Module EFPM787 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
EFPM787: Teaching English to Young Learners
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
- To provide a survey of theoretical perspectives concerning child learning and development, and second language acquisition.
- To provide a critical overview of a variety of important issues in the teaching of English to young learners within the context of the growth of English as an international language.
- To consider the implications of these theories and issues for the development of appropriate practice for teaching English as a foreign or additional language to young learners.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of children as foreign or additional language learners. 2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of different aspects of teaching English as a foreign or additional language and associated issues and the ability to address these in ways appropriate to their own teaching contexts |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Undertake a critical analysis of practice informed by theoretical insights regarding teaching and learning in TESOL classrooms. 4. Apply aspects of language learning theory to the evaluation and design of programmes and materials for a specific group of learners in a particular teaching setting. |
Personal and Key Skills | 6. Engage in independent and cooperative learning with peers from different cultural and pedagogic backgrounds, as evidenced in group discussions. 7. Undertake a critical analysis of the relevant academic literature. 8. Digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and thoughtful analysis of theory to particular professional and socio-cultural situations. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
8 weekly sessions of two hours each:
Week 1-2.
An introductory overview of the teaching of English to young learners. Including a critical introduction to the significance of age to teaching English as a foreign or additional language and the development of principles of teaching English to young learners informed by learning, development and second language acquisition theoretical perspectives.
Week 3.
A critical examination of different approaches to teaching English as a foreign or additional language. To include an exploration of how best to support and structure language learning and an examination of the relative merits of language-based versus activity-based approaches.
Weeks 4-6.
A critical examination of the different ways to address language skills in the young learner classroom. To include a consideration of the impact of educational and second language acquisition theoretical perspectives on the teaching of spoken language, grammar, vocabulary and literacy skills.
Week 7- 8.
A critical exploration of a range of issues relating to developing pedagogic practices in the young language learning classroom. To include an examination of ways to promote differentiation and assessment, and an introduction to appropriate ways of undertaking research into teaching and learning in the young learner classroom. Group presentations of activities for teaching specific groups of young learners.
Students will also be given the opportunity to undertake a primary school visit during the module.
Learning and Teaching
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 |
---|---|---|
30 | 120 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Learning and teaching activities | 15 | lectures, seminars and workshops |
Learning and teaching activities | 15 | directed reading |
guided independent study | 40 | assignment preparation |
guided independent study | 80 | directed study |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/celtyl.html (Sample young learner EFL language tests)
http://www.countryschool.com/ylsig2/index.php ( IATEFL Young Learner SIG webpage)
Other Learning Resources
Young learner EFL course books.
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Group presentations of activities for teaching young learners | ( 1-2 and 4-5) | Verbal comments and review |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
A presentation of a task cycle for teaching a specific group of young learners with a rationale informed by relevant literature. | 100 | 3,750 words | (1-7) | Written feedback |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Indicative basic reading list:
- Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge: C.U.P.
- Crosse, K. (2007). Introducing English as an Additional Language: a practical handbook. Paul Chapman Education.
- Moon, J. (2000). Children Learning English. Oxford: MacMillan-Heinemann.
- Pinter, A (2006). Teaching Young Language Learners. Oxford: O.U.P.
- Roberts-Holmes, G. (2005). Doing your early years research project: a step by step guide. London: Routledge.
- Schmit, S. (2006). The Developing Child in the 21st Century: a global perspective. London: Routledge.
- Woodhead, M. & Montgomery, H. (2003). Understanding Childhood: an interdisciplinary approach. Milton Keyes: Open University Press.