Module overview
This module encourages you to reflect on the analysis of the structure of language and its relationships to language teaching. It will demonstrate the kinds of analytic processes employed in linguistic analysis and identify the relationships between grammar and other levels of linguistic description, such as phonology, lexis and discourse. It will explore the use of pedagogic grammars of English and your own skills in linguistic analysis with respect to classroom practice.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Prepare explanations and tasks for areas of learner difficulty
- Anticipate and analyse the nature of learner difficulties with aspects of the grammatical system
- Use suitable terminology for describing grammar
- apply analytical procedures to English language data, including a variety of grammatical forms and functions in a range of texts
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Reflect on your own teaching practice and identify areas for change
- Notice and investigate features of grammar in context
- Explore an inductive approach to teaching and learning grammar
- Critically compare different approaches to grammatical analysis
- Relate your prior teaching experience to current theories and debates on the teaching of grammar
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- principles for grammatical explanation and classroom teaching activities
- form-meaning relationships (speech functions and notions, grammatical concepts, etc) in a variety of contexts
- differing perspectives on grammar and their relevance to teaching practice
- the interaction between grammar and other language systems
- apply analytical procedures to English language data
- classifications of language competence relevant to syllabus and materials design
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Identify, select and use critically in professional communication a range of reference resources, printed and electronic
- Monitor and evaluate professional activity including self-evaluation
- Communicate effectively in a variety of written formats
Syllabus
The module explores:
- approaches to grammatical analysis and teaching and the skills and competences involved in teaching grammar.
- analytic processes with selected grammatical areas.
- the relationship between grammar and other levels of analysis – phonology, lexis and discourse.
- pedagogic grammar and the application of your analytical skills and awareness to classroom practice.
The examples and main references in the module will be for English.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- Student-led workshops
Learning activities include:
- Group discussions
- Interactive tasks in topic learning objects
- Formative assignments, e.g. analysis of language data
- Essay writing
- Summative analytical tasks
Each week there will be one lecture and one activity-based workshop session.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Workshops | 12 |
Lecture | 12 |
Independent Study | 126 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Carter, R. and McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bolitho, R. and Tomlinson, B. (2005). Discover English: Language Awareness for Teachers. Macmillan Education.
Yule, G. (1998). Explaining English Grammar: A guide to explaining grammar for teachers of English as a second or foreign language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bygate, M., Tonkyn, A. and Williams , E. (1994). Grammar and the Language Teacher. Prentice Hall.
Thornbury, S. (2017). About Language: Tasks for teachers of English . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Parrott, M. (2010). Grammar for English Language Teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swan, M. (2016). Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Larsen-Freeman, D. (2003). Teaching Languages: From Grammar to Grammaring. Heinle & Heinle.
Assessment
Summative
Summative assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 50% |
Text analysis | 50% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Text analysis | 50% |
Essay | 50% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 50% |
Text analysis | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External