An Alternative to Textbooks
by AJ
Most schools have a required textbook. Students typically pay 30-40 dollars for it. Yet most texts (to put it mildly) are boring, irrelevant, grammar-translation focused, and artificial.
What if we did something else with that money? What if, upon enrollment, each student instead received a mini-tape recorder and a couple of mini-cassettes? What if we told them... "This is your textbook. Go out and record conversations. And while you're at it, collect reading material that is interesting and/or necessary for you."
Send them swarming into the city.... collecting authentic language of direct use to their lives. Students as content-generators. Students as publishers. Students as curriculum designers.
Most schools have a required textbook. Students typically pay 30-40 dollars for it. Yet most texts (to put it mildly) are boring, irrelevant, grammar-translation focused, and artificial.
What if we did something else with that money? What if, upon enrollment, each student instead received a mini-tape recorder and a couple of mini-cassettes? What if we told them... "This is your textbook. Go out and record conversations. And while you're at it, collect reading material that is interesting and/or necessary for you."
Send them swarming into the city.... collecting authentic language of direct use to their lives. Students as content-generators. Students as publishers. Students as curriculum designers.
posted by AJ Hoge @ 2:01 PM
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