List of Favorite EFL Texts for Adults
Every teacher has their own tastes regarding texts; after nearly 15 yrs. in the business, here
are my personal picks for adult students, for what it's worth . . .
Integrated Skills

English Firsthand Series – Marc Helgesen, Pearson Ed., with an emphasis on
listening, which is lacking in most IS texts; popular in Japan for many yrs.

Face2Face – Chris Redston, Cambridge U, the upper intermediate text is especially
good for advanced students.
Speaking

Communication Games (3 levels) – Jill Hadfield; great for large classes and groups.

New Headway Pronunciation – Oxford U; a solid, comprehensive pronunciation text.

Whaddaya Say: Guided Practice in Relaxed Speech – Nina Weinstein ISBN 9780201670400; the only text I've come across and used that is dedicated to the way lots
of native speakers say things, which students never understand because they've
never been taught real-world, down-n-dirty language.

Jazz Chants – Carolyn Graham; a unique, fun text using music & rhythm to teach
pronunciation.
Reading

Read This! Level 1 – 3: Fascinating Stories from the Content Areas – Cambridge U;
great for teaching basic vocabulary found in academic contexts and news, and for
improving reading skills.
Listening


Tactics for Listening (3 levels) – Oxford U
Active Listening (3 levels) – Cambridge U


Randall's ESL Cyber Listening (www.esl-lab.com)
California Distance Learning Project (www.cdlponline.org)
– Okay, so these two aren't texts. But, they both have a huge number of
streamable/downloadable .mp3 files, some easy enough for pre-intermediate
students, and printable scripts/exercises (find additional worksheets I've made under
the lessons link on this website). These are really a great change from boring
textbook listening exercises.

Mini-World Communications/Videos - 4 VCR tapes by Jill Sazanami , Sierra Media
Services? Or Everett, WA : World Communications, 1992. Rare/extremely hard to find.
All videos are about spots and activities of interest in the Pacific Northwest and
Hawaii. There are two levels of difficulty, both a scripted listening and also
interviews with real people. The listening scripts can easily be made into fill-in and
short question listening exercises for students.
Tapes: 1881486001 (v. 1) 188148601X (v. 2) 1881486028 (v. 3) 1881486036 (v. 4)
9781881486046/1881486044 = set of all 4
Accompanying textbooks: 9781881486060, 9781881486077, 9781881486084,
9781881486091
Writing


Composition Practice, Book 1 (Heinle + Heinle)
Academic Writing Series – Longman (Fundamentals of Academic Writing, Level 1
First Steps in Academic Writing, Level 2; Engaging Writing: Paragraphs + Essays)
Academic

Headway Academic Skills: Reading, Writing, and Study Skills, Level 1 & 2 –
Oxford U; excellent for teaching the academic skills necessary to pass tests like IELTS
and TOEFL, or to take courses at a Western uni.
Business

Business Start Up 1 & 2 – Cambridge U, the best beginning level Business English
text, some units are good for any large group of students, or for general EFL classes

First Insights into Business – Longman, a popular text and very good.
 English for Work: Everyday Technical English – Longman, 978-0582539631;
great for special groups like NGOs, Health Workers, Local Businesses, etc.