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Review of the methodology book for children: English for Primary Teachers
‘English for Primary Teachers’ by Mary Slattery & Jane Willis is an excellent handbook
of activities which demonstrates effective language teaching in practice and builds teachers
confidence in their ability to use English effectively, as well as providing advice, ideas, and
activities for the primary English class.
The book consists of ten units. Each unit begins with an overview and an introduction
linking to the earlier units. It shows this way how the unit progresses. This is followed by four
to five sections illustrating different type of activity, for example, Listen and mime, Listen
and colour, Listen and make.
The first unit focuses on the process of language learning and creating learning conditions
in class. It also introduces to the study methods used in the book. Units 2, 3 and 4, 5 cover
listening and speaking activities. Listening units show among the others TPR activities how
they should be performed in class in other children got the most learning. Speaking activities
in unit 4 concentrate on responding and beginning to speak some English. It shows how
saying rhymes and singing songs help children practice pronunciation, stress and intonation.
There is also section which gives examples how to practise vocabulary by playing games.
Unit 5 gives tips how the teacher should help children so that they could continue speaking
for a longer time.
Units 6 and 7 deal with reading then writing activities. They both are about how to teach
children to develop these skills through suitable activities. The writing unit shows how to
teach children to write gradually and how to make them enjoy writing by making a book or
writing to pen friends. Units 8 and 9 illustrate ways of using stories. Both units say that stories
are very valuable resource of teaching and they really can help children enjoy learning
English. The final unit covers wider issues such as use of mother tongue, correction, and
integrating course book activities.
I would highly recommend this handbook to Primary English teachers. It is a very
valuable book I have recently read with a great interest. Useful examples of activities, tips,
and ideas related to real life make the teacher’s knowledge richer in their work. Thanks to that
they can be better and more effective in teaching children at their early years.
