Textbook recommendations for absolute beginner level university students

8 comments

1. How do you have absolute beginners? Did the students not go to junior high school? I’ve taught at 10 or more universities in Japan over the last 25 years and have never had absolute beginners.

   Also, what is the focus of the class? Reading or writing? Grammar? Speaking or listening? Presentations? Everything all together? How often does it meet?

   Offhand, I might recommend the *Top Notch* beginner level: it’s all in English, but the content is pretty much simple declarative sentences in the present and past, present and past questions, and some basic social routines. It has some grammatically simple readings and, best, is heavily supported with videos, some of which are extremely well done, with professional actors.

   As for explanations and instructions in Japanese, I’ve found putting instructions in Japanese in the LMS and simply explaining them in Japanese in class for students who are stuck suffices.

2. National Geographic Pathways is pretty standard for this kind of class if you want western style (USA European) style curriculum . Otherwise Japanese materials that dont lead far.

3. It’s quit bland but I often use Side by Side with my low beginner adult students. Very easy to follow. Not sure if it’s good for big classes though.

4. Check out [Nan-Un Do’s website](https://nanun-do.hondana.jp/en/textsearch/g9330.html). They are an underrated publisher with a pretty big selection. Some of the texts have Japanese support (instructions, vocabulary) built into the lessons. Speaking of People is one.

5. I like to use the English Firsthand series from pearson. It is all english, but is easy to follow and has lots of structured communication activities. I use the red in JHS, the yellow with HS, and green with adults.

   https://www.pearson.com/english/catalogue/general-english/english-firsthand.html

6. I like On Task for general English classes. I also used widgets for low level classes in economics departments but you have to skip a lot of activities in that book.

   I avoid Japanese textbooks but you can email any publishers and they’ll send you a bunch of samples.

   I suggest getting any samples sent to the university or you’ll never stop receiving samples and catalogs multiple times a year…. Though one publisher does send me udon every year which is nice.

7. I almost exclusively use interchange nowadays for older students regardless of level.
   The books are super easy to use and have really good exercises.
   Just my opinion tho.

8. How many classes in the semester? How many per week? How many students?

   I would take a look at [“Conversations in Class” by alma publishing.](https://www.english.almalang.com/)

   Hit them up and ask for a sample copy and see what you think.

   I have decided to take on the 2nd level book, ibunka, for my 3rd year students because I was impressed that it very, very much focused on/catered to Japanese students with a full knowledge of their backgrounds, both in terms of the education system they go through to get to university, and also the cultural dynamics with speaking. Too many other textbooks were way too generic or focused on Euro-style classrooms.

   The instructions aren’t in Japanese, but they have things like wordlists in both English and Japanese and explainer videos for the courses in Japanese. They also provide google slides for all the units and audio files in different accents for listening. However, the lessons are very much targetted at JAPANESE kids who have spent 6 years studying English but with little real opportunity to speak, so it shouldn’t be above their level to understand the activities.