Are textbooks enough? Alternative ways of teaching English to adult and adolescent groups of English learners

Abstract

Adults as well as adolescents create exceptional groups of English language learners with their specific expectations. At present text books are the main source used to teach English. Although it is undisputable that they provide a syllabus, and a range of language activities, taking into account communicative purpose of a language, it is advisable to enrich English language lesson in supplementary materials. These materials should include neurobiological aspects in foreign language learning, the way foreign language is acquired, and personality factors such as multiple intelligences and affective factors. Hence, the author of the present article discusses the reasons why teaching English with the application of textbooks only is not enough, and subsequently suggests additional activities in the form of teaching through culture, stories, poems, songs, and games.

Keywords

• foreign language
• textbooks
• teaching
• authentic materials
• adolescents
• adults