Postgraduate - UnitEDF6232 - Professional practice for teachers of English as a foreign language

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

The unit uses applied principles of second language acquisition (SLA), with specific reference to practical classroom strategies in the learning and teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). It provides a metalanguage for discussing SLA, and focuses on pedagogical strategies which EFL teachers can use in a range of educational settings. The pedagogy of language teaching is approached via a socio-cultural perspective on the development of communicative competence. Throughout this unit, the emphasis is on hands-on activities, microteaching and discussion about the strategies involved. Students should take away from this course ideas that work in EFL classrooms.

Outcomes

The learning objectives of this unit are:

• to develop language awareness in general and an awareness of the role of English as an international language in particular;
• to develop awareness of students' role in the teaching of English as an international language;
• to become familiar with major developments in the theory and practice of teaching EFL; and
• to develop a range of teaching strategies based on the sound understanding of how students learn languages.

Assessment

Reflective journal (3000 words): 20 %
Mini-lesson (2000-3000 words): 20%
Unit of work (3000-5000): 60%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Dat Boa

Contact hours

3 hours per week