[etni] Fwd: re: unofficial coursebook survey
- From: ETNI list <etni.list@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Etni <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:57:26 +0200
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Judy Givati <jesg50@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: unofficial coursebook survey
Dear Laurie,
I tend to agree with Adi. Unlike some of the useless information in
the past, I find the newer books (as opposed to the 70s!!) offer much
more about the world around us. Our kids need to be more worldly than
kids were back then. They ought to see and discuss how others are
similar to and different from themselves. They are more likely to
travel so should be aware of interesting places they might like to
visit. (Hey, when I finally saw the American petrified forest at age
28, I remembered reading about it in my textbook- Mickey and Donald
Travel around the USA- in 3rd grade!!! )
I really like Essential Links and find myself spending time exploring
"time" as well as working with the kids in class and on the Red Cross
site, "preparing" disaster kits . That is not to say local information
isn't good. Right after I taught about a local group of teen
volunteers who work with the disabled, there was an article about the
group in the Hebrew press.
Teachers really need to look at the subjects given in any coursebook
and make them relevant for their students.
jesg
Laurie wrote:
> For quite some time, I've been hearing from teachers, especially in
> the Bedouin Sector, that many of the coursebook units are unsuitable
> for their pupils. The topics are far from their lives and the kids
> just don't connect and this leads to their disconnecting.
>
> Of course, we want to expose our pupils to new things, broaden their
> horizons. But we must also take into account their "home base". If
> they have no anchor, then the kids will just sail away and we lose
> them.
> Many teachers have also commented on the photographs of young people
> included in the books. None of them look like the kids in their
> classes! Names of kids....places mentioned..nothing that makes them
> feel at home while learning a foreign language.
> Perhaps there are other teachers who feel the same. I'd like to hear
> from you. Please be specific and refer to the coursebook and unit.
Other related posts: