How do we consult reference resources?

Reference resources are all the sources of information about language and about teaching that we can refer to for help in lesson preparation. They include reference materials, such as dictionaries and grammar books, books and articles in teachers' magazines about language, supplementary materials in a coursebook such as phonemic charts or lists of irregular verbs, and websites on the internet. Reference resources may also include people, for example, the head of department or colleagues who teach foreign languages or other subjects. We consult reference resources by knowing where we can find the information we need and how to find it. There is a lot of information available to teachers and it is important, therefore, to develop the ability to compare reference resources and decide on their quality and usefulness.

Key concepts

There are many reasons for using reference resources. Think of at least three.

Checking the form and use of grammatical structures

Some grammar books are written for teachers and have very detailed explanations. Others, designed for learners at different levels, use simpler language to give essential information about grammatical structures. Grammar books for learners can help us to see what information our learners need about grammatical structures and can provide us with suitable ways of describing or explaining grammar. The easiest books to use are those organised in alphabetical order, or which have a detailed index or table of contents. Some grammar books also include practice exercises, which teachers (and learners) often find useful.