Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM311: Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design

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

Module Aims

  • To introduce the construct of curriculum in education and TESOL
  • To introduce a variety of approaches to syllabus design employed in foreign language teaching.
  • To provide the tools students need to scrutinize and critically analyze teaching programmes used in student's current and future teaching contexts.
  • To develop a good understanding of the role of the various participants in syllabus design, implementation and evaluation.
  • To link theory to practice in the process of curriculum and syllabus development

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 Skills1. demonstrate understanding of the main elements of curriculum and syllabus design
2. critically evaluate a syllabus with reference to different approaches to syllabus design
3. critically reflect on the roles of various participants in the syllabus design process
4. apply tools to the design of a foreign language programme in a given socio-cultural setting
Discipline-Specific Skills5. to learn both independently and co-operatively with peers from differing cultural and pedagogical backgrounds. This will be evidenced during group discussions and task completion
6. to listen actively and effectively
7. to give a presentation to an audience of peers drawing on an understanding of the academic literature as applied to practical teaching situations
Personal and Key Skills8. to identify strategic options in the choices open to syllabus designers
9. to evaluate the relative success of different strategies and approaches to syllabus design
10. evaluate the merits of others' ideas