Unpacking Tech
Unpacking Textbooks

Unpacking ESL Textbooks

 

 ESL teachers and tutors I train often ask for recommendations for ESL textbooks they can rely on for lesson planning. The materials on this page are textbooks I’ve used, reviewed, or consistently recommended for adult ESL classrooms and tutoring contexts.

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The Grammar Book (3rd edition)

by Larsen-Freeman, Diane, Celce-Murcia, Marianne (2015)

This book was first recommended to me by a professor during my MA in TESOL, and it quickly became my go-to grammar reference. As a teacher trainer, I now recommend this book to every ESL tutor and teacher who attends my classes and workshops

Task-Based Language Teaching

by Farahnaz Faez , Parvaneh Tavakoli , Thomas S.C. Farrell 

This concise, teacher-friendly text provides an excellent overview of task-based language teaching, clearly linking theory to classroom practice for English language educators.

Conversation Analysis and Second Language Pedagogy (2nd Edition)

by Jean Wong,  Hansun Zhang Waring 

Every ESL teacher should understand what goes into creating authentic conversation. This book breaks down the interactional practices that support real spoken communication—skills that learners benefit from but are often missing in adult ESL textbooks. It shows how teachers can integrate these elements into lessons, supporting students in building authentic interactional competence in English.

This widely used book in teacher training programs connects theories of first and second language acquisition to classroom practice. It includes practical activities, reflection questions, and updated research on second language learning, helping ESL teachers understand how learners acquire language and how to apply these insights in their lessons.