Page 15 - ELG1601 May Issue 436

ELreviews
May 2016 Page 15

Lesson in literature

Wayne Trotman discovers a title that brings the Book of the month
richness of literature to the language classroom

Empower B1+ Intermediate ‘Wordpower’ boxes draw on such
Into the Classroom: Literature – while the third part links litera- ing academic writing. The use of Adrian Doff, Craig Thaine, Herbert Puchta, information, and cover areas such as
Amos Paran and Pauline ture with other art forms such as poetic language is illustrated in Jeff Stranks and Peter Lewis-Jones, CUP; phrasal verbs and easily confused words.
Robinson, OUP; film, visual arts and music. John Updike’s Superman, where 978-1-1074-6688-3 There are ten units, each starting with an
978-0-1944-2752-4 Early chapters focus on getting the various meanings of ‘super’ eye-catching full-page photograph included
learners to think about literary are elicited, while Oscar Wilde’s This new general English course for adult to generate curiosity. The topics covered are
any teachers I have been and non-literary materials. Texts Symphony in Yellow is used to and young adult learners combines content engaging and range from familiar areas,
partly responsible for include simple advertisements, demonstrate how a simple gap-fill from the publisher with tests from Cambridge such as the environment and culture, to
Memploying in Turkey plus the oft-mentioned poem This task can help attune students to the English Language Assessment. The syllabus other interesting themes including
down the years have graduated Is Just to Say, the one concerning mechanics of poetry. is informed by the English Vocabulary personality and film-making. This well-
from literature and culture fac- delicious plums secretly stolen For working with novels and Profile, which provides information about the structured course is stimulating and well
ulties. At the interview stage, from the fridge. Chapter two, longer works, the authors sug- language that learners can be expected to designed. Empower is a modern coursebook
when I question them on their ‘Approaches and Techniques’, gest a variety of means to ensure demonstrate at each CEFR level. The useful which is definitely worth investigating.
background and how they might illustrates the difference between the correct text is used, such as
possibly integrate literature into ‘efferent’ and ‘aesthetic’ reading the availability of a film ver-
the language classroom, there is – the former focusing on personal sion. Asking students to act out
all too often an awkward silence involvement with the text, the lat- scenes and/or produce visual Solutions 2nd Edition Adv. useful awareness-raising task, this is built around selected
(but on one memorable occasion ter on getting information about, representations of them would, Tim Falla and Paul A Davies, students scan an extract from TED talks. These presentations
mention of how Shakespeare for example, the overall plot. I am certain, appeal to language OUP; the Oxford Collocations are well-known to be
might be used to teach the simple Also outlined here is responding learners at all levels. Oscar 978-0-1945-5290-5 Dictionary. I especially like the passionate, persuasive and
present tense). The title reviewed to literature, which makes use Wilde makes a reappearance in unit on the origins of English. inspiring. The twelve units here
here would be well worth reading of Kipling’s poem If in order to this chapter, with suggestions This second edition of the The course includes an include talks on population
to prepare for such interview situ- elicit and examine students’ vary- on the use of drama, as does advanced coursebook of a extensive online component growth, work-life balance and
ations. More usefully, though, for ing reactions. To add interest to Shakespeare and lesser-known five-level English course for and iTools for in-class five ways to improve listening.
teachers in general it presents a the use of such texts, a variety of playwrights such as Aphra Benn, teenagers includes a new projection. Recommended. The talks are edited,
wide range of stimulating activi- tasks is offered, such as seeing Athol Fuggard and Timberlake literature and cultural section, distinguishing them from the
ties that would clearly serve as another character’s point of view, Wertenbaker, each representing which is both serious-minded TED Talks Keynote Up. Int. purely authentic material found
language learning opportunities, changing the identity of a charac- work from different centuries. and challenging. It contains Helen Stephenson, Lewis on the TED website. The
and all via alternative tools. ter and bringing an old story up to The final chapters, ‘Litera- poems from Sylvia Plath and Lansford and Paul Dummett, author team have again crafted
This title is organised into three the present day. ture and Film’ and ‘Literature, Wilfred Owen, while the National Geographic Learning a solid set of learner-support
parts. The first looks at general Work on short stories exposes Art and Music’, are perhaps comprehension exercises / Cengage Learning; material focused on grammar,
aspects of using language and language learners to systems of for higher-level learners; they accompanying the extract from 978-1-3053-9913-6 vocabulary, pronunciation and,
literature in the EFL classroom, narrative analysis, one of which encourage artistic creativity via Lord of the Flies are quite importantly, presentation skills.
focusing on different approaches. is the situation–problem–solu- the use of graphic novels. n demanding. The vocabulary Like the intermediate Keynote The full-colour infographics
The second examines four major tion–evaluation pattern, welcome input is appropriate for coursebook recently reviewed remain a highlight. A winning
genres – short stories, poems, nov- material to those like myself Wayne Trotman teaches high-level learners; in one (EL Gazette, December 2015), formula.
els and drama, along with issues who constantly search for more EAP at Izmir Katip Çelebi
involved with working with them stimulating material when teach- University, Turkey Reviews by Pete Sharma for the Bournemouth English Book Centre: www.bebc.co.uk

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