Beyond Methods

Macrostrategies for Language Teaching

Kumaravadivelu B.

In this work, B. Kumaravadivelu presents a macrostrategic framework designed to help both beginning and experienced language teachers develop a systematic, coherent and personal theory of practice. His book offers to provide the tools a teacher needs in order to self-observe, self-analyze, and self-evaluate his or her own teaching acts. The framework consists of ten macrostrategies based on current theoretical, empirical and experiential knowledge of second language and foreign language teaching. These strategies enable teachers to evaluate classroom practices and to generate techniques and activities for realizing teaching goals. With checklists, surveys, projects and reflective tasks to encourage critical thinking, the book is designed to be both practical and accessible.

Reviews

"This book challenges teachers to think, and it succeeds. Kumaravadivelu addresses critical theory, sociopolitical issues, the importance of context, cognitive processing, and a host of other important aspects of language teaching" – Rebecca Oxford, University of Maryland

"The subject is timely, and the book succeeds in bringing together scholarship from general education, second/foreign language education, and applied linguistics to create a coherent framework for thinking about and designing language lessons" – Sara Cushing Weigle, Georgia State University

"This is indeed provocative and thought-provoking stuff" – Simon Great, GRETA

"'Beyond Methods' challenges language teachers to go beyond the details of language acquisition and reflect on the larger issues which encompass their learners lives. Stimulating and provocative, this book is an excellent choice for a text on reflective teaching" – Thomas Scovel, San Francisco State University

"Kurmaravadivelu analyzes historically the role and function of teachers as passive technicians, as reflective practitioners, and as great intellectuals. This book is highly recommended for all levels only if the reader is ready to critically engage her own belief system about strategic teaching and language learning. The final goal is to begin embracing self-directed pedagogy. Highly recommended" – Choice

"This timely publication provides the tools a teacher needs in order to self-observe, self-analyze, and self-evaluate his or her own teaching acts" – Educational Book Review

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