ENGL 0524
Approaches to Teaching English as a
Second Language
Auburn University
Winter Quarter 1999
Instructor: William C. Flick
Overview
This course focuses on the theoretical foundations and practical
knowledge underlying
English as a Second Language (ESL)
instruction. It will be taught partly in a lecture
format and partly in a workshop format.
Active student participation is an integral and
essential part of the course. Having
successfully completed this course, students will
have a good understanding of the basic
issues, approaches, and techniques that
currently inform the teaching of ESL in a
variety of contexts; have developed a coherent
philosophy and approach to teaching ESL;
have developed the ability to approach
language teaching reflectively; and be able
to make sense of current literature on TESL
theory and methodology, and to use it to
develop and improve their own teaching
practices. The first part of the course
will establish a background of theory and
principles of ESL instruction. This part
will include discussions on the nature of
language and language learning and their
implications for a theory of language
teaching. It will include a brief
historical overview of approaches to teaching ESL. The
second part of the course will focus on
current practices, particularly an approach
referred to as Communicative Language
Teaching (CLT). Techniques in teaching
listening, speaking, reading and writing
(as well as integrating the four skills) will be
examined in the light of CLT principles.
The course will conclude with a discussion of
"reflective teaching" and will include
suggestions for continued training,
self-observation, and professional
development.