Page 40 - ELG2011 Nov Issue 473

REVIEWS . REVIEWS & RESOURCES

STORY-BASED LANGUAGE BOOK OF THE MONTH
TEACHING TUMISU / PIXABAY
FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
Story-Based Language Teaching STRUCTURING FUN of practical ideas for classroom management and
teaching English to primary
focus on aspects of ‘Fun’ –
Jeremy Harmer and Herbert Puchta IN THE ELT school children and including using novelty
Helbling, 2018 CLASSROOM attempts to explore the objects, space, movement,
ISBN: 978-3-99045-769-6 underlying principles behind personalisation, games and
Chris Roland these activities to ensure stories. The book is
tories matter to all of us.’ The Pavilion Publishing that they are effective in imaginative, humorous and
opening words of this attractive title and Media terms of learning. We begin often inspirational; it is
sum up the whole philosophy within. ISBN: 9781913414535 with a succinct list of the liberally illustrated with
‘SAnd who better to outline such a author’s central principles, photographs. The author’s
philosophy than Jeremy Harmer and Herbert This 364-page resource like: “Embrace the style is highly personable.
Puchta, two high-profile stalwarts of the ELT book starts with the premise imaginary and make time for Should prove useful for new
profession. Perhaps better known for the wide that teaching young learners play.” The sixteen chapters and experienced teachers of
range of coursebooks they have each written can be fun. It offers a wealth cover the fundamentals of children. Recommended.
independently down the years, the authors of
the title under review here have joined forces
and put together an excellent resource book.
Acknowledging earlier teacher resources reviewsinbrief.
based on stories by those such as Andrew
Wright, in Chapter One it is further DOUBLE DECKER 3 TESTING FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS
emphasised how neuroscientific studies Pupil’s Book 3rd Edition
suggest, among many other things, that our Macmillan Education Arthur Hughes and Jake Hughes
brain is hard-wired to receive and appreciate ISBN: 9781380035776 Cambridge University Press
tales with a compelling narrative. No ISBN: 9781108714822
surprises there, perhaps, but the following Double Decker is a
chapter extends this point to explain how in four-level primary The main aim of the
several aspects, neuroscience meets Telling stories helps to bring language to life course which updated Third Edition of
using stories in the ELT classroom. The A compelling digital material. The six unchanged: to help
educational philosophy; the main point is
integrates print and
this book remains
that making language students of any age
curious about stories is the key.
teachers write better tests.
topic-based units in
Chapter Three outlines the advantages of
Its 19 chapters firstly
this slim, 60-page
authors explain how, “… we don’t need to book are appropriate explain the desired
for primary students:
qualities of tests: validity,
more teachers who insist on merely following narrative Music, Sports, positive backwash. Useful
reliability, practicality and
Amazing Animals,
worry if storytelling eats into our teaching
time. The occasional few minutes we might
Inventions, Castles and
sections then focus on
use for telling a story is an investment in the
writing tests specifically for
Planets. The comic
language future of our students.” How I wish
well as grammar and
‘Lost in the Sahara’ and
the curriculum would take that idea on style of stories like the four language skills as
board. ‘Two Olympic vocabulary. One chapter
looks at statistical analysis. The new chapter on new
champions’ will engage young learners. Students learn
Chapter Four looks at the elements of a Wayne Trotman is hooked on a story-telling about different cultures and can compare these with their technology is quite short and touches on computer-adaptive
good story for language learners: the opening own culture. I especially enjoyed the three projects which tests and AI (Artificial Intelligence). Users will appreciate the
hook, the theme and moral message, plus of resource for teachers involve creating a poster, a booklet and an itinerary for a many suggestions for further reading. A straightforward,
course a good plot and memorable trip. There is a digital version of the Pupil’s Book, plus an accessible and largely practical book which successfully
characters. What makes a story useful for Activity Book. Worth investigation. combines theory and practice.
learners is the focus in the following chapter. of them, some a few times. Added onto the
Features such as learner level, language in …the main six sample stories are three more that make
context and story length are key, and of equal up the nine; two of which are adapted folk REVIEW COMING UP IN THE NEXT ISSUE:
importance is repetition of details to point is that making tales. A tenth video may be used as
reinforce understanding. language students of professional development, as in it two of the Feature: Boredom in the Foreign Language Classroom: a micro-perspective (Springer) by Mirosław Pawlak, Joanna
How to find good stories and use them in readers expound on the value of storytelling. Zawodniak and Mariusz Kruk.
your language teaching are the concerns of any age curious Such a valuable resource would fit well in
Chapters Seven and Eight, which are the the hands of a member of the professional Reviews by Pete Sharma for Bournemouth English Book Centre: www.bebc.co.uk
prelude to a superb collection in Chapter about stories is development unit who feels too much
Nine, of six sample stories for immediate use emphasis is placed on blindly following
in the classroom. Helpfully, the illustrated the key. coursebooks; it would also be of immense ! !
stories accompanying the text are value on the shelves of all teachers keen to ! %&$'()*+,-.$&/0$ :0;(3()/.8/(+3$
photocopiable, which of course will act as in India. All stories are accompanied by spin tales to their classes. @4/5!#;!$!I6/1:.3,<)!J5! /493>*.<6W*55*=:37!
prompts for learners struggling to keep up. lesson-planning details any grateful language !""#$$"#$%&'$'%$ C34234!B"!"KL;!@A! !
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Yadav, a girl who is a mountain climber and The most valuable features of this title are Wayne Trotman ()*!+,-./0)*1!23*0!435!600,7*! ! K)34*Z!MNN!OPQ!'PS!"%#!"%"T!
fights against female stereotyping; the true of course the actual video-recordings of the is a teacher 1*0+340/-/./58!931!,403./:/5*2!764,0:1/+50;! %0(/+.5(35*2(-64!U*.64/*!V,5.*1! /64:>7*2/6&0)*2=:3=,[!
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saddened by the decline of rain forests professional reader to different classes of Katip Çelebi @A!642!6-1362!39!6..!*2/531/6.!:345*45!/0! ! "=>)*.(?/(+3)4!L*-0:1/-*!!
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decides to do something about it; and students, who are clearly engrossed in the University, Izmir, G)3.*!31!/4!+615;!/0!931-/22*4!06E*!G/5)! 78389(39$%0(/+.4!F34!F6<026.*;!X16456!J3.,5/340! K)34*Z!!MNN!OPQ!"NN'!%SRPRS!
another true story about Saroo, a five-year- narrative. Each video lasts between six and Turkey. *H+1*00!+*17/00/34!39!5)*!:3+81/<)5!)3.2*1=! 134=16<026.*><1645603.,5/340=:37! 0,-0>G*-0:1/-*=:3=,[
old boy who ends up far away from his village eight minutes. I watched and fully enjoyed all !
40 November 2020 editorial@elgazette.com 41