Best Textbooks for Learning and Teaching English

How to Choose a Textbook

When selecting an English textbook, several factors should be considered:

Level of Prociency

Some textbooks are designed for complete beginners, while others are tailored to those with varying levels of knowledge. If your students already have a basic or advanced understanding of the language, it’s a good idea to determine their Prociency level. This can be done through special assessments, helping you choose the right textbook for efficient teaching without spending time on material your students already know or struggling with overly complex topics.

Learning Goals

Most textbooks cover general language courses. However, some focus on specific areas, professions, or fields, such as medicine, law, or technical professions. These specialized textbooks provide more terminology and focus on scenarios relevant to the chosen field.

Authorship

Some textbooks are written by native English speakers, while others are not. However, this doesn't necessarily make one better than the other. Native speakers may explain nuances and complexities of the language better, while textbooks created by non-native authors might be more adapted to students in non-English-speaking countries. The key factor is the quality of the material presented. Knowing the author can also help you find the specific textbook you're looking for.

Age Group

Textbooks are often tailored to different age groups. A child might struggle with a textbook meant for adults, while an adult may find children's textbooks too simplistic. Even within different grades, there’s a noticeable difference in how topics are taught, and this gap is even wider between adult and children's textbooks.

Edition and Relevance

Learning a language is more effective when the material reflects modern life. No matter how good a textbook published decades ago may be, it’s better to study English with newer editions. They contain up-to-date information and are generally more engaging and relevant to current trends.

Based on these factors, here are some of the best English language textbooks:

Universal Textbooks

Universal textbooks are suitable for all Prociency levels and cover all aspects of the language—grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and more.

English for Everyone by Rachel Harding
This textbook presents all the rules in a concise format, with illustrations and diagrams to explain grammar and listening comprehension using real-life situations. For example, prepositions are taught through scenarios like one person giving directions to another. Each topic includes exercises to reinforce the material, with a focus on speaking and listening.

"English for Everyone" is suitable for all levels, from Beginner to Advanced, and is divided into four parts.

Cutting Edge by S. Cunningham, P. Moor, J. Bygrave
This series includes materials for levels from Beginner to Advanced, with a textbook, workbook, and audio files. The unique feature of "Cutting Edge" is its communicative approach, using contemporary English with common idioms and slang. The course initially balances all aspects of the language, but once the basics are established, the focus shifts to expanding vocabulary.

"Cutting Edge" does not have translations, so a basic understanding or teacher guidance is necessary.

English File (Third Edition) by Oxford University: C. Oxenden, C. Latham-Koenig
This resource is designed for levels from Beginner to Advanced, divided into six stages, with textbooks, workbooks, and audio files. "English File" emphasizes learning through contemporary topics, equipping students with useful skills for everyday life. The course does not delve deeply into grammar or rare vocabulary, instead focusing on listening and speaking.

Textbooks by Prociency Levels

Beginner English 100 Lessons by Preston Lee
This beginner-level course is divided into 100 lessons for step-by-step learning of English grammar, with over 200 sentence templates and practical exercises.

101 Conversations in Intermediate English by Olly Richards
The Story-Learning method teaches English through stories. This book follows six characters through detective adventures, helping students practice conversational English. The book can also be supplemented with an audio version for independent learning.

Grammar and Vocabulary for Advanced by M. Hewings, S. Haines
This advanced-level textbook focuses on preparing for exams, with extensive grammar explanations, vocabulary, and sample exam questions in each section.

Textbooks by Language Skills

Grammar: Essential Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
Recommended for Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate levels, this textbook moves from basic to more complex topics with plenty of examples.

Pronunciation Practice: Tree or Three? Ship or Sheep? by Ann Baker
These two books focus on sound differentiation and pronunciation, with exercises for Elementary (Ship or Sheep?) and Intermediate (Tree or Three?) levels.

Vocabulary: English Vocabulary in Use by McCarthy Michael, O'Dell Felicity
This six-level vocabulary course covers a wide range of topics, from daily life to work and travel.

Reading: Learn English through Stories by Donald Wells
This book teaches vocabulary and grammar through 16 stories, with three levels of difficulty, helping students improve their reading comprehension.

Writing: The Only Grammar Book You’ll Ever Need by Susan Thurman
This resource helps students write grammatically correct texts, covering sentence structure, punctuation, and common mistakes.

Textbooks for Children and Teens

Super Minds (1-6)
Designed for elementary school students, this textbook uses comic-style stories to engage learners, with supplementary workbooks and digital resources.

Today!
For students aged 10-14, this four-part course covers levels from Starter to Pre-Intermediate, using real-life situations relevant to teenagers.

Solutions
For students aged 14 and up, this textbook is more advanced and prepares learners for exams.

Conclusion

While there are many English textbooks available, there is no single “best” option. It’s important to choose a textbook based on personal preferences and to combine it with other resources for a comprehensive approach. This method works best within language courses, and obtaining a TEFL/TESOL certificate will confirm your Prociency level.

For English teachers, having a TEFL & TESOL certificate is essential. These certifications confirm a teacher’s qualifications and skills. To earn TEFL/TESOL certificates, you must complete an online course and score above 60% on all tasks. This certificate is often required for both online and in-person teaching jobs.