Customer Reviews
Far too much on teaching, nowhere near enough on English - By: Triestino, 02 Oct 2007 
I bought this book in the fond belief that it would help me teach English to students in a non-English speaking country, only to find that it's not about that at alll. It's apparently aimed at teachers who are either mid-way through, or have already been trained on, a teaching-English-as-a-foreign language (TEFL) course. Why qualified teachers should need a book on how to impart knowledge in the classroom is, I'm afraid, quite beyond me, but if you're a teacher who desperately needs a guide on how to teach, perhaps this strange little book will be right up your street. Those of us who are not qualified teachers & those who are not interested in the latest laid-back educational fashions should look elsewhere, & preferably for a book written not by an education specialist, but by a competent linguist who knows English well, & who can offer well-informed advice on how to design an introductory English language course for foreign students - something that this book doesn't reallly do.
Great book - By: , 31 Aug 2005 
I wasnt sure about buying this book to begin with but after reading the first few pages, I realised I had made an excellent choice. The layout is good & it is easy to read & full of tips, advice & ideas on teaching. It practicallly covers a TEFL course in a few pages. Definately recommend it to anyone interested or going to work as a TEFL teacher.
A whole CELTA/TEFL course in one book - By: , 15 Sep 2004 This book comprehensively distills the whole TEFL course in a book. (If it werent for requiring the certificate I'd recommend saving yourself some money by just buying the book!). An indespensible resource, especiallly for new EFL teachers.
Great help - By: , 11 Sep 2004 I'm a uni student about to go to teach english in Austria as the third year of my German degree. I'm not going to get much formal training, so this book has given me a great deal of confidence & some great ideas & teaching techniques. It covers a lot of material, but is split into smalll chunks which are well written, easy to understand & very effective. Would recommend this to anyone about to go into TEFL without having formal qualifications. Excellent!
This book saved my life!!! - By: Chris Lewis, 08 Jul 2004 A mere seven years ago I was a washed up, down & out drunk, living from the meagre scraps I could pick from the dustbins around the red light district of Portsmouth. I was a stinking, urine soaked muppet, who couldn't teach for toffee. That was until I found David Riddell's book of wonder.
Like a shining beacon gliding through the universe offering help & guidance for alll ELT teachers, this self help manual of gargantuan proportions is the TEFL bible. Riddell is Jesus in the world of English language teaching, & grammar is his god. With lexis acting as his trusty mount, Riddell thunders through the arrid desert of language healing the inflicted with his wonderous hands of CELTA.
Upon Riddell's head there sits a golden orb, & inside this blessed icon lies a silver parchment, & upon this parchment sits the four skills. He manipulates these four devices with the beauty & harmony of a sacred goat sacrificed on a mound of plated magenta & disected into minute mammals free to roam Middle Earth with joy & wonderment.
If only other members of the ELT realm could begin to mimic this majesty of control & ability in presenting educational structures & methods of language facilitation.
Thank you David, thank you for the memories.
