8 EFL Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Drawing from nearly two decades teaching English in South Korea, Jackie Bolen developed this book to share effective ESL/EFL strategies she refined over years in diverse classrooms. You’ll find practical approaches to lesson planning, student engagement, and teaching all language skills, including speaking and grammar, framed within widely used methodologies. For instance, she offers clear guidance on adapting lessons to different proficiency levels and creating activities that keep learners motivated. This book suits both newcomers seeking foundational techniques and seasoned teachers looking to refresh their toolkit with proven ideas.

What happens when a seasoned university English instructor channels his classroom challenges into a resource tailored for higher education? Hall Houston leverages years of teaching experience at National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences to present a collection of 101 targeted activities that revolve around the university setting, group dynamics, and active learning. You’ll find focused exercises designed to engage students throughout the semester—from icebreakers that build rapport early on to reflective activities that help close the course on a positive note. Additionally, the book offers teacher development prompts encouraging you to think critically about your own methods, making it insightful for educators aiming to enrich their teaching toolkit in university contexts.

This personalized book explores detailed techniques and plans tailored specifically for EFL teachers at all experience levels. It carefully examines methods that match your background and addresses your unique teaching goals, ensuring the content is relevant and practical for your classroom context. By focusing on your interests, the book reveals nuanced approaches to curriculum design, learner engagement, and assessment strategies that resonate with diverse student needs. Covering foundational principles as well as advanced instructional techniques, it offers a pathway through complex teaching concepts synthesized into a tailored learning journey. This tailored guide transforms broad expert knowledge into focused insights crafted to enhance your effectiveness and confidence as an EFL educator.

Jackie Bolen and Jennifer Booker Smith bring decades of hands-on experience teaching English to teenagers and adults, crafting a resource packed with fresh, low-prep activities designed to energize your ESL/EFL classroom. This book dives into practical games and exercises targeting speaking, writing, reading, listening, and grammar skills, with detailed instructions and tips to help you avoid common teaching pitfalls. Whether you're navigating lesson planning time constraints or seeking to boost student engagement, these activities provide straightforward ways to make your classes more interactive and effective. You'll find specific frameworks for conversation starters, writing prompts, and listening tasks that can be adapted on the fly, making it an ideal companion for busy educators.

Jackie Bolen's extensive experience as a CELTA and DELTA certified teacher shines through in this collection of practical activities designed specifically for online English instruction. Drawing from over two decades of teaching across various age groups and skill levels, she offers clear, low-prep games and lesson ideas that help you keep virtual classrooms engaging and interactive. The book drills down into how to implement these activities effectively, with tips to avoid common online teaching pitfalls and advice on maintaining student interest. Whether you're new to teaching English online or looking to refresh your approach, this resource provides you with ready-to-use tools that focus on student participation and skill development.

Larry Pitts draws on nearly a decade of ESL teaching experience to craft a resource that transforms how you engage your intermediate to advanced students. This book offers 50 ready-to-use role plays covering everyday and imaginative topics, complete with lesson plans that streamline your prep time and encourage lively student interaction. You’ll find adaptable activities that fit various class sizes and time frames, from quick exercises to in-depth sessions, with built-in discussion prompts to deepen language practice. If you’re aiming to spark confidence and conversational skills in your ESL or EFL classroom, this toolkit offers practical, flexible methods without overwhelming complexity.

This tailored book explores a focused 30-day pathway to enhance your EFL teaching effectiveness through step-by-step actions uniquely aligned with your background and goals. It covers practical classroom techniques, learner engagement methods, and adaptable lesson ideas designed to fit your specific teaching context. By examining key aspects of language acquisition and student interaction, the book provides a personalized roadmap that matches your interests and skill level. Through this personalized approach, you gain streamlined guidance that bridges collective expert knowledge with your distinct situation, enabling quicker improvements in classroom impact. The content engages you with targeted learning experiences crafted to accelerate your teaching growth and student success.

Mario Rinvolucri's extensive experience in English language teaching shines through in this book, which offers a variety of engaging games designed to make grammar practice more interactive and enjoyable. You learn how to incorporate cognitive, affective, and drama-based activities that specifically target grammar points, with clear guidelines on level, materials, and timing for each game. This structure helps you transform traditional grammar lessons into dynamic sessions that motivate students while reinforcing language rules. If you're an EFL teacher looking to revitalize your classroom and improve student participation, this resource provides concrete, adaptable tools without unnecessary complexity.

Paul Nation brings over four decades of global teaching experience to this straightforward guide for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructors. You’ll find focused chapters on essential classroom skills such as teaching reading, listening, and speaking, along with practical advice on handling diverse classroom challenges like mixed proficiency levels and student motivation. The book delves into curriculum design and language components like vocabulary and grammar, making it a clear manual for educators seeking grounded strategies rather than theory. If you’re an EFL teacher aiming to sharpen your practical skills and classroom management, this book offers direct, no-frills guidance tailored to real teaching contexts.

Larry W Pitts draws on his extensive experience as an ESL teacher to offer a straightforward tool designed to energize language classrooms. You’ll find over 1,000 carefully crafted questions across 100 topics that encourage students to practice fluency and expand vocabulary naturally. The book avoids gimmicks, focusing instead on usability with a clean layout that’s easy to photocopy or scan. Pitts also shares insights from his own classroom trials, helping you understand how to implement these questions effectively. This resource is particularly suited for teachers working with intermediate to advanced ESL or EFL learners who want to spark lively and meaningful conversations.