Jo McDonough & Christopher Shaw 
Materials and Methods in ELT 

Materials and Methods in ELT is an essential resource for
teachers or for those engaged in taking professional courses
relating to all aspects of English language teaching.

Now available in its 3rd edition, this popular teachers’
guide offers a comprehensive and useful introduction to the
principles and practice of teaching English as a foreign/second
language. It examines the ideas behind current methodology and
teaching materials, in addition to offering a practical guide to
approaching materials and methods, evaluation and adaptation,
technology for materials and methods, and teaching in
under-resourced classrooms. These principles are then related to
the individual language skills of reading, listening, speaking, and
writing. The authors examine the different methodologies available
to teachers for organizing and running an ELT classroom; discussing
group and pair work, individualization, classroom observation, and
the teachers’ role in the contemporary ELT context.

Updated throughout, the 3rd edition features a new section on
technology for materials and methods, as well as a new chapter on
IT in English language teaching, and inclusion of new samples from
current teaching materials.

Table of Content

List of Figures vii

Preface to the Third Edition ix

Acknowledgements xi

Part I Topics in the Design of Materials and Methods 1

1 The Framework of Materials and Methods 3

2 Current Approaches to Materials and Methods 17

3 Evaluating ELT Materials 50

4 Adapting Materials 63

5 Technology in ELT 79

Part II Teaching Language Skills 107

6 Reading Skills 109

7 Listening Skills 135

8 Speaking Skills 156

9 Writing Skills 181

10 Integrated Skills 201

Part III Aspects of Classroom Methods 225

11 Groupwork and Pairwork 227

12 Individualization, Self-access and Learner Training 245

13 Observing the Language Classroom 268

14 Views of the Teacher 288

Bibliography 308

Index 329

About the author

Jo Mc Donough was Senior Lecturer in ELT and Director of EFL at the University of Essex. Her publications include ESP in Perspective (1984) and Research Methods for English Language Teachers (with S. Mc Donough, 1997).

Christopher Shaw was a lecturer on the MA TESOL course in the International Academy and on several MA ELT modules in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex. He is currently on leave to work on other projects, including a resource package for EAP teachers.

Hitomi Masuhara was Senior Lecturer and Course Director of MA ELT and Materials Development at Leeds Metropolitan University. She is a founding member and Secretary of MATSDA (Materials Development Association) and is the author of Developing Language Course Materials (with B. Tomlinson, 2004) and editor of Research for Materials Development: Evidence for Best Practice (with B. Tomlinson, 2010).