Page 15 - ELG1702 Feb Issue 444
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February 2017 ELreviews Page 15
Question of identity
Magali Arteaga on a thought-provoking volume Book of the month
What’s Your Teaching the most cutting-edge techniques, concise volume that allows EFL Focus on Learning Technologies impressive range of perspectives.
Identity? but they expect the use of such teachers to think about their own Nicky Hockly, Oxford University Press; ‘Classroom snapshots’ show different
Helen Waldron, Academic methodologies in class. identity and weigh up the condi- 978-0-1940-0311-7 teaching approaches, including video-
Study Kit; The last chapter encourages tions under which they work. It conferencing in Uruguay. This book
978-0-9956-7011-2 teachers to stay positive and has been written from the native- Focus on Learning Technologies is a timely addresses the critical question: do digital
recognise that being an EFL speaker teacher’s perspective, addition to the innovative Oxford Key technologies support language learning?
he term ‘identity’ is ines- educator is a real profession that but many of the observations Concepts for the Language Classroom Hockly concludes ‘the jury is still out’, as
capably present in our should not be looked down, even will apply to non-native teachers series, which aims to link research and the effectiveness (or lack of effectiveness)
TEFL classes, but often we if you do it as a freelancer. The as well. This is especially true practice. This 167-page book focuses on of a particular technology depends on a
only look at our students’ iden- writer advises EFL teachers to for the author’s overall message school-age learners and touches on many wide range of factors, such as how it used.
tity as they take on a new one search for an identity that they that all of us should feel real areas, including a history of technology in Highly suitable for teacher development
that corresponds to their emerg- feel comfortable with since the ownership and be proud of being ELT, e-safety and educational policy. It programs, this book is accessible, balanced
ing language. EFL teachers are creativity needed to achieve this part of the EFL community. n masterfully condenses research from an and authoritative. Excellent.
encouraged to reflect on how is part and parcel of being an
they have performed after almost inspiring teacher. Magali Arteaga is an EFL
every lesson. However, very What’s Your Teaching Iden- teacher at the Catholic
little has been said about EFL tity? is a thought-provoking University, Cuenca, Ecuador Pass Trinity Now, GESE advice and useful practice which first appeared in 1991. It
teachers’ reflections on what con- Grades 5-6 activities, showing how to is divided into four sections:
stitutes their own identity. Helen Laura Clyde and Ray Parker, create a mind-map on a new listening, reading, writing and
Identity? encourages us to reflect Authentic writing task Black Cat; Several short ‘Trinity speaking, allowing users to
topic for the speaking test.
Waldron’s What’s Your Teaching
978-8-8530-1591-4E
choose which part of the exam
on our place in EFL teaching Takeaway’ sections provide to focus on. It clearly outlines
model exchanges between
and reminds us how a lot of EFL n Ecuador, teachers’ language book reviews are considered to This slim 96-page book is an examiners and candidates. the format for both the general
exam preparation course book
teachers still work under unrea- proficiency and classroom be a gentle way of introducing for the Trinity GESE (Graded Overall, this B1 book should and academic Ielts tests. I think
sonable conditions in a job which Iskills vary enormously. In budding writers to publishing, Examinations in Spoken prove helpful for test-takers. most of the skills and strategies
is considered 24/7, especially remote villages there may not be so I asked my colleagues to English), Grades 5 and 6. It practised, like skimming and
when your interlocutors discover qualified teachers at all, while in approach various editors and has been revised for the ISE New Insight into Ielts, scanning, are relevant for all
that you are a native speaker. towns you have highly qualified offer to write book reviews. (International Skills in Student’s Book with answers language learners. The book is
The book is divided into eight dedicated language teachers and The course was a one-off, English), level 1. The book Vanessa Jakeman and Clare packed with test tips. Remedial
chapters, each of which provides those struggling under too many involving nine teachers (among includes an exam overview McDowell, CUP; tasks are informed by the
a description of the different contact hours with all the admin them two of the administra- and a diagnostic test. Eight 978-1-3166-0245-4 Cambridge Learner Corpus.
situations that teachers may face that go with them. tors of the MA programme). It topic-based units cover This thorough systematic book
in a professional setting. There There are hundreds of pre- focused on how to teach Eng- grammar, functions, New Insight into Ielts is an can be used for self-study and
is always a poignant quote that service English teachers trained lish for Academic Purposes. The phonology and writing. The updated version of the book in class. Recommended.
leads up to an often controversial each year in Ecuador, some on participants found the authentic Exam Expert sections provide
topic. The chapter that resonated British Council teacher training writing task and the required
most with me was ‘The best programmes. micro-teaching the most useful Reviews by Pete Sharma for the Bournemouth English Book Centre: www.bebc.co.uk
of jobs, the worst of jobs’. It The Catholic University of components.
describes how EFL teaching can Cuenca started three new MA As a team, we were asked to
be an extremely enjoyable career programmes and I was asked write a review about the EAP
since teachers can get close to to do the teacher training ses- course books that the teachers
their students and mentor them in sions for the Academic English will be using. And another col-
several ways. At the same time, component. Teachers in Ecua- league wrote a review about a
continuous professional develop- dor usually write very little and recently published book: that is
ment requires investment from publish even less, so I thought it the one you can read above. n
the very same teachers to further would be useful if my colleagues
their education. Not all institu- not only taught academic writ- Erzsebet Bekes is a teacher and
tions are willing to train their ing but had a go at it too. teacher trainer at the Catholic
EFL teachers to update them in I had to set a realistic task: University, Cuenca, Ecuador
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