Language Teaching Theory and Practice

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• • evaluate a learner’s needs in relation to their learning context
• • describe how the learner’s motivation influences learning outcomes
• • apply theoretical models to case studies.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• • plan a language programme based on sound pedagogical principles and on an analysis of students’ needs

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• • plan and organise your own learning schedule
• • prepare and deliver oral presentations
• • work effectively in a team

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• • teaching languages for specific purposes
• • the needs and motivation of language learners
• • ‘alternative’ approaches to teaching
• • the role of the teacher
• • principles of syllabus design
• • critical pedagogy
• • the place of methods in language teaching

The module aims to give you a critical understanding of some of the principles, issues and activities underlying the teaching of a foreign language, with particular reference to English. While the main focus of the module will be on broader issues such as needs and motivation, module design and appropriate pedagogy. These will be dealt with in terms of pedagogical issues such as the teaching of skills or culture, classroom management and dealing with error.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• seminars
• workshops

Learning activities include

• individual study
• preparing presentations and discussions in small groups
• conducting observations/interviews and small research projects
• reading and critiquing academic papers

Innovative or special features of this module

weekly practical tasks feed into sessions

learning log feeds into sessions and into assessement

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Lightbown, P and Spada, N (1993). How languages are learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Harmer, J (2001). The practice of English language teaching. Harlow: Longman.

Stern, H H (1983). Fundamental concepts of language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Swann, M (1995). Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Carter, R. & D. Nunan (2001). The Cambridge guide to teaching English to speakers of other languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Assessment strategy

Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback

 guidance on oral presentations

 discussion of written assignments (in advance and after completion)

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External