Textbook recommendation for Oral English?

[Raoul Duke]

I may have an opportunity to return part-time to the world of teaching English...an opportunity just too good to pass up. I'd like to see if any of you can suggest a good textbook...

I usually like New Interchange best among the widely published, off-the-shelf books found in China. But my students here will be unique... reportedly they are quite strong in reading, writing, and listening, and primarily need speaking practice. New Interchange includes a lot of the non-speaking skills...one big reason I like it for most settings...but seems to have a lot of waste for this situation. Also, my students will be Korean, not Chinese...

Anyone know a good, readily-available multi-level text with an extremely strong emphasis on ORAL English?

Thank you!

[Gonzo Journalist]

An unhelpful response, but no I don't. Like you I tend to favor New Interchange, at least as a starting point. It has lots of extra activities, and is well presented.
With an advanced adult class I take [3 hours], I have a set structure.
1. The week that was. As there's only 6-8 students, each one reports on any aspect of their week they wish to. Add subsequent discussion, and this takes an hour.
2. Discussion of current events. This involves a lot of new vocabulary. For eg, yesterday we talked about the perils of being Chinese: the stampedes in Beijing and Mecca, and cockle pickers in the UK.
3. Reading and group work. I print something from the net that's relevant, eg this week it was a piece from the Straits Times about the migrant worker phenomena in China. After a general vocab/figures of speech "lesson", I set some questions for them to discuss in 3s or 4s, and each group then reports back; some animated discussions result!

Also we have a fine system in place for those who persist in speaking Chinese. Funds go to an end of term dinner.

[Raoul Duke]

Thanks, MO. Helpful...some nice ideas in there. It's been a little while now since I taught a straight-up English class. Maybe not long enough.