(12:22:32) :
Scott, another stimulating topic for discussion in “T is for Taboo”.
The previous posters have stated the case for a more balanced and sensible approach quite succintly, and I would agree with them on this point.
In the EFL field, we should factor in cultural sensitivities through openly communicating with the various stakeholders, while not just assuming they exist and thereby being guilty of our own stereotyping.
Two further points I’d like to add to the discussion are:
(1) Good teachers use a text as a framework, but go well beyond it by accessing their own resources, other activities, the Internet, and so on. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter if the texts are imperfect since they are only a jumping-off point anyway.
(2) Those writers who do have something valuable to add to ELT, if faced with opposition from publishers, should realise the power of the Internet, PLNs, social networking, etc and SELF-publish. Perhaps if enough did so, the publishers might be forced to re-think their current censorial approach.
Posted June 27th, 2010 at http://scottthornbury.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/t-is-for-taboo/#comment-1417
Scott, another stimulating topic for discussion in “T is for Taboo”.
The previous posters have stated the case for a more balanced and sensible approach quite succintly, and I would agree with them on this point.
In the EFL field, we should factor in cultural sensitivities through openly communicating with the various stakeholders, while not just assuming they exist and thereby being guilty of our own stereotyping.
Two further points I’d like to add to the discussion are:
(1) Good teachers use a text as a framework, but go well beyond it by accessing their own resources, other activities, the Internet, and so on. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter if the texts are imperfect since they are only a jumping-off point anyway.
(2) Those writers who do have something valuable to add to ELT, if faced with opposition from publishers, should realise the power of the Internet, PLNs, social networking, etc and SELF-publish. Perhaps if enough did so, the publishers might be forced to re-think their current censorial approach.
Posted June 27th, 2010 at http://scottthornbury.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/t-is-for-taboo/#comment-1417
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