The Writing Process
The content of most textbooks is perishable, but the tools of self-directness serve one well over time. - Albert Bandura
A textbook is a teaching tool for teachers and a learning tool for students about a certain subject.
There is a lack of ESL textbooks worldwide and the demand is increasing every year together with the increasing numbers of ESL learners. ESL textbooks have become ever more expensive, especially over the past two years.
Textbook Writing Process
If you have a few years of ESL teaching experience you can consider the possibility of writing a textbook. However, you should start writing a textbook if you are really devoted to teaching and the process of creative writing attracts you more than the reward.
Elements of Proposal
Textbook publishers require proposals which usually consist of the following elements:
1. An author description.
2. Title and subtitle.
3. Basic information: distinctive features, methods and approaches.
4. Table of content and the number of pages.
5. Sample units, chapters or modules.
6. Information about colors, pictures, tables, diagrams, glossary, bibliography, set-up of pages and other issues.
7. Information about marketing, circulation and prospects for second and third editions.
8. Competition description.
Elements of a Textbook
ESL textbooks usually consist of the following elements:
1. In the introduction the author explains for whom the textbook is intended how it should be used.
2. Table of content is descriptive and user-friendly.
3. Units or modules are structured in a similar way and are numbered.
4. All units contain texts, exercises, examples and activities of the same or similar length and degree of difficulty.
5. Units are graded according to the principle ‘from easy to more difficult’.
6. Units define learning goals.
7. At the end of each unit there are self-review questions, exercises, case studies and home assignments.
Ideas
An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea. - Buddha
Getting Published
Teachers are often dissatisfied with the textbooks they use for their courses. To solve the problem, they usually supplement the textbook with additional material, some of which they have developed themselves. Having developed a lot of supplementary material, teacher may decide that writing his or her own textbook is the best solution.
Book Writing Template
You can write a book by filling in this template. Start by filling in any information that you have. As soon as you fill in a few pages, you can transfer the information to your computer. This guide may be used for both fiction and nonfiction books. To get the template, click HERE...
About ESL Textbooks
There is an article Universal Characteristics of EFL/ESL Textbooks: A Step Towards Systematic Textbook Evaluation written by Hasan Ansary and Esmat Babaii which analyses important features of ESL textbooks: arguments for using textbooks, counter-arguments, and more. To read the article, click HERE...
Textbook Evaluation Checklist
ESL textbook evaluation checklist prepared by Joshua Miekley provides educators with a valuable tool for evaluating textbooks. The read more, click HERE...
More about Textbooks
You will find more information about textbook writing in The Muddle Machine: Confessions of a Textbook Editor. An exposé of the politics of educational publishing, an article written by Tamim Ansary. You will find interesting ideas and comments. To read more, click HERE...
Publishing a Textbook or an e-Textbook
If you are interested in publishing a textbook on any subject, you can find many publishers online. For example, you can contact Gill & Macmillan publishing team, Amazon or Google Books. Also, there are extensive lists of publishers in Iowa State University Book Store, Wikipedia, and other websites.
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