These days, it is really unbelievable the price you have to pay for one single textbook, and it seems that authors and writers churn out a new edition every other week. It's not uncommon for a book to be in its 12th edition, and yet the material in the book is almost the same. I mean, couldn't the author simply have a Web site where students could download a couple of pages with any minor revisions?Then, with the change in textbooks, you often can't sell them back to the books store or other students.
I created a listening activity on this topic. Give it a try and let me know you experiences with buying textbooks for college:
- http://www.esl-lab.com/textbooks/textbooksrd1.htm
I think for students it is good that they rent the books as it surely saves a lot of time and money for them!
ReplyDeleteRandall,
ReplyDeleteThe textbook business is a business like most others in the sense that they are trying to make a profit often a the expense of struggling students who can barely afford the steep costs of tuition.
BTW: My ESL students at Cal State, San Bernardino often use your cyber listening lab which has been extremely helpful to them.
Thanks!
Michael Buckhoff
http://www.bettertoeflscores.com/s-t-e-a-l-t-h-7-step-system-to-pass-the-toefl-ibt/2308/