I find Robert Lado's Picture Dictionary/Workbook to be an excellent book to use in teaching or learning English as a Second Language. The photos are bright, colorful and multi-ethnic. The pictures immediately help students to relate new words to their proper use in context with others.

Students can learn to identify the words and the objects and how to use them in context as well as see immediately how they relate. The complete organization of the book by groups of closely associated words such as "Self and Family", Community", "Office", and others in context is an excellent basis for learning and helping conversation develop for both the beginning and advanced ESL student.

Since we learn by listening, speaking, and then reading and writing, the pictionary is a great thought provoker and conversation starter.The complete word list at the end of the book is very helpful in finding isolated words and fitting them into context. I highly recommend this book to the ESL teacher and student.

Excelente libro tanto para el aprendizaje como enseñanza del Inglés,de fácil manejo para niños y adultos, que incursionan en el estudio de una nueva lengua.Contiene los conceptos básicos y vocabulario cotidiano.

Apparently this book was revolutionary in the 1970s but is now considered dated. I'm told the Lado language school has EXTENSIVELY revised and improved on it's methods since this book was first published. Really it's only of use if you have a keen interest in the history of English language teaching....

I have been teaching new teachers of ESL/EFL for the past 10 years and there is a special place in my curriculum for this book. Yes, one reason is that it was written by my father, a pioneer dedicated to scientific inquiry of the field, but that is not the only reason. My students find this book useful because it covers so many topics in such a clear fashion. It is a classic that is packed with practical information about many of the basic topics in TEFL.
There are two ways in which I use the book. At the university level, I have my students select one aspect of English in order to focus lesson planning. They then read the corresponding chapter and write a lesson plan. They find the book easy to read with specific suggestions.
Another way I use the book is in a TEFL certificate program at the LADO Schools. The outline for the TEFL certificate skills follows the topics covered in the book.
The field of TEFL has grown so much since Dr. Robert Lado conducted his first inquiries on efficient and effective ways to teach. He based his writing on this scientific inquiry and as a result, much of what in contained in this classic book, still is useful today. I consider it a good read for beginning EFL teachers. Of course it is not the only book TEFL should read. But it is a useful classic.