Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM313: Issues in English Language Teaching

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

This module aims to enable students to:

explore and develop a critical perspective on current debates relating to the role of English as a Lingua Franca and the relationship between TESOL, power and ideologies;
critically review and contribute personal views on current approaches to the teaching of culture in the language classroom;
examine characteristics of bilingual education and Content and Language Integrated Learning;
develop knowledge of and personal perspectives on individualization, differentiation and mixed ability teaching;
examine and evaluate perspectives and pedagogical models which reflect authenticity of text and task in the classroom;
explore an issue emerging from their own context and, working collaboratively, examine and present a critical review of this.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate a critical awareness of current debates and new insights relating to issues at the forefront of the discipline of TESOL concerning the role of English as a Lingua Franca and the relationship between TESOL and ideologies; 2. demonstrate a conceptual understanding of how culture is defined and theoretically constructed in relation to language learning; 3. show understanding of the implications and practical considerations relating to bilingual education and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL); 4. develop professional knowledge of individualization, differentiation and mixed ability teaching; 5. demonstrate a critical understanding of different perspectives on authenticity;
Discipline-Specific Skills	6. demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of specific needs and learner diversity in language education; 7. explain and justify the rationale behind choice of approach for language teaching and materials;
Personal and Key Skills	8. engage in independent study and group/pair work; 9. critically analyse relevant academic literature; and 10. demonstrate self-direction and originality in both independent and collaborative work.

An overview of key current issues in the TESOL field and those addressed in this module.
The growth of English as an international Language: TESOL, power and ideology.
Theoretical constructions of culture for language education: from Essentialism to ‘small cultures’.
Bilingual/multilingual education.
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL).
Differentiation and mixed ability teaching.
The role of authenticity in materials and activities for language learning.
An investigation into and presentation of an issue pertinent to students’ contexts.

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
16	134	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Activities	16	8 x 2 hour seminars and tutorials
Guided independent study	24	Directed reading: seminar preparation/review
Guided independent study	40	Directed reading: further exploration of chosen topics
Guided independent study	10	Formative assignment preparation
Guided independent study	60	Summative assignment preparation

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Journals

TESOL Quarterly

English Language Teaching Journal