Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

This module forms part of the MA in TESOL degree

Aims

Students will discuss issues and principles of materials design and the relationship between materials, culture and ideology. Students will evaluate the role of authentic materials in TESOL and collect or create paper-based as well as audio-visual authentic materials. Students will increase their knowledge of task-based language teaching and apply their knowledge by designing and developing materials in line with task-based language teaching principles. Students will evaluate coursebooks for TESOL and consider reasons and ways of adapting and supplementing them. Students will design, develop and evaluate materials for language skills development as well as grammar and vocabulary. Students will consider the implications of data driven learning in TESOL and develop materials using corpus and concordance tools such as BYU-BNC and SketchEngine.

Outline Of Syllabus

Developing an understanding of issues and principles of materials design in TESOL such as the role of culture, ideology and authentic materials in language learning and teaching.
Understanding how task-based language teaching principles can be used in designing TESOL materials.
Evaluating, adapting and supplementing TESOL coursebooks.
Designing and creating language teaching tasks for all language skills as well as grammar and vocabulary.
Considering the role of data driven learning in language development and creating materials using corpus and concordance tools.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To develop a critical understanding of the issues and principles in language teaching materials.
To understand the impact of task-based language teaching principles in TESOL materials.
To understand the criteria for coursebook evaluation in TESOL.
To understand issues in developing materials for reading, listening, speaking and writing skills, and for grammar and vocabulary.
To reflect on the role of data driven learning in TESOL materials.

Intended Skill Outcomes

To discuss the relationship between materials and culture and ideology.
To collect and edit authentic audio-visual materials.
To evaluate available TESOL coursebooks and consider adaptation and supplementation.
To design and develop language teaching materials and integrate them into a task-based unit.
To use corpus and concordance tools in creating TESOL materials.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide introduction to and discussion of:
-       issues and principles of materials design in TESOL
-       implications of task-based language teaching in TESOL materials
-       criteria for evaluation of TESOL materials
-       issues on materials design for reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, and grammar and vocabulary
-       data driven learning
Practicals provide practice in:
-       coursebook evaluation
-       designing and creating authentic materials
-       designing and developing materials for a coursebook unit
-       using corpus and concordance tools for material design

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Design or creative project functions as an assessment of students’ ability to design and create TESOL materials for a task-based unit of work including tasks and activities for language skills, grammar and vocabulary.

Essay provides assessment of students’ ability to discuss design issues and principles including the use of authentic materials, the relationship between materials and culture, principles of task-based language teaching and issues in developing materials for different language skills. It is an opportunity for students to provide a rationale for and evaluate the materials they have created as part of the creative project.

General Notes

Handbook Text:
Students will discuss issues and principles of materials design and the relationship between materials, culture and ideology. Students will evaluate the role of authentic materials in TESOL and collect or create paper-based as well as audio-visual authentic materials. Students will increase their knowledge of task-based language teaching and apply their knowledge by designing and developing materials in line with task-based language teaching principles. Students will evaluate coursebooks for TESOL and consider reasons and ways of adapting and supplementing them. Students will design, develop and evaluate materials for language skills development as well as grammar and vocabulary. Students will consider the implications of data driven learning in TESOL and develop materials using corpus and concordance tools such as BYU-BNC and SketchEngine.