I agree that textbooks are good source of information and saves time in not having to create materials from scratch, but today's digital natives learn in more informal ways like using social media, so you have to know how to integrate the two and depend solely on the textbook. Here's an example of how Facebook was used to teach EFL students English using derived from topics they discuss on social media such as fashion, sports, music, movies, etc.

Conference Paper Social Media in Education: Bringing Your Classroom to Life -...

Best regards,

Debra

Dear Hulya,

Whether to use a textbook or not when teaching EFL, depends on the course, students' needs, and the teacher. Most teachers prefer to have a book as this makes their life easier - instead of creating materials, they could use a book which is (usually) well-structured in terms of grammar and vocabulary presented, and offer some balance of the skills taught.

There are, of course, teachers who prefer to teach without any books and to use their own materials / ideas instead, but then comes the question if everything they use comes in the logical, systematic and balanced way, normally found in a textbook.

Students' needs can give you the best idea what you need to do. If it is a course for people who mostly need to communicate in every-day situations, books are probably not needed at all. Lots of communicative activities can do the job. However, if the course is for academic students who need to know how to write in different academic genres, you will definitely need written materials as well as to develop their writing skills. If there are textbooks you could use, go for that. I personally doubt it.

What I mean, is that there are no universal textbooks which can be perfect for all the students. It's up to you and the needs of your students. A diagnostic assessment at the beginning of the course can give you a clear idea what your students need, their aims and expectations, and you can tailor your course materials accordingly.

Best wishes,

Mariana

Textbooks, hard copies or electronic copies remain a good source of information. In all subjects, textbook should be prescribed to give systematic clarification of procedures and processes.

I agree that textbooks are good source of information and saves time in not having to create materials from scratch, but today's digital natives learn in more informal ways like using social media, so you have to know how to integrate the two and depend solely on the textbook. Here's an example of how Facebook was used to teach EFL students English using derived from topics they discuss on social media such as fashion, sports, music, movies, etc.

Conference Paper Social Media in Education: Bringing Your Classroom to Life -...

Best regards,

Debra

What should be the key role of textbooks in a language program?

Personally I find the role of textbook is critical important during pre-Internet era but now I feel the textbook's role has been diminished / diluted as there are multi-sources to learn language beside via textbooks like audio, video, LMS, Internet search, YouTube, Google Translate etc. However, textbook still serve its purpose when we are not online / connected to any technological gadget.

I agree with Gotseva

Thank you, Harry.

Text books are sources of materials for reference and also serving as teaching learning materials.Most things explained in class are recorded in text book for referencing.

Dear Hulya,

The current trend is to use a range of different resources rather than a recommended or a prescribed textbook. The educational reasons behind this change are to meet the learning needs of diverse students. Also, there is evidence that learning by using a wide range of resources enforces deep understanding and application of knowledge. Therefore, we may use textbooks, articles, review papers, short videos, games, audios, educational/scientific podcasts, interactive multimedia, electronic cases, simulation, etc. In medicine, for example, to enforce learning anatomy, we use the museum, dissection, anatomy atlases, cases, textbooks, simulation, computer programs, interactive programs, 3D models, body painting, etc. to facilitate learning anatomy. Turning learning into fun is, and you should think about methods that foster learning and engage students to become learning into games and enjoyable experience. I hope this helps

Your question is very important and I appreciate it because it allows me, very respectfully, to express the following:

Every day is less and sadly conventional the use of the printed textbook, in addition: uncomfortable and almost out of place.

Young people increasingly prefer digital technology to learn, they detest writing on paper, it costs them to accommodate the pupil to the recorded symbols and, with it, there is an avoidance of the noble act of reading written books, in any case they prefer audible books.

However for me, the book, in any readable format is necessary. He orthographic component of the language is learned through reading-writing and for that, there is no better way to interact with textbooks and another books.

With the huge influx of information , even though it is superficial in many cases, the role of "classical" textbooks in many programs of study "at schools or at universities" is diminishing, unfortunately.

I observed that the students of these days argue frequently about the need to buy a text book at the beginning of each semester. I usually try to convince them that a textbook will give its owners a benefit edge over those who decline to buy it.

At this age of advances in the means of communication, there is a bad need to produce attractive "colorful" textbooks for students. Authors of textbooks must be selected with special care & the textbooks ought to be subjected to modifications ,say, every 3 years.

Sadly enough, those who design curricula (in many countries) do not know exactly what to include & what to exclude. Simplifying problems & explanations has to be of prime importance otherwise the students will adopt repulsive attitudes towards textbooks & education at large.

In schools where formal instruction is there a textbook is very important as it is the most useful source for learning a language. A textbook also enables students for self-study at home. The most important point to mention here is how the textbook is well designed. If a textbook is well designed, students will learn better. Textbook designers should be aware of modern trends in language teaching and learning. I have read some textbooks for language learning that are based on communicative needs of learners and found it very useful while there are some other textbooks for language learning are really boring and demotivating as you feel that they were designed only for memorizing grammatical rules and some expressions.

Textbooks are still very important in the language learning. I recommend the use of e-textbook, because of high usage of mobile learning to allow students to tap from advantages of mobile technology- such as not carrying voluminous books, and learning anytime and anywhere at lesser cost.

Yes, textbook are important and to a certain extend are still used as major sources in language learning courses. Nonetheless, today teacher are faced with teaching Millennials. Tranditional methodologies, lectures and relying only on the coursebook is not effective anymore. Millennials want to be taught lessons in class as close to real life as possible. Therefore, only relying on textbooks especially in English language classroom would be irrationality. Millennials learn best using technology and they see technology as a precious partner in their classrooms.