Many Spanish teachers, new and old alike are always on the lookout for an effective book for teaching Spanish. It could be the actual text you use in the classroom, or used as a supplemental material. Choosing a book for teaching Spanish can be a difficult task because there are just so many options! In any case, the following are pieces of advice to take into consideration when evaluating different books for teaching Spanish.
Tips to choose a book for teaching Spanish
1. INCLUDE GRAMMAR
Always look for a text that incorporates vocabulary along with grammar. Teaching the grammar concepts within a context will be the best for any student: youth or adult. If you are a newer teacher, this will help model which vocabulary works best for presenting specific grammar. Once you have a general idea of what works in your classroom, you may not need to rely on the text as much.
2. PERMIT FLEXIBILITY
As teachers, flexibility is a must. The same goes for a textbook. Just because the book for teaching Spanish says to present the material a certain way doesn’t mean you HAVE to teach it that way. Adjust it to your own style. Books that allow that flexibility will give you one less extra step in order to create that amazing lesson plan that engages your students. The worst thing a teacher could do is to follow a text that does not allow the flexibility of inserting his or her own personality and teaching style into the lessons. The more comfortable you are with the text, the more useful it will be for you and your students.
3. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT STUDENT LEVEL
Going along with flexibility, keep in mind how your students are defined. All levels should be treated differently since they are in different stages of their development. The book you use should be geared towards the correct developmental stage where your students fall. If you teach adults, you may need a text that really compares and contrasts English with Spanish. Not only do you need to think about the developmental stages, but also think about other major characteristics of your students. What are their resources? Their socio-economic status? These qualities determine if you want an online text versus a printed text.
4. TEACH CULTURE
Finally, a book for teaching Spanish should teach culture simultaneously with the vocabulary and grammar. Many students take Spanish class in order to learn more about the culture that surrounds the language. A complete text would be lacking if it did not incorporate this into its materials. If you cannot find a book that satisfies the other requirements, take into consideration finding supplemental materials that you may use to insert culture into your lessons.
Are there any other characteristics you would include when selecting a book for teaching Spanish?
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