module specification

This module offers an investigation into the language classroom and into learner and teacher roles and interactions. It develops themes relating to how languages are learned, what motivates people to learn languages, and how best to support and develop learning in the classroom. The module draws on students' own experiences of language learning and/or teaching and encourages them to reflect on theoretical and practical aspects of language learning, while the developing their own practice as language teachers.

Through language classroom observations, students will become familiar with common practices in language teaching and learning and develop a teacher-researcher perspective. The module introduces a range of theoretical and practical considerations of recent developments regarding the language classroom, including theoretical debates that widen students’ understanding of language learning and teaching. The practical implications of these debates on classroom teaching and learning will be considered. In doing so, the students have the opportunity to evaluate and analyse learners and in classroom settings, incorporating lived experiences with academic literature.

Importantly, students are required to find an institution where they can observe at least two hours of English language tuition at any level.

Module Aims:

You will
• become familiar with common practices in language teaching and learning and investigate how different cultural, social, and psychological factors influence learning
• undertake research on teaching and learning
• critically analyse recent theoretical developments in language teaching
• consider the practical classroom implications of these theories
• analyse learners' needs and identify classroom solutions while observing students in a classroom setting
• identify a range of techniques for promoting learning in the classroom

NA

The module will cover areas such as motivation in language teaching, interaction and discourse in the language classroom, individual differences, and attitudes (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5)

Students enrolled in this module will be encouraged to engage with recommended readings in preparation for each teaching session. As the module adopts a blended-learning approach, students will have access to a dedicated module site (Weblearn) where they will find learning activities, class materials, session recordings, and online forums where they can interact with peers and tutors in synchronous and asynchronous ways.

Our students will have access to the university library website and make use of electronic journals, e-books, databases, and full-text journals. Support for developing and improving IT skills, as well as information on other web-based study support, is available on the library website. Students will be supported and guided throughout the module by their tutor who they can consult in person, by email, or via designated video-conference software.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Deepen their knowledge of the varied needs of learners in the language classroom (LO1)
2. Identify classroom factors that affect language learning and teaching (LO2)
3. Account for and reflect critically upon concepts such as motivation, interaction, and attitudes in language classrooms (LO3)
4. Engage with research evidence in the field and reflect on their own learning and teaching practices in relation to it (LO4)
5. Critically evaluate the learning and teaching processes that they have observed (LO5)

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