Jo McDonough Libros

This is a comprehensive and practical introduction to central themes in the principle and practice of Teaching English as a foreign/second Language. It is written both for teachers and for those taking professional courses in ELT. The first part, focused on the principles on which current methods and materials are based, explores such topics as educational frameworks: the communicative approach; post-communicative trends in syllabus and materials design and the evaluation and adaptation of materials. Part Two relates these principles to individual language skills. It shows how theories concerned with the development of reading, speaking, listening and writing have affected the design and use of teaching materials. The final part of the book examines different methods available to teachers for organizing and managing the ELT classroom, discussing group and pair work; individualization; classroom observation and the teacher's role in the contemporary ELT context.

This book offers a lively introduction to the research methods and techniques available to English language teachers who wish to investigate aspects of their own practice. It covers qualitative and quantitative methodology and includes sections on observation, introspection, diary studies, experiments, interviews, questionnaires, numerical techniques and case study research. Each method is illustrated with examples in language teaching contexts, and techniques of data collection and analysis are introduced. The authors focus particularly on research in the classroom, on tests, materials, the effects of innovations, and they discuss methods appropriate to research in various collaborative modes as well as by individuals. A key feature of the book is an introduction to the debate surrounding different approaches to research, with an evaluation of traditional research in relation to the paradigms associated with reflective practice and action research. The book is ideal for teachers on initial training and post-experience courses, students on degree programmes in applied linguistics and TEFL and, of course, practising teachers with an interest in research methods in language teaching.