Making the most of the books you have. If you are studying English on your own, you may not have access to many English language textbooks. However, with a little imagination it is possible to use the textbook in ways which will give you lots of language practice. And this course presenter Susan Farron gives you some advice on making the most of English language coursework. If you have a textbook, look at the contents, what different topics does it cover, make a list of the different subjects which the book helps you to discuss in a monolingual class. All the students share the same language and obviously all the students are familiar with their own society.
This can be Sometimes have an advantage. For example, it makes it easier for the teacher to provide explanations of difficult vocabulary. But it can sometimes seem that the students have no need to speak in English since everyone speaks the same language and shares the same culture. So one activity which can encourage students to have a greater awareness of their own society in relation to others is to consider what international visitors would need to know. But the students must go into details, explaining exactly what the visitor needs to do. For example, if the topic of the textbook Unity's travel, they might consider what a visitor would need to take to be able to travel around their country or region, this sort of thing can start With the conversation or a roleplay, and go on to be project involving writing.
So one idea for making the most of your textbook is to imagine you have to tell someone from another country about your country. Using the topic and the vocabulary in the book. Here are some more ideas. Use the pictures before you read the text. Many textbooks have pictures to illustrate the ideas and vocabulary in each unit. Before you look at the explanations and exercises try to describe the pictures.
If you do not know the exact words for the things, the pictures, can you describe them in another way. Teach Yourself then test yourself. If your textbook contains exercises, don't write your answers in the book instead Write your answers on a piece of paper. After a few weeks, go back and try the exercises again. How much can you remember? Use BBC World Service BBC World Service broadcasts program on many different topics.
Why not look for a program which discussed the same topics as those in your textbook? For example, if the topic of work appears in your textbook, why not listen to get that job to test your vocabulary and understanding? Try to record the program which match your textbook. That way you can have a listening and reading library