Teaching Unplugged

Dogme in English Language Teaching

Teaching Unplugged Cover
  • Book

Key features

Teaching Unplugged is the first book to deal comprehensively with the approach in English Language Teaching known as Dogme ELT. It challenges not only the way we view teaching, but also the way we view being a teacher.

Dogme ELT advocates teaching ‘unplugged’: a materials-light, conversation-driven philosophy of teaching that, above all, focuses on the learner and on emergent language.

Teaching Unplugged contains three distinctive parts A, B and C which focus in turn on theory, practice and development:

A:

  • A background to the ideas behind teaching unplugged.
  • A detailed explanation of the core principles behind Dogme ELT.
  • An invitation to reflect on the best way to learn a language and, consequently, to teach it.

B:

  • A bank of activities that teachers can use right away and which help them ‘unplug their teaching’ from the start.
  • Activities that involve little or no preparation, often requiring no more than pen, paper and the people in the room.
  • Tips, techniques and key terms to facilitate a new approach to teaching.

C:

  • A reflection on questions relating to how Dogme ELT can be applied in different teaching contexts.
  • An in-depth examination of the issues and implications of adopting this new style of teaching.

Reviews

The outcome of this meeting of minds is Teaching Unplugged, a slim, attractive and ultimately thought-provoking title.

Wayne Trotman

EL Gazette, July 2009 PDF

I think that Teaching Unplugged is a breath of fresh air. It makes so many points that I profoundly agree with but have not myself had the ability to put into print, with or without the framework of Dogme.

Nick McIver

ELTONS, PDF

This inspirational book will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand how Dogme may allow them to take a fresh look at their teaching and focus on how, what and why they teach.

Viv Midlane

English Teaching professional, PDF

Teaching Unplugged is an excellent read; the case for using this new approach is argued persuasively and is easily accessible, and the toolkit contains a plethora of simple yet effective ideas that will improve any teacher’s armoury.

Saul Pope

TEFL.net, October 2009 PDF

Component ISBNs

Book 978-1-905085-19-4