A GUIDE TO CHOOSING
A TEXTBOOK FOR YOUR CLASS A to Z OF BOOKS FOR TEACHERS
How to choose a text for
students:
Advice:
New classes, please don't rush into deciding on a
text unless you are sure!
First of all use a variety of photocopied materials
from those you are considering.
Note this does not break copyright rules so long as
you are only sampling a text.
Cash for books:
Students will pay the school directly for any books.
Please note the price sold for may actually be a little
more or less than the price on the book. This amount
they will pay after delivery, so if we ask you to
deliver the books, then please be prompt and ask the
students also to be prompt
Purchasing texts:
If you are needing only 1 extra set of books for
a new student in the class, then perhaps you can pick
up the books yourself if you are visiting Tenjin.
Keep the receipt for record and sell it to the student
direct!
Ordering texts:
If books are not in stock at the school, then we
prefer to order them in large numbers direct from
a wholesaler at discount.
Attached at bottom of page is the order form. If not
all your books are in stock, they ask if you wish
those to be sent on separately after or wait to send
all.
The following is a catalogue of books
we have in stock (most of which we also have tapes
for). List of suggested texts for students:
Texts and materials to use with kids` classes
1) Private lessons, kids pre-school to age c. 7:
`Pingu Loves English`, levels 1 & 2, with video,
childish age level but good for e.g. returnee pre
school kids or young kids who already have unusual
grasp of reading skills.
Longmann Press, ISBN 058246545-1
2) For kids under 5, a variety of suggestions,
including `Let's Go Starter` with CD, by OUP
For kids 5-10 years old with no experience or still
very basic level of vocabulary or ABC skills:
3) `Superkids` One by Longman Press.
ISBN:4931356427
Superkids with workbook is recommended from levels
2 to 3
Other alternatives are `Gogo Loves English`, but
we have teachers materials for above only.
4) All of the above texts come with an activity
book set. However I recommend you use a separate
ABC or Phonics workbook rather than Superkids Acitivity
Book level One since level one is not so useful. Suggestions
include Golden Work books, available via Little America
or ABC workbook from Toys R US ( only 200 yen!).
Golden Workbooks available from Little America.
Tel: 092-521-8826
Fax: 092-521-2288
Email: mailorder@littleamerica.co.jp
Alphabet skills (ISBN: 0307036642), easiest to 4)
most difficult
1) I know letters
2) Letters and Sounds
3) Alphabet skills
4) Word skills
An alternative workbook set is Kindergarten Letter
and Sounds, ISBN: 9812097325
Little America order form is attached
at bottom of page to download.
5) Materials other than books for kids:
A) Leapfrog Phonics desks are available at Toy R'US
( Stores in Momochi, Hakozaki, Shingu)
Prices starting from \5,000 are a recommended purchase
for kids aged 4 and up.
Some phonics desks are just button-touch or listen
and tough plus read and write letters.
However others include slot-in cards with which the
toy reads out. We have some to lend to teachers, but
best we get students to buy them so they are used
more. Note this only is useful for small classes!
B) Other toys and games can be ordered from Little
America or Foreign Buyers Club.
Order forms are attached at bottom of page!
6) Junior Eiken Listening and Mini test materials
for kids aged 5-10 yeras:
This is recommended use for kids who study twice a
week or who have studied English for a long time already.
Using pictures and multiple choice answer sheets with
a tape. Also good to review and often as tests. We
have levels 1-6 mini tests plus listening and courses
for levels 1 and 5 i.e. from the most difficult level
to simple objects and verbs recognition.
Resources available from JAPEC, Tel 06-6339-1262
Fax 06-6339-1050
The test books cost little but the tapes are expensive.
The mini sample tests are free.
I f your students want to take a formal test to receive
a certificate, they can sit the test several times
a year, but you can just use the material and test
them yourself regardless.
7) Age 8-12, either Superkids 2 or 3, or for those
more able to read and write
Let's Go 2 by OUP Students book and workbook.
Students must have a basic ability to read and write
short words. ISBN 0194364532
8) Junior HIgh School, Year 1~
Winner, Students book 1. Longmann Press ISBN 0582318858
Very simple and childish activities in level one.
9) Alternative for JHS~ level are
Side by Side, levels 1~ by Longman press, ISBN 0130267449
Side by Side comes with a workbook also and has lots
of grammar exercises.
I recommend you buy the student and workbooks combined
in the same text called 1A and 1B.
This way any newcomers will be happier to start half
way through only.
10) Junior High School Year 2 and above or
returnee students returned from 1-2 years
education in the U.S.A.. This is a more unpredictable
area, where you have to do trial and error to match
their level:
Besides `Side by Side`, other recommended texts are:
"Get Together", level 1-, OUP, ISBN: 019437484X
or
`Clockwise` ( many levels) OUP, ISBN 0-19-434080-5
"New Parade"( Levels 4 and 5 best), Longmann,
ISBN 0-201-60430-2
Other good materials at this level are Reader books.
These are mostly famous stories rewritten for kids
or adults in a limited vocabulary. Some come with
CD's or even videos, if they want to pay a little
more. Some suggestions are:
11) Penguin 'Young Readers' or 'Readers'
O.U.P. 'Graded Readers'. Useful for many ages.
Famous stories rewritten for EFL student, with max
vocabulary of 300 to 2,000 words plus comprehension
exercises.
12) `Express Readers`: for Returnees and Adults.
Student book , activity book and CD by Express Publishing,
licensed but not sold by I.P.I (
Independent Publishers International) contact@indepub.com
Please note IPI books are not available from book
shops.
IPI, Tel: 0120-802070
Fax: 0120-802071
ISBN: 1842161644
13) Reading and Training, various stories
for intermediate readers~
ISBN: 8877546433
Again available from I.P.I and aimed at young adult
returnees or high level regular adult students. A
popular suggested title to use is 'Gullivers travel!
14) Interact with Literature, I.P.I ISBN:
8877544147
Aimed only at advanced level adults and includes anthologies
of poetry/literature with comprehension, questions
and vocabulary, suitable to teach school's literature
course!
Returning to junior high school
and High school regular texts:
15) A variety of texts and difficulty levels
aimed at group lessons from EFL Press (not sold at
bookshops)
Order via tel/fax, 048-772-7724.
'Now You're Talking', 'Talk A Lot'(3 levels from junior
high/senior high year junior high school 2/3 low-adults
level)
16) Private lessons, high school students,
recommend 'J-Talk'(teenager and cultural
listening and vocabulary topics) by OUP. ISBN: 0194361667
17) 'Marathon Mouth' by Intercom Press (Fukuoka
publisher).
Low level (adults or young person's text for group
lessons. Order form attached at bottom of page!
Intercom, Tel: 726-5068 Fax: 726-5069 books@intercompress.com
Adults texts, low level:
18) 'On the Go' by Interac School, 'Selnate
Press' (only available via Interac Co.),
daily English skills with guided Japanese explanation,
tel 092-473-6550, fax-6650
Interac Morimen Building 4-5, Hakata-eki , Higashi
2-17-5, Hakata-ku.
Order from attached at bottom of page!
19) New Interchange, Level 1-
Very easy to use and popular choice. No.1 selling
EFL text in Japan, Cambridge U.P,
ISBN: 0521628814 Comes with a separate workbook, well
laid out units with all kinds of tasks. Daily /travel
English & grammar.
20) Additional useful material might be readers
called 'Stories for Reproduction' by L.A.
Hill, OUP, 4 levels from 750-2000 word vocabulary.
Each unit is a half page story with comprehension
and vocabulary exercises. It's a little dated though.
ISBN: 0195802446
21) 'New Headway' or 'American Headway' by
O.U.P. ISBN: 0194376311 and ISBN:0194353796.
Several levels, similar to interchange, but more reading,
grammar, detailed comprehension exercises. Detailed
units plus workbooks.
22) 'Prime Time' and 'FutureTime' Longman
Press. ISBN: 0582259789.
Student and workbooks, pairwork, and listening aimed
at group lessons from low -high beginners and for
passive students.
22b) 'Marathon Mouth' and "Marathon
mouth Plus'. Conversation for young adults
text. Low to high intermediate text, lots of pair
work, ideal for large classes, interesting, relevant
topics. Published by Intercom Press (A local Fukuoka
company), Paul Shimizu and co.,
ISBN 4-900689-00-9 and ISBN 4-900689-24-6
Listening & speaking skills,
Travel English:
23) 'Passport' by O.U.P. and 'Passport Plus'
good for 1-1 or group lessons, especially
mixed abilities because you can cater the listening
and vocabulary to different levels. Popular text and
fun illustrations. False beginners to intermediate
level.
The sequel is set in Japan, introducing Japan to travellers.
The first text includes situational English e.g. at
the bank, directions etc. Young adults like this text
a lot. Also a workbook too.
ISBN :0194513025
24) 'I Travel.` A ticket to Communication!'
Macmillan Press (available in bookshops,
but takes time to order or wholesalers like Nellies
or the English Resources)
ISBN: 4895854183
Very low beginner to high beginner level. Very simple,
suitable with junior high school, year 3~, large group
lessons e.g. at a college workbook also. Good for
tourism industry students.
English for travel skills or Tourism industry students
(young people training in Air, tour, Hotel English):
25) `Basic Survival` by Heinemann,
ISBN 0-435-29682-5, suitable from false beginners~
low intermediate level; especially fro group lessons
because entire text structure via role play dialogues
and comprehension exercises. High school and above
age level. The next level up is called `Survival English`.
Available at bookshops usually if you order only.
26) `Highly Recommended`. A great
text to use with hotel English false beginners - intermediate
students. O.U.P., ISBN 0-19-437665-6. Emphasis is
listening and vocabulary.
27) `Welcome! English fro the Travel and
Tourism Industry`, Cambridge U. Press, ISBN
0-521-47900-2. Intermediate level, very useful, 50
specialised units to choose from.
28) `High Season, English for the Hotel and
Tourist Industry`, O.U.P., ISBN 0-19-451308-4.
High intermediate level text, focus is on vocabulary
and comp. exercises.
Toiec and Business English
texts:
29) If your students have desire to do an
introductory Toiec course then please note
that we have a homemade course for them to use which
comes with 2 mini tests and lasts over 20 hours of
lessontime. The course is called `Toiec Listening
UP` and incl. elements of Toiec test plus business
english books.
30) `Enterprise One`, Heniemann- Longman Press,
ISBN 0-435-28937-3. This is a very low level
text and old fashioned look but also very short so
may be useful as a starting step.
31) `Business Venture`, levels 1 and 2, O.U.P.,
ISBN 0-19-457238-2. High beginner~ intermediate level;
well designed topics by function e.g. scheduling,
making complaints. Lots of listening comp. exercises-
ideal for larger group lessons and often used at university
business english departments.
32) `Passport to Work`, O.U.P.,
ISBN 0-19-457364-8. Good value , colorful text, comes
with additional CD. Better suited to young people/
college students as short specialised listening units
on work topics.
33) `Business Basics`, O.U.P., ISBN
0-19-457340-0. Best way to describe this text is to
say that it is `the Headway` of business books i.e.
it has a little of everything, very well laid out
and in depth chapters with lots of reading comp. Easy
to more tricky topics cos gets in depth. More intermediate
text than no. 31).
34) `At Your Desk`, Brownstone Books,
ISBN4-939125-00-9. This is a heavy & highly in
depth, high intermediate course~ of 5 units with listening
CD for: Meetings, Presentations, Telephone, Email,
Small talk.
There are several short and longer texts in bookshops
designed exclusively for telephone English skills.
Curent Affairs, Issues, Discussion
Usually the best way is just to collect funny, true
stories off web, but here are some text choices. Most
of these texts will always be in stock at bookshops.
35) For news turned into EFL study, there
are texts published by likes of BBC which you can
find at bookshops if you look closely. These are simply
recent news-stories with vocabulary and comp. exercises
added.
36) `Can you Believe It?`, Levels 1-3, beginner~
low intermediate, O.U.P., ISBN 0-19-43729-0.
Amusing stories with a good variety of well laid out
comprehension. Listening tape available, but main
emphasis is on vocabulary related to reading the very
short 1 or 2 paragraph stories. Popular choice for
cafe lessons.
37) `Good news, Bad news`, O.U.P. ISBN
?, Well known and entertaining stories aimed at improving
listening skills. Good to use in private lessons.
38) `Impact Issues`, with CD attached, Longmann,
ISBN 9-789620-014802.Conversation topics, 20 units
of 2 pages each, reading, opinion cartoons. Suits
group lessons, college age best, high beginner~.
39) `Topic Talk Issues` by EFL Press,
ISBN ?, You can only order from EFL Pres direct (
mail costs c. 400 yen and books over 2000 yen each).
This text bit more suitable for older ages, 1-1 or
smaller groups.
40) `Can`t Stop Talking`, Heinle & Heinle
Publ., ISBN 0-8384-2914-9 ( order via The
English Resource wholesalers), Mostly social issues,
project topics, only suitable for larger groups in
discussion circle.
41a) `Global stories`, Social and
economic developing nations issues, a variety of books
publ. by John Small from Kumamoto, available to order
c. 2000 yen~, from www.karmayogapress.com
41b) 'Identity'. Cultural differences
text. Low intermediate listening,reading, discussion.
Interesting topics, with a CD attached. Published
by OUP, Joseph Shaules, ISBN 0-19-438574-4
Specialised books for Grammar:
42) `Grammar Works`, Cambridge U. Press,
ISBN 0-521-55542-6, Beginner level, illustrations
are clearly aimed at kids and young people. Fun for
kids maybe, but too much of a `school book feel` for
adults.
43) `Impact Grammar`, Longmann,
ISBN 962-00-1428-6, Student book for class use with
CD attached. Creative method, listening to interesting
reports & grammatical exercises. Suitable from
high beginners~
44) `New Essential Grammar in Use`, Cambridge
U. Press, a classic homework book for adults,
beginners~
Listening Courses:
45)"Tactics for Listening", 3 levels
from beginners~, OUP, ISBN 0-19-434587-4.
This alone is not enough as a student book and would
be dull, but useful as a supplementary text for listening
skills in 1-1 or groups.
Movie course:
46) `Wallace and Gromit` video with
student book, ideal for private lessons with returnee
kids and young people. OUP, ISBN 0-19-459245-6. Funny
and entertaining animation. Beginner to mid-intermediate
levels.
47) Video and screenplay dialogues published
by www.sceenplay.co.jp
Available at bookshops. This is a great way to focus
on improved use of idioms, vocabulary, pronunciation.
We have some videos & books.
This method uses a few minutes of video each week.
Teacher prepares situation cards, using and vocabulary,
idioms and expressions. Students read the screenplay
dialogue available from bookshops or to be downloaded
off the internet. Current video and books we currently
have are: `You`ve got mail`, `Sabrina, `the Bodyguard.`
48) Mr Bean video course with student book,
most suitable for high beginners and high school students,
especially less motivated students.
49) British Culture or other national Culture
courses:
`A Window on Britain` video and activity book, O.U.P.,
ISBN 0-19-459038-0, suitable for beginners. There
are several alternative reader textbooks available
at bookshops plus you can get materials off the www.
Order Forms
A) To receive free inspection copies from publishers,
attached here are inspection copy forms to download
and print then fax to publishers. Spring Book Fairs
often will also offer you samples.
The
English Resource ( also good, but stocks more
unusual texts like Express readers and other books
in the I.P.I. catalogue)
Little America ( sells games as well as books,
sells Golden workbook Phonics series for kids)
The
Foreign Buyers Club ( stocks import materials
possibly not found elsewhere, but a little more expensive
for mainstream texts?)
Intercom Press ( local Fukuoka publisher)
Interac
School (Selnate Press, to buy `On the Go` series)
