Teaching Tenses: Ideas for Presenting and Practising Tenses in English

One of the best, clearest, most concise, helpful tools I own. If you work with English learners, you need this book!!!

It is sharp and gives finer points in learner errors, pronunciation and register (formal and informal)

great book for teachers of English. was a must read on a course I took.

Great reference for teachers with clear explanation n timelines for tenses. There are good concept checking questions to help teachers check meaning.

This is an excellent resource for teaching tenses! I would recommend it to anyone teaching esl from beginners to advanced

I found it very useful during my CELTA course.

The previous reviewer did such a good job describing the assets of this book that there's little I can add in that respect. But, like her, I just can't help singing its praises. Other teachers, and advanced and professional-level students (e.g., translators) that I've recommended "Teaching Tenses" to are just as enthusiastic. You're a teacher and thought you "knew" tenses? Now you'll understand each in depth. And so clearly viewing the entire spectrum, you'll "get" the part that's hardest for the students: the *differences* between them, "when to use which" -- like exactly *why* "it has to be" present perfect here (not simple past), or a conditional; or the different ways of expressing the future (not solely "will"!). This book has really deepened my insight into (and across) tenses. And with the clear, *everyday-use* lesson-approach ideas it contains, plus the ideas it inspires in me, I'm continually constructing so many valuable lessons and games that students really respond to. Even better, it's helped me to be able to give brief, instant, example-specific explanations in class that the students can immediately grasp and use! This skill is extremely useful in countries where the native language is quite different from English. And it's also invaluable for native-English writers and editors in explaining why the customer's cherished misconceptions about English will not get the results he's after. "Teaching Tenses" is in the top ten -- maybe top five! -- in my personal library of teaching references. If you're really into teaching -- or learning -- English, this is one of those select books that you'll recommend to everyone... but will *never* lend out your personal copy!

I'm an EFL teacher with sixteen years experience and am presently preparing my own book criticizing much of what is currently accepted thinking about verb tenses. Because of my work I have become intimately familiar with the contributions of other authors in the ESL field: Swan, Azar, Eastwood, Murphy, Hewings, Thompson & Martinet, etc. as well as writers specializing on the English verb: Lewis, Maule, Close, Leech, etc. The bottom line: I agree completely with the other two reviewers here; this is a wonderful book on an essential professional topic - one of a very few in the market that are truly worthwhile! I can only add that it is a shame this book is not more easily available through Amazon U.S.A. (I'll do what I can to see this change...) There is good news however: It *is* available through Amazon Canada or Amazon UK under ISBN 0952280868, ELB Publishing 2002 (original edition by Longman UK), with the cover corresponding to the customer image provided here by Eugene Lesmez. The cost is reasonable even with the international shipping... hell, I'd pay a hundred bucks if I had to replace mine!

At less than 200 pages this book may at first look a little lightweight, but each page is so densely packed with information and ideas that it is in fact very comprehensive indeed, serving both as a grammar book on tenses and as a resource book for teaching them. The form, meaning and function of every conceivable tense (and the English language does have an awful lot of them) is covered. Every chapter lists the various uses to which the tense can be put (with time-line graphics), and suggests contexts for teaching it, and also has a useful section on learner error which includes common mistakes in mishearing/mispronunciation. At the end of the book is a small section of photocopiable material, mostly in graphic or pictorial form, for use with learners. I am about to begin my first TEFL job, and expect to find this book very useful, especially with learners who are already at an intermediate level or above. If this turns out not to be the case, I'll let you know.

If i am paying for something, I expect you to send a good product, not a book with oil stains. Really not happy with the way how you send across a defective book.

Ce livre a été recommandé à moi par mes collègues et je n'ai pas été deçue. Chaque temps est discuté en grand détail avec beaucoup des exemples pour enseigner. Chaque chapitre inclut une partie qui discute des problèmes experiencés par les étudiants. Trés bon pour les enseignants en formation et ceux en train d'obtenir le CELTA.

Excellent book - does what it says- easy to read- high lights problems students will have along with lesson ideas and how to solve these problems. Wouldnt be without this book. it is well written and easy to read

This is a favourite of the many waaaay overpriced TEFL books I foolishly purchased. Cleanly and simply laid out and is easy to negotiate. It doesn't have too much bumph but still includes lots of handy advice with each section. Though having just browsed some of the surprisingly negative reviews it seems the 'publisher' is of importance. Mine is the same book in the picture: ELB publishing. Date: 2002.