Five Steps to Using Your Textbook to Build a More Dynamic EFL Conversation Class

When students hear the words, "turn to page 15 in your textbook", they probably feel like it's going to be just another boring English lesson. This doesn't have to be true, however, if we use our EFL textbooks as a tool for providing a way of making the students assume more responsibility, thus making the class more interactive.


With the recent emphasis on learner centered communicative methodology, a good EFL textbook can provide what is missing - specific language goals and reassurance for learners. A communicative methodology is more effective if there are specific mini-language goals set for students to accomplish. A textbook will usually provide these goals but is often not a motivational source for students. A communicative methodology, on the other hand, offers students motivational tasks but is also a "set of principles loosely bundled together" for no specific purpose other than speaking English (Van Lier 1988:72). I believe that students learn better if they understand what is expected of them and what or how much they can experiment with everyday tasks. Thus, a well chosen textbook should offer students classroom stability by letting them know what is going to be expected of them as well as integrating motivating communicative pair-work.