use around the world will be useful for academics researching materials development and applied linguistics and for students on post-graduate applied linguistics and ELT courses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826493507
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/17/2008
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Brian Tomlinson is Professor of TESOL at Anaheim University, USA and Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool, UK. He has worked in Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, the UK, Vanuatu and Zambia, and is Founder and President of the Materials Development Association (MATSDA).

Table of Contents

Part I: IntroductionPreface, Brian Tomlinson1. Language Acquisition and Language Learning Materials: Brian Tomlinson (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman)Part II: Different Types of Materials2. Materials for General English, Hitomi Masuhara (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) and Brian Tomlinson (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) 3. Materials for Teaching English to Young Learners, Wendy Arnold (Hong Kong)and Shelagh Rixon (University of Warwick, UK)4. Materials for English for Science and Technology (EST), Philip Skeldon (Sohar College, Oman)5. EAP Materials in Australia and New Zealand, Hans Mol (Southern Cross University, Australia) and Tan Bee (University of Auckland, New Zealand) 6. Multi-Media Materials in Developing Countries: The Malaysian Experience, Jaya Mukundan (Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia)7. Self-Access Materials, Lucy Cooker (Kanda University of International Studies, Japan)8. Extensive Reading: Maid in Waiting, Alan Maley (Leeds Metropolitan University, UK)PART III: Materials in Use Around the World9. Materials Used in the UK, Brian Tomlinson (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) and Hitomi Masuhar (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) 10. Materials Used in the USA, Julia Frazier (Hunter College, New York) and Patricia Juza (Baruch College, New York)11. Materials Used in Western Europe, Luke Prodromou (Leeds Metropolitan University, UK) and Freda Mishen (University of Limerick, Ireland)12. Materials Used in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, Rod Bolitho (Norwich Institution for Language Education, UK)13. Materials Used in Africa, Masibo Mumala (University of Nottingham, UK) and Soufiane Trabelsi (University of Sfax, Tunisia)14. Materials in Japan: Coexisting Traditions, Jim Smiley and Michiyo Masui (Tohuku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai, Japan)15. ELT Materials Used in South East Asia, Bao Dat (Monash University, Australia) 16. The Textbook, the Teacher and the Learner, A Middle East Perspective: Nahla Bacha (Lebanese American University, Lebanon), Irma-Kaarina Ghosn (Lebanese American University, Lebanon) and Neil McBeath (Technical Studies Institute, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)17. Materials in Use in Argentina and the Southern Cone, Mario Lopez Barrios (Universidad National de Cordoba, Argentina), Elba de Debat (Universidad National de Cordoba, Argentina), and Gabriella Tavella (Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Asentamiento)PART IV: Conclusions18. Conclusions about ELT Materials in Use Around the World, Brian Tomlinson (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman)Index

Editorial Reviews

"The articles in this volume discuss their subjects in a variety of ways, ranging from the anecdotal to the highly analytic and highly quantitative.... serve as a motivator for teachers to depend less on what their textbooks tell them to do and to draw more on knowledge of their students, of teaching, and of the world they live in" Scott Gardner, JALT Journal

From the Publisher