Course Structure

Because of teaching practice which occurs in May, there will be no lessons during that month. In order to make-up for this time, all other months (March, April, June) will have four lessons per week.

During the lesson time, attention will be focused on the theory and practice of classroom language, with an emphasis on investigating how it can be effectively integrated into the language classroom for the purposes of language study (structure, lexis, syntax, form, pronunciation), promotion of positive affect (interest, motivation, confidence, interest, independence), and cultural information (history, norms and morals of different cultures):


Period 1 Theory
Weeks 1 - 8
Classroom language: Theory and application.
Weeks 13 - 16 Feedback on teaching practice, plus more work on thoery and application.
Textbook: Salaberri, S. (1995). Classroom Language. Oxford: Heinemann Publishers
Period 2 Practice
Weeks 1 - 8 Practical activities based on period 1.
Weeks 13 - 16 Feedback on teaching practice, plus more work on practical activities.
Period 3 Reflection
Weeks 1 - 8
Study Journal: Needs analysis, Goal-setting, Interaction about learning, Self-Assessment.
Weeks 13 - 16 Feedback on teaching practice, plus more work on the learning journal.
Textbook: http://www.finchpark.com/books/lj/index.htm
Period 4 Presentation
Weeks 1 - 8
Students (individually or in pairs) present a "classroom English" lesson.
Weeks 13 - 16 Feedback on teaching practice, plus more student presentations.

Period 1 (Theory of Classroom Language)
This period will focus on the rationale behind classroom language:

  • Why should we use classroom language?
  • What classroom language should we use?
  • How can we use classroom language?

For this period, the textbook Classroom Langage will be used as a learning resource. Students will study chapters, discuss ideas, consider how the theory may be applied, and perform activities which are in the book.



Period 2 (Practice)
This period each week will concentrate on applying theory to the langauge classroom, and will investigate interesting, effective and stimulating ways of doing this. These activities will be based on the relevant chapter of the textbook, but will offer alternative methods.

During this period, the professor will give examples of classroom language activities and various ways of using them creatively in the language classroom. Students (in pairs and groups) will also make their own materials and will devise their own ways of presenting them. This will help students prepare for their presentations and will also help them to build up a collection of teaching/learning materials.

 

Period 3 (Reflection)
There are no examinations in this course, and assessment is continuous and criterion-referenced, according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education. This period will focus on aspects of assessment and reflection:

The learning journal will be used in this lesson. The journal offers various reflective activities which encourage interaction about learning and teaching. There are also pages in which students can write their own feelings about related topics, in the manner of a diary.

Period 4 (Presentation)
Starting as soon as possible (e.g. week 3), two people each week will give a presentation. This will take the form of an English language lesson which uses classroom language.. The people giving the presentation will:

    • choose the lesson content
    • design and produce appropriate materials
    • prepare the lesson (talk with the proefssor about this)
    • present and manage the lesson (with handouts)
    • provide a written description, in which they explain the lesson aims and methods

The presentations will be Self-Assessed and Peer-Assessed.

 

  • Assignments
    There are a number of assignments suggested for each week. Some of these are necessary, since they are part of the Course assessment. These are underlined . Please make sure you do these.

    All the other assignments are suggestions to help you in getting the most out of the course. Look upon them as ideas which can take you further in your investigation of classroom language.


Schedule of Weeks

Weeks 1 - 4

Week 1
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 1; Simple instructions
  • Learning Journal: Page 1; "Today's Thoughts" (page 11); Various reflective activities about being a teacher
Week 2
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 2; Spontaneous situations
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 15); Various reflective activities about being a learner
Week 3
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 3; Language of social interaction
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 19); Various reflective activities about managing teaching and learning
Week 4
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 4; Pair- and group-work: classroom layout
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 23); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment


Weeks 5 - 8

Week 5
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 5; Question types
  • Learning Journal: Page 1; "Today's Thoughts" (page 29); Various reflective activities about being a teacher
Week 6
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 6; Audio-visual aids
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 37); Various reflective activities about being a learner
Week 7
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 7: Dealing with errors
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 41); Various reflective activities about managing teaching and learning
Week 8
  • Classroom Language, Chapter 8: Evaluation
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 47); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment


Weeks 9 - 12
Week 9
  • Teaching Practice
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 51); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
Week 10
  • Teaching Practice
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 55); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
Week 11
  • Teaching Practice
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 59); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
Week 12
  • Teaching Practice
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (pages 65, 67); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.


Weeks 13 - 16
Week 13
  • Needs Analysis
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 73); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment.
Week 14
  • Learner training
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 77); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching.
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment.
Week 15
  • Reflection
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 83); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching. "Letter to Myself" (page 89)
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment.
Week 16
  • Assessment
  • Learning Journal: "My Reflections" (page 87); Various reflective activities about describing learning and teaching. "Feedback" (page 88).
  • Student Presentation: Student-designed and produced English lesson; feedback, self- and peer-assessment.
 
 
Most recently updated on January 31, 2002