Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom

"Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom" is a book that would have passed my noticed had it not been for some comments made by people who had read it. That said, I have found it to be an excellent starting point for a more in-depth understanding of the way language works in a practical setting. This book is not divorced from reality, nor does it inhabit the universe of pure theory. It is always and consistently related back to classroom practice, (as it should be with a title such as this). While it delves into the theories and research of various aspects of language learning in English, it regularly steps back into the classroom to explore the implications of those theories in that setting. The book covers the 4 basic skill groups of listening, writing, reading and speaking. There are chapters on each of them. Also there are sections on vocabulary, course design, and much more. Each section deals with the issues, problems, research done in each and more. There are also extensive excerpts from other material that is currently used in English classrooms. All of this builds into a book that gives a solid foundation for further knowledge and awareness of what happens when a student struggles with aspects of the English language. The book is a good introduction, also, to the terminology used by researchers and linguists, which is also helpful for those wishing to study more. This is a great starting point that gives you the tools to explore even further, (they have further reading lists at the end of each chapter). This is a good addition to the library and well worth a read. I got a whole heap out of it.