Analyzing materials (coursebooks, lesson plans and activities for teaching)

The importance teachers think coursebooks have for their students
In relation to question three “What’s the importance of a coursebook for your students?” from the analysis of the data collected, there is a consensus among the teachers that coursebooks serve as reference for students when they need to check the contents they have learned. T1 said that my students use the coursebook as a guideline; T4 mentions: a guide at home and T9 considers the coursebook the main guide for beginners. It seems that according to the teachers a book functions as practical resource for study and as a real support for students when they are studying by themselves at home. In accordance with this idea T1 mentioned that the coursebook is important for students making notes that are relevant for them. T2 considers the book a resource to study while T4 thinks it gets easier to review the main subjects studied in class. T5 refers to a way of studying for tests and exams and to organize themselves [students] when studying is concerned. T7 considers that a coursebook is important because students know what they are supposed to learn and to study. All these opinions reveal that teachers consider a coursebook an important source for students to develop techniques and strategies for management of study. Also, according to T8, a book is meant to help raise students’ awareness about knowledge: start learning before the lesson and helps them when preparing themselves for next classes. Another finding was the key-words apoio (T6) and porto seguro (T7) used in comparison to a coursebook. Likewise key-sentences such as: students know what they are supposed to learn and to study (T7) and a reference to study for tests […] at home (T9) might indicate the importance teachers give to the students’ needs when choosing a coursebook. Teachers expect their students to find in the coursebook a source of references to topics assigned to study. It should provide explanation, exercises and review for the learners.