Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM280: Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

To provide students with a thorough understanding of the relationship between theoretical perspectives and different TESOL classroom practices.
To provide an introduction to key concepts associated with the practice of foreign or second language teaching.
To familiarize students with the core competencies associated with successful practice in TESOL classrooms from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
To develop students’ capacity to successfully apply conceptual and practical knowledge about foreign or second language practice to the realities of their own current and/or future teaching contexts.
To develop students’ capacity to reflect critically on their own teaching as well as their peers’.

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 comprehensive understanding of the key aspects of classroom practice including the organisation of activities, classroom management, and classroom interaction; 2. Demonstrate a critical application of these skills and knowledge in the preparation and teaching of a language class; 3. Demonstrate the ability to successfully apply conceptual and practical knowledge and skills to teaching activities in the TESOL classroom in a rigorous and systematic way; 4. Reflect critically upon observed teaching and microteaching in relation to key principles covered in the module;
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Demonstrate the knowledge, understanding and skills for students required in order to analyse TESOL policy, theory and practice; 6. Demonstrate the ability to analyse data for teaching purposes; 7. Evaluate complex TESOL issues drawing on national and international perspectives; 8. To provide students with knowledge and skills needed to apply theory to practice in TESOL;
Personal and Key Skills	9. Engage in independent study and group/pair work, including the microteaching and evaluation of peers' teaching and their own; 10. Digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent, thoughtful and creative analysis of theory to particular professional and socio-cultural situations; 11. Undertake a critical analysis of the teaching skills, knowledge and techniques developed in the module through personal reflection.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The syllabus plan is subject to change, but is anticipated to include the following:

Introduction to the module: What does language teaching involve? Total immersion/ESL versus drip feed EFL contexts. Learning theories.

Communicative Competence & implications for teachers’ and learners’ roles.

Review of language teaching methods; terminology for TESOL; preparation for observations of language classes.

The role of error in language learning.

Techniques for introducing and practicing new language (1) & (2)

Micro teaching practice (1), focusing on the practical application of content covered in the module.

Teaching reflection; classroom management; giving instructions; questioning techniques; dealing with large classes and mixed ability.

Individual presentations on students’ observations of language classes; identifying key topics.

Task based Learning

Micro teaching practice (2)

Round up & summary of course; individual presentations to report on topics chosen for module assignment.

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
150	150	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	30	Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops
Learning and teaching activities	30	Directed reading
Guided independent study	80	Assignment preparation
Guided independent study	150	Independent study
Learning and teaching activities	10	Language classroom observation

Online Resources

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