选择英语教材的主要原则和注意事项有哪些？ - 英语教学法原著选读109

暑期即将来临，值此休养生息、抓紧查漏补缺之际，本太白急朋友们之所急，推出“选择英语教材的主要原则和若干注意事项”，希望能够对朋友们有所帮助。

------怎样，是不是很正式？其实没有那么严重，我就是想从前面几期原著选读的严肃学术气氛中走出来，所以跟大家开个玩笑。

来来来，我们进入正题！本期文章的来源是上海外语教育出版社出版的《教学法丛书：如何选择教材》一书，作者Alan Cunningsworth。当然，其实即便没有这本书，我们仍然可以选择教材，这本来也不是一件特别学术的事情；但如果我们能够以更专业的眼光去挑选教材，从而给孩子、学生更合适的选择，那不是更好吗？

不管是家长还是老师，都会遇到给孩子挑选教材的事情，英语学习尤其如此。市面上的教材五花八门，跳来跳去有时会挑花眼，即便是英语老师这样的专业人士，有时也不容易决断。今天所选的文章作为暑期开始前的特刊，就是用来给朋友们提供一点参考。

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翻译：武太白

Quick reference checklist for evaluation and selection

教材评估和选择的快速参考列表

Aims and approaches

目的与手段

Do the aims of the coursebook correspond closely with the aims of the teaching programme and with the needs of the learners?

Is the coursebook suited to the learning/teaching situation?

How comprehensive is the coursebook? Does it cover most or all of what is needed? Is it a good resource for students and teachers?

Is the coursebook flexible? Does it allow different teaching and learning styles?

课本的目的与课程的目的、学习者的需要是否紧密对应？

课本是否适用于学习情境和教学情境？

课本的全面性如何？能否覆盖所有所需要的内容？对学生和教师来说是不是良好的资源？

课本具备灵活性吗？是否允许不同的教学和学习风格共存？

Design and organization

设计与组织

What components make up the total course package (eg students' books, teachers' books, workbooks, cassettes, etc)?

How is the content organized (eg according to structures, functions, topics, skills, etc)?

Is the organization right for learners and teachers?

How is the content sequenced (eg on the basis of complexity, learnability, usefulness, etc)?

Is the grading and progression suitable for the learners? Does it allow them to complete the work needed to meet any external syllabus requirements?

Is there adequate recycling and revision?

Are there reference sections for grammar, etc? Is some of the material suitable for individual study?

Is it easy to find your way around the coursebook? Is the layout clear?

整个教材包由哪些成分构成？比如，学生用书，教师用书，练习册，录音带/CD、MP3等等？

内容是怎样组织的？比如，是否根据语言结构、功能、话题、技能等加以组织？

所采用的组织形式对学习者和教师来说是否恰当？

内容是怎样排序的，是否以复杂度、学习难易度、有用程度等来排序？

分级与递进对学习者是否合适？能否使学习者完成达成外在课程要求所需的任务？

有没有足够的复现与复习？

有没有针对语法等内容的参考部分？有没有适合于个体单独学习的部分？

课本各部分清晰明了、容易查找吗？版式清晰吗？

Language content

语言内容

Does the coursebook cover the main grammar items appropriate to each level, taking learners’ needs into account?

Is material for vocabulary teaching adequate in terms of quantity and range of vocabulary, emphasis placed on vocabulary development, strategies for individual learning?

Does the coursebook include material for pronunciation work? If so what is covered: individual sounds, word stress, sentence stress, intonation?

Does the coursebook deal with the structuring and conventions of language use above sentence level, eg how to take part in conversations, how to structure a piece of extended writing, how to identify the main points in a reading passage? (More relevant at intermediate and advanced levels.)

Are style and appropriacy dealt with? If so, is language style matched to social situation?

课本有没有涵盖每个等级对应的主要语法项目，并把学习者的需求考虑在内？

语言教学材料就词汇量与词汇范围而言是否足够？重点是否放在词汇发展和个体学习策略之上？

课本有没有包含语音练习材料？如果包含了，覆盖了哪些内容：单个音，单词重音，句子重音，语调？

课本有没有处理超越句子层面的语言结构和传统用法，例如，怎样参与到对话当中去，怎样构建一篇较长的作文，怎样明确一篇阅读篇章的要点？（对中高级更有必要性）

风格和语言适切性有没有处理？如果有，语言风格与社会情境有没有对照？

Skills

技能

Are all four skills adequately covered, bearing in mind your course aims and syllabus requirements?

Is there material for integrated skills work?

Are reading passages and associated activities suitable for your students’ levels, interests, etc? Is there sufficient reading material?

Is listening material well recorded, as authentic as possible, accompanied by background information, questions and activities which help comprehension?

Is material for spoken English (dialogues, roleplays, etc) well designed to equip learners for real-life interactions?

Are writing activities suitable in terms of amount of guidance/control, degree of accuracy, organization of longer pieces of writing (eg paragraphing) and use of appropriate styles?

语言学习“听说读写”四项技能是否都充分覆盖，并充分考虑到课程目的和教学大纲的要求？

有没有针对综合技能练习的材料？

阅读篇章和相关活动是否适合学生水平、兴趣等？有没有足够的阅读材料？

听力材料录音质量好不好？是否尽可能真实，伴随有能帮助理解的背景信息、问题和活动？

口语材料（对话、角色表演等）有没有较好的设计，能帮助学生为真实生活中的互动做好准备？

就所提供的引导/控制、准确度、略长篇写作的组织（如分段）以及恰当风格的使用等因素而言，写作活动是否合适？

Topic

话题

Is there sufficient material of genuine interest to learners?

Is there enough variety and range of topic?

Will the topics help expand students’ awareness and enrich their experience?

Are the topics sophisticated enough in content, yet within the learners’ language level?

Will your students be able to relate to the social and cultural contexts presented in the coursebook?

Are women portrayed and represented equally with men?

Are other groups represented, with reference to ethnic origin, occupation, disability, etc?

对学习者而言真正有趣味的材料是否足够？

话题有没有足够的多样性和覆盖范围？

这些话题能否帮助扩展学生的（语言）意识，丰富他们的经验？

这些话题在内容方面是否足够成熟，又能控制在学习者的语言水平之内？

学生能否能把自己和课本中所呈现的的社会、文化语境联系起来？

对女性的描写和展现是否和男性平等？

其他群体是否得到了展现，如不同民族、职业，以及残障人士？

Methodology

教学方法

What approach/approaches to language learning are taken by the coursebook? Is this appropriate to the learning/teaching situation?

What level of active learner involvement can be expected? Does this match your students' learning styles and expectations?

What techniques are used for presenting/practising new language items? Are they suitable for your learners?

How are the different skills taught?

How are communicative abilities developed?

Does the material include any advice/help to students on study skills and learning strategies?

Are students expected to take a degree of responsibility for their own learning (eg by setting their own individual learning targets)?

课本所采用的是何种语言学习方法，或哪些方法？这是否合用于学习情境、教学情境？

能够期待何种水平的积极学习者参与？这是否与学生的学习风格和期待相匹配？

使用了怎样的技巧来呈现/练习新的语言项目？这些技巧对学生来说是否合适？

各种语言技能的教学是怎样进行的？

交际技能是怎样培养的？

材料是否包含关于学习技能和学习策略的建议或帮助？

是否期待学生对自己的学习负责（如设定自己的个体学习目标）？

Teachers' books

教师用书

Is there adequate guidance for the teachers who will be using the coursebook and its supporting materials?

Are the teachers' books comprehensive and supportive?

Do they adequately cover teaching techniques, language items such as grammar rules and culture-specific information?

Do the writers set out and justify the basic premises and principles underlying the material?

Are keys to exercises given?

对将使用教师用书及其补充材料的教师，有没有充分的指导？

教师用书是否全面并能提供支持？

教师用书是否充分覆盖了教学技巧、语言项目（如语法规则）以及针对具体文化的信息？

教师用书的作者是否设定并论证了教材底层的基本前提和原则？

Practical considerations

实际考虑

What does the whole package cost? Does this represent good value for money?

Are the books strong and long-lasting? Are they attractive in appearance?

Are they easy to obtain? Can further supplies be obtained at short notice?

Do any parts of the package require particular equipment, such as a language laboratory, listening centre or video player? If so, do you have the equipment available for use and is it reliable?

整个教材包需要多少花费？是否有性价比？

教材纸质坚固、能用很久吗？看上去是否有吸引力？

教材易于获取吗？能否在需要的时候迅速买到后续补充？

教材包中有没有哪些部分需要特定种类的设备，如语言实验室、听力中心或视频播放器？如果有，你有没有可用的设备，设备又是否可靠？