| The Standby Book: Activities for the Language Classroom |
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Edited by Seth Lindstromberg Published by CUP 1997 ISBN 0521 558603 At first glance this book looks remarkably similar to other favourites, but on closer inspection it noticeably covers a much wider spectrum of ideas and approaches. As a welcome addition to the popular series of practical guides, Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers, it has a long pedigree and promises much. Bursting with ideas contributed by 33 teachers working in a variety of countries, many years of experience are packed into its 250 pages. My rule of thumb when judging a book like this is: how often would I use the ideas, and how much preparation do they need? ‘Mixed’, is the answer here. It contains the usual warmers, ideas for vocabulary, writing, reading (including literature), alongside chapters on Music and Imagination and Not Just for Business People. A chapter that seems out of place, warranting a book to itself, is Working with a Coursebook. Strongly in its favour is that most ideas are usable and user-friendly, some requiring no materials. Where texts, pictures, etc. are needed, many activities are provided with suggestions for adaptations and variations. Most would be equally suitable for mono- and multilingual, small or large classes and any level. While catering for general language teaching it takes into account the increasingly specialised market of English for Academic Purposes, Business English etc. Some activities would appeal to young learners (e.g. Newspaper Bash). Other interesting ones are The Tower of Babel, where listeners are exposed to several tapes played simultaneously, and Guess my Story, in which learners are encouraged to choose their own stories from those previewed by the teacher. With its clear presentation of simple and flexible ideas, this valuable resource book is especially recommended to those travelling light to far-flung areas of the globe, who want a lot of ideas ‘under one roof’. Ruth Pearson (Merrion House, Beaconsfield) |
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