Criteria for coursebook assesment

Criteria of course book assessment

My refection about it.

I was checking a student book from the MINEDUC, with the criteria of course book assessment, it has a plenty of statements which are given for checking.

All of them are really important to check a book because with them we know when any book is good and can be used with the students effectively. The name of the book is “Global English”, written by Jolanta Polk Reyes, and it's  used in 3ºmedio.

The book seems to be good, but in my opinion, the syllabus does not match the level of English that the students have, because it is in a very high level of English. This year we have been doing our internship, and there in the high school where I am, the level of English of the students in not even, all the different classes are in a different level so knowing that the book does not match with the syllabus in the part “approach educationally and socially acceptable to target community” because there in the “Maritime Institute” some of the students do not even know how to introduce themselves in English and they are in 3º medio  and the book is made for student who, should at least know how to use the auxiliary verbs and things, but not all them know it.

At the maritime institute I have to observe different classes one is from “Chemical lab" and the other is “Gastronomy”. the chemical students are known as the best ones and obviously they are because in English classes they are better than the others, I note this because they know how to ask for permission in English, they get better grades in the quizzes, they do their homework on time, but on the other hand I have students from “Gastronomy” they are less smarter than the others, because they do not do their homework on time, they do not use the English language when they ask for permission and things, and they should use it because they will need more English than the others in their future jobs as future chefs or waiters/waitress.

I think if this book were more adequate for the real level of English of the students, they will learn more because most of the students do not have a base of English. They need to know English from the very beginning to use this textbook.

Box 13.2:        Criteria for course book assessment

importance	Criterion
7	Objectives explicitly laid out in an introduction, and implement I the material.
3	Approach educationally and socially acceptable to target community.
7	Clear attractive layout; print easy to read.
7	Appropriate visual material available.
6	Interesting topics and task.
5	Varied topics and tasks, so as to provide for different learners level, learning styles, interests, etc.
7	Clear construction.
7	Systematic coverage of syllabus.
7	Content clearly, organized and graded (sequenced by difficulty).
7	Periodic review and test sections.
5	Plenty of authentic language.
7	Good pronunciation explanation and practice.
7	Good vocabulary explanation and practice.
7	Good grammar presentation and practice.
7	Fluency practice in all four skills.
4	Encourages learners to develop own learning strategies and to become independent in their learning.
7	Adequate guidance for the teacher; not too heavy preparation load.
7	Audio cassettes/ CD.
7	Readily available locally.

* Cambridge university press 1996


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SYLLABUS

A syllabus is a public document which serves as a general outline of a particular course. It's basically a list that is ordered by date and general topic. Some basic components and characteristics of the syllabus are:

1. Time Schedule: It can be based on the content to be reviewed from class to class or a specific test date.

2. Materials: here it refers to the materials that will be used in the course, such as required or optional books.

3. Evaluation Breakdown: We can see what the grading system is composed of, for example the number of tests and the amount of weight each one has to come up with the final grade.

4. Objectives: It should specify what the student should be able to do during the semester and at the end of it.

5. Policies: Rules that are explained in case of an absence or any other situation that the student could face during the semester.

6. Basic Information: In this category we can include information about the institution and teacher contact information.