This is a great example of how to teach without a coursebook. Sometimes called Dogme but always working with emergent language. The lesson plan comes at the end as a summary and is used as a springboard to the next lesson and there is a lovely bit at the end of this 30 minute talk, Barefoot with Beginners, where Ceri Jones finds out what her students think they have learned ie the syllabus. It turns out that her version of what has been covered is very much in alignment with what a standard beginner text book would cover while her students looked at it from a more functional perspective, such as learning to give directions.
The course is supplemented by the use of videos including Real English whose Vox Pop interviews are a thinly disguised excuse for drilling but which Jones’ students find very appealing. The other strand was extensive reading where Jones found her students were racing ahead when viewed in terms of CEFR levels. Jones mentioned Black Cat books which were in her library but a good free source of extensive reading material could also be BeeOasis
One of the great aspects of Jones’ talk for me was that her students were older and in many cases retired. I have been collaborating on materials for this target group in Denmark and so it was great to hear about their enthusiasm. It seems they were not so keen on going digital though and when she published the lesson summaries on the class blog they tended to print them out! And there was not so much interaction as you might expect from a higher level group.