Reaction Paper on Priorities for Evaluating Instructional Materials

Priorities for Evaluating Instructional Materials

By  Rosa Sandoval

I agree with the article that a positive environment for the English Learners is very important because motivation is a great force to learn any subject, as well, challenges can be useful in order to catch the learner’s interest, but you have to be very careful to avoid excessive difficult tasks.

Also, clear explanations are very important. When you are teaching a basic level, you have to give simple explanations, as the group is advancing in knowledge, the instructions can be more complex, but without losing clarity. The same applies to the instructional material.

I think every group you teach is different and you have to study the dynamic of the group in order to choose the best course. It’s a matter of experimenting until you find a good balance and even the same group changes through time and you have to continue changing or adapting the activities and materials in order to keep them interested and learning.

When you choose or create materials you have to take in account the differences in learning styles between individuals, their context, it means that you have to provide variety, and not only for the differences, but also to integrate skills.

One thing that I didn’t like about this article is the lack of  specific examples, when the author refers to big ideas I expected an example.

Important Points When You Teach English

Principles of effective materials development

Principles of Effective Materials Development
Reaction Paper 
by Rosa Sandoval


When you teach children you have to think about the purpose of education. People have certain expectations of education, and those expectations influence their teaching and learning process, mainly the purpose of education is about:

·       Passing valuable knowledge and culture

·       Preparing learners as members of the society

·       Developing learners as individuals

In order to teach English in primary school you have to think in how the students acquire the language knowledge. Also, you have to think in how to teach the language in an effective way.

In the course about methods of teaching English we talked about approaches, procedures and activities. In the classroom, the main focus is in the activities. The teacher has to develop interesting activities, but the success of the activities is related to the material development.

According to the article, there are many things you have to take in account when you are choosing the materials in order to teach English as a second language, for example:

·       The need to communicate

·       The need for long term goals

·       The need for authenticity

·       The need for student centeredness

For me the next are the most important points when you are developing materials:

·      Context: this allows the students to understand better the language because it is familiar.

·        Variety: with this you get the students attention.

·       Enjoyable: if your students are having fun they will be interested.

·       Opportunity: The students need every chance to practice the language.

·       Integration: materials have to integrate the different skills