HS Textbooks

[Otaku]

The threads in red were transferred over from the old forum.

Hello,

I'm about to start a new job at a senior high school. I have years of JHS experience but this will be the first time in a SHS. I've been told I can choose my own textbooks. I'm looking at a few at the moment and the likes of the Oxford 'Natural English' series could be a good choice but I'd like to hear what others are using please.

Cheers

Dave

[Otaku]

I've only taught at JHS so I don't know HS textbooks.

However, this would be a great thread to get people to start posting about what HS English textbooks they use at their school.

Otaku

[Otaku]

Hey there! Depending on how large your classes are, the "My First Passport" series is a good solid text that features up to date topics and language, activities that can be adapted for lower/higher level students and a really cool bilingual "My Story" section which features true stories from high school age kids about international experiences in both English and Japanese. It is conversation based with the emphasis being on the students to work together in pairs and groups. If you have a rowdy class this can be quite a task as kids think that group work equates chatting about whatever they want in Japanese so you may need the help of a JTE to help out. I have used My First Passport 1 for third year JH and My First Passport 2 for 1st year HS. This book is published by Oxford.
hope that helps!

Crustpunker

[Otaku]

Also, just my two cents about textbooks... I really feel that there is NO single perfect textbook that will have everything you want or need. There are way too many variables in a classroom dynamic for any one book to deliver 100% all the time. I think one way to go about it is to go for a text that allows you to easily adapt the lessons yourself to suit whatever the students needs/ability/motivations might be. You may find that you end up with quite a few texts that you pull various lesson ideas from at different times but as long as you stay somewhat organized this is totally possible
(coming from the least organized person in the world)
a couple other texts that I use or have used are as follows:

Topic Talk second edition by David Martin published by EFL press
http://www.eflpress.com/efl_press_topic_talk.html

I use this alot when I just have no time to plan anything and need something quick but involved that can go for a whole lesson or even 2. It involves Listening, Speaking and some writing. It is very handy as well if your Japanese isn't fluent as the teachers notes in the back have all the language that you present the students with in romaji.

Panorama
Building Perspective Through Reading
by Kathleen F. Flynn
published by Oxford
http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/isbn/4070?cc=global

may be a bit advanced for HS kids but then again maybe not... Have you seen the shite they are expected to read? My god...
anyway, the best thing about this is that their are interesting articles (theme based) that relate to a variety of topics that students might actually be interested in (art, science, entertainment etc..)

Developing Tactics For Listening
by Jack C. Richards
published by Oxford
http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/isbn/4976?cc=global

A great book for well, developing listening. Planning a lesson in fairly painless but the thing is that to utilize the book in its totality you need to purchase the cd component which is a bit expensive. Oxford does this alot, they say that the text "comes with a cd" but often the cd will feature a few tracks. Just a sample really. Try to be aware of this if you as it can lead to additional costs. (those discs ain't cheap!)

Last one which I haven't tried out yet but looks like it might have a lot of potential is...
Top of the Pops Listening
by Nobuhiro Kumai and Stephen Timson
published by Macmillan Languagehouse
http://www.mlh.co.jp/catalog/product/303

you can read a product description on this page to get an idea about this text.

Sorry for the massive post!
Good luck friend.

[Otaku]

From: Brendan

It all depends on what you are teaching and if you are teaching solo or with a JTE. I'm teaching communication (listening and speaking) by myself, my japanese isn't very good, so giving explanations of grammar points is beyond my scope. I find the Listening Laboratory series really good, grammar points are explained in japanese, it has faster versions for advanced classes and has US, UK and Australian english versions. Plus the books only cost 400 yen. See if you can get some samples sent from the publishers and give them a try.

Good luck

[juliewater]

My high school uses two Japanese textbooks: 1. Hello there!: Oral Communication 1 pub. by Tokyo Shoseki for the 1st yr. general course students and 2. Blue Planet: Oral Communication 1 pub by Obunsha for the 1st yr. advanced course students.
Hello there! works quite well for listening and speaking practice primarily. The English seems fairly natural for my American sense. Some popular songs are included as well.
Blue Planet is about a Japanese student who goes to the U.S. to study. It's similar to My First Passport, but has Japanese explanations and isn't as attractively designed.
Both books contain more than we can finish in a year, so I can pick and choose what parts to use. They're pretty good if your school doesn't have the budget to order books from abroad.

[crustpunker]

Hey there!
Those texts are some I am not very familar with. Any chance you might be able to provide a link? I am looking at getting something new for next year and it would certainly help out methinks.