Tamara Sinobad, Serbia&Montenegro
Hi Murat,
I am definitely for using course books because they are very useful as an excellent basis for your classes. They usually provide all the necessary grammar and language issues which you can then easily expand or dismiss if your students are familiar with them. Of course, you shouldn't follow course books blindly, because all students and groups are different and have different needs and levels of knowledge.

Annina, Switzerland
Most coursebooks are useable if you are able to 'RARA' them:

Remove
Adapt
Replace
Add
(anything that doesn't suit you and the class)

So, just RARA it!

George Steed, Poland
Course books may substitute for a syllabus and lesson plans. Course books are graded by students' learning levesl. Many of them are aimed at preparing students for proficiency examinations. Along with the texts, videos, CDs, cassettes and tests are available for each particular course. I have seen too many TEFL teachers spending hours at the copy machine trying to duplicate what a course book supplies in abundance.

Alison Rostetter, Switzerland
Not all course books are good. Some are just downright bad and others are wrong for you and your class. Careful how you choose them!

A course book means you always have some sort of material every week. It usually offers pictures, listening, ideas, grammar, reference, practice...etc. You also have a syllabus that you can adhere to or at least base your own on.

Mostly, every student has a copy of the book and can take it home and use it - workbooks too.

However, not every course book is suitable for every class every week. I find a course book gives me a basic idea and material with which to work but I often have to modify it or change it around, according to the class I have. Course books are not the be all and end all of teaching. They provide, in my opinion, a backbone for us to flesh out or not, as we want.

I don't think I could teach a whole year without a course book; when I think what I would have to supplement by myself without a book, the workload would be too high. However, it doesn't mean to say that the students have to have one too. It would be my private syllabus on which to base my own ideas. (Caution - photocopying from course books is not permitted.)

So, yes to a course book but no to rigidity.

Cinara, Brazil
Hi, I've been an English Teacher for 10 years and I use course books with some students and prepare material for others. In my opinion, the advantages of having a course book are that they give an idea of organization, you save a lot of time, it's easier for the students to remember to bring the material to class (I hope you know what I mean :-)), it's easier for the students to study. On the other hand, some of the disadvantages can be that the students can get bored, it's more difficult to personalize the material to your students (although many authors are worried about bringing reality to class, nowadays). I think a good course book chosen based on the needs of your students and some extra material can do a wonderful job. I hope I could help you.

Stefano Castellanos, Spain
Well, it is fun to choose books you have never used before. It is important to first read carefully the units you are to present to your students and write down the ideas that first come to mind. I think books should change the way they present each unit and not use a format similar in every unit.

Stefania Ronchese, Italy
I am an in-house English Language teacher and translator with an auditing company in Italy and have provided intensive Business English courses (40 hours per week) for auditors.
In my case, using a coursebook has two advantages: 1. the book helps me draw up more easily the course plan and provides material clearly based on specific timing. 2. Students have a complete set of reference material to rely on during and after the course.
Having said this, however, I don't like relying only on the book, and insert grammar sessions, selective listening exercises, sometimes pronunciation games and specifically tailored professional material prepared by me on the basis of other sources.
As far as preparation time is concerned, using a coursebook shortens preparation time, but preparing your own materials or customising the book ones according to the students' needs is definitely much more interesting, especially when your students like them!