Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module LANG40130: LANGUAGE TEACHING METHODS AND PRACTICE

Department: English Language Centre

LANG40130: LANGUAGE TEACHING METHODS AND PRACTICE

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap None.
Tied to Q3K207
Tied to Q3K307

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • At the end of the module, students will:
  • demonstrate a facility with a variety of teaching methodologies
  • be able to prepare lesson plans and deliver lessons appropriate to the needs of the students
  • be able to design and implement appropriate lesson sequences

Content

  • This module includes lectures on issues in the practice, methods and planning of language teaching, and the construction of related curricula as well as the syllabi through which they are realised. It will also serve as an interface between the more theoretical components of the course and the student's future practice, showing their relevance to the classroom. It will examine the learner and learning styles, individualised responses, classroom management and lesson planning based on existing pedagogical literature, planning from lesson to lesson, and the syllabus design options currently available to those involved in curriculum planning. Students are expected to plan four lessons over the course of the module

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Understanding of the scope of language teaching techniques and methodologies currently available
  • Understanding of issues of and techniques for classroom management
  • Knowledge of lesson plan design based on the range of current techniques in language pedagogy
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to critically appraise the language teaching techniques and methodologies currently available
  • Ability to critically evaluate teaching techniques
  • Development of pedagogical creativity
  • Ability to apply appropriate techniques for classroom management
  • Ability to design lesson plans that fully reflect a critical mastery of the techniques now available
Key Skills:
  • Ability to read and understand primary texts in language pedagogy
  • Ability to understand and critically evaluate ones's own performance and that of others

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures will provide background in language teaching, the learner and learning styles, classroom management and lesson preparation, whilst showing the historical origins and development of the techniques to be employed. This input will provide the basis for writing the essays that form a component of the assessment
  • Tutorials provide an informal setting for creating lessons and discussion difficulties that arise in teaching

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 19 weekly 2 hours 38
Seminars 10 fortnightly 2 hours 20
Tutorials 2 1 hour 2
Preparation and Reading 240
Total 300

Summative Assessment

Component: Lesson Plan Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Lesson Plan na 40%
Rationale 2500 - 3000 words 60%
Component: Teacher Reflection Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Teacher Reflection 2500 - 3000 words words 100%

Formative Assessment:

Lesson plan


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University