Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Robert O'Neill
This article is not designed as a direct reply to Dick Allwright's paper 'What
d o we want teaching materials for?', published m^ELTJournal Vol. 36.1
(October 1981). There are two basic reasons why it is not. First, I think it
perfecdy possible to agree with many of his assumptions and still believe in
die use of textbooks for a variety of purposes. For example, I agree that we
should not attempt to predict die learning process of die learner in die way
diat some textbooks appear to do. But I shall argue diat this is by no means
typical of all textbooks. I can also agree diat some textbooks promote over-
involvement of the teacher and under-involvement of the learner. But this
does not mean I think it is impossible for textbooks to be designed to
promote loosely co-operauve styles of learning in which the learner often
takes die initiadve in deciding what is die best step forward. Indeed, I
believe that a number of contemporary textbooks are designed in diis way.
I can also agree that in some cases it may well be best to begin widi a clean
slate and rely only on materials designed after contact with a particular
group and close analysis of dieir needs. However, I diink die situations in
which this is possible are far less common dian Dick Allwright appears to
believe. Certainly diey are far less c o m m o n than die particular circum-
stances he argues from. Relatively few groups are sponsored by organiza-
tions like the Polish Academy of Sciences, or have die favour of a British
Council subsidy. Teachers and classes are often dirown together in schools
or institudons in which there is relatively litde time for careful analysis of
each group's needs. In such cases it is often far more practical to choose
from the considerable and growing variety of published texdjooks. I shall
argue in any case diat often diere is far more similarity between the needs
of apparently different groups than we realize.
My second basic reason for not designing diis article as a direct reply to
Dick Allwright's question 'What do we want teaching materials for?' (and
by teaching materials he means textbooks) is diat I diink it is far better to
set out die positive advantages of using textbooks, as I see diem, and to
allow readers to judge for diemselves between o u r two arguments.