Hi

Today I've been thinking long and hard about course books. I'm not even at work yet and yet this is what I sit and think about - how very sad!!

There are many reasons I've been thinking about course books. One if to do with the end of the Dogme yahoo group. A sad event as I've always been a big believer - although I know deep down that Dogme itself isn't dead! When I first started teaching many moons ago I taught for a company which was based on Dogme ideals. There were no course books and the sessions (not to be referred to as classes!) were purely inspired by the (adult) learners themselves. It was up to me to activate the session and help them learn but I didn't know what we were going to work on before the actual session. A great training on how to be a spontaneous teacher and think on your feet. This was pre-CELTA and so at the time it slightly made me anti-course books.

Then the CELTA, the DELTA and the British Council happened and I can now see and understand both sides of the coin. Course books provide learners with a sense of security. They provide teachers with a sense of security. I sometimes wonder though if course books don't stifle our spontaneity. We, as teachers, can rely too heavily on the course book to provide the lessons for us. A good teacher, in my opinion, is one who can combine the security of the course book with their own imagination.

I'd love to hear from you what course books you're using with your learners - whatever their age - and more importantly how you're using it. Are there any Dogme followers who refuse to use course books? How does this make your lessons different for your learners?

Thanks if you do decide to leave a comment and thanks for reading if you don't!