This popular textbook offers a comprehensive and practical introduction to central themes in the principles and practice of teaching English as a foreign/second language. It is written both for teachers and for those taking professional courses in English language teaching. The first part is focused on the principles on which current methods and materials are based and explores such topics as educational frameworks, the communicative approach, post–communicative trends in syllabus and materials design, and the evaluation and adaptation of materials. Part II relates these principles to individual language skills. It shows how theories concerned with the development of reading, speaking, listening and writing have affected the design and use of teaching materials. The final part of the book examines different methods available to teachers for organizing and managing the ELT classroom, and discusses group and pair work, individualization, classroom observation and the teacher's role in the contemporary ELT context. This second edition incorporates a number of new sections, including task–based learning, the use of the Internet, and teacher research. The background references have been extensively updated, and new samples from current teaching materials are included.