Teaching by Principles, Second Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I was shocked to read Dr. Pennington Jr use the following as the title for his book review: "A text written in everyday English." This is precisely what H. Douglas Brown's Teaching by Principles (Second Edition) is not!
Here are two examples from Mr. Brown's text which illustrate what I mean. Consider first his "everyday" definition of cheating: "a surreptitious violation of standards of individualized responses to tests or other exercises." Next, take a gander at how he describes group-work: "a generic term covering a multiplicity of techniques in which two or more students are assigned to a task that involves collaboration and self-initiated language." This type of jargon might impress some, but it's not everyday English and it defeats the chief purpose of language: to communicate! Additionally, it overturns Mr. Brown's assertion in another part of the book: "do not overwhelm students with linguistic terminology." Perhaps if Mr. Brown were to practice what he preaches, we might take him more seriously.
I teach TESL in Toronto, Canada, and I have no choice: I must use this book with my classes. I'm constantly trying to help my students by translating Mr. Brown's words into everyday English. Teaching by Principles is short on specifics and sufficient examples, and in my opinion is just as "immensely dry, convoluted and tedious" as all the other texts in this genre which Dr. Pennington alluded to in his review.
Sorry, but this is one frustrating book to read and from which to teach.




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Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy by H. Douglas Brown is a widely acclaimed methodology text used in teacher education programs around the world. This user-friendly textbook offers a comprehensive survey of practical language teaching options, all firmly anchored in accepted principles of language learning and teaching. End-of-chapter exercises give readers opportunities to process material interactively. Suggested readings direct readers to important books and articles in the field. This second edition of Teaching by Principles features information about such current topics as strategies-based instruction, form-focused instruction, and critical pedagogy and social responsibility; a completely revised section on language assessment; and expanded references.

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