Chapter 24: Ten Great Resources for TEFL Teachers 343
The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, for example,
includes colour sections with clear diagrams showing various vocabulary
groups. It indicates how frequently used a word is, the pronunciation in the
form of phonemic transcription (symbols that show how to pronounce an
English word), what kind of word it is (noun, verb and so on), what collocates
or typically goes next to that word(for example pitch and black are collocations
because the usually go together as one phrase) and the different meanings.
It offers whole sections on different varieties of English, metaphors, phrasal
verbs (verbs which include a preposition or two and have a special meaning
such as to set off and to get on with) and other useful areas.If you either recommend one particular dictionary to all your students, or
have a class set of dictionaries, you can plan lessons and whole activities
based on dictionary skills. In most cases, accompanying websites offer
exercises for the students to do with you or as self-study for homework. You
can also write to the publisher and ask for resource packs.Another two popular dictionaries for EFL students are:✓ Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary comes along with a range of online
resources from the Oxford University Press (OUP) website http://www.oup.
co.uk
✓ Various editions of the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
come in paperback or hardback format and also with CD roms.
Browsing Websites
Just as in many other industries, the internet has revolutionised the world
of EFL. From job-hunting to lesson planning, you can find loads of help and
encouragement from colleagues on a variety of websites.Finding work
Before ever you find yourself in the classroom, you need to get a job. So, if
you are currently in Warsaw but hoping to find yourself a position in Beijing,
for example, you need to get on the internet, CV at the ready.For many years http://www.tefl.com has been an essential website for job seekers
in EFL. It lists vacancies from all over the world and allows you to save a
CV online which can be forwarded to potential employers at the click of a
mouse. It also offers advice on training courses, franchise opportunities and
living costs in particular cities.