Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2021-2022 (archived)

Module LANG43515: The Practice of ELT

Department: Durham Centre for Academic Development

LANG43515: The Practice of ELT

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Not available in 2021/22

Prerequisites

  • Students must have completed core module Language Teaching Methods

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop an understanding of the importance of planning appropriate lesson sequences and reflecting on teaching practice.
  • To review and expand the approaches, techniques and methodologies for second language teaching introduced in the core modules.

Content

  • Students will consider planning different lesson sequences based on the theories, methods and approaches reviewed in the module and additional micro teaching techniques.
  • Students will explore ways of reflecting on their own and others’ teaching practice. They will practise this themselves through peer teaching and peer observation, in order to inform and improve their future English language teaching.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of this module students should be able to:
  • consider theories and methodologies of language teaching and teaching micro skills and how they influence the planning of lesson sequences for both skills and language lessons.
  • demonstrate the practical application of a range of methods, approaches and micro classroom techniques in teaching and lesson planning
  • understand what it means to be a reflective practitioner
  • critically reflect on teaching practice both as observers and as practitioners and make links between theory and practice
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to critically evaluate teaching techniques and reflect on own and other's practice.
  • Ability to give appropriate feedback to others on their teaching performance.
  • Ability to design and deliver lessons that reflect the needs of specific learners and contexts.
  • Ability to design and deliver lessons appropriate to the needs of a specific context and group of learners, applying pedagogical techniques, micro teaching skills and methodological approaches demonstrated and discussed on the module
  • Ability to use subject specific lexis to describe classroom events
  • Ability to make the connections between theory and the practice of language teaching
Key Skills:
  • Ability to understand and critically evaluate one's own performance and that of others
  • Ability to communicate analysis and arguments clearly and in an appropriate style

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

  • Pre-recorded and live lectures will be used to deliver some key areas of knowledge.
  • Group work both in seminars and outside of class time will encourage discussion and practice of teaching techniques outlined in the lectures. Seminars will also include some observation of recorded teaching for students to begin their reflective journey.
  • This module also contains practical teaching sessions where students will peer teach in order to try out the techniques and approaches discussed in the lectures and seminars on the module. They will then engage in reflection on their own and their peers’ teaching to encourage them to see the importance of reflective practice.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 9 Weekly 2 hours 18
Tutorials 3 Termly 2 hours 6
Practicals 5 Twice in the term 2 hours 20
Reading and preparation 106
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Reflective Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Reflective journal assignment OR Reflection on teaching practice 3,000 words; 100% Yes

Formative Assessment:

Formative draft with peer evaluation.


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