ENGL 0524 Syllabus: Approaches to TESL

Instructor: Bill Flick
Place: Haley Center 3106
Time: MTh 6-8:30
Instructor's office: Haley Center 8070
Office hours: M Th 1:30-3:30 and by appointment
Phone: 844-2122 (Hargis) or 4-9099 (Haley Center)
Instructor's email: bflick@mail.auburn.edu

Course Materials: -H. Douglas Brown. 1994. Teaching by Principles. Prentice Hall Regents.
-Diane Larsen-Freeman. 1986. Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.

Course Description: This course focuses on the theoretical foundations and practical knowledge underlying English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. It is offered as part of a two-course sequence with ENGL 0625, which will focus on the acquisition of English by first- and second-language learners. More specifically, ENGL 0524 treats the following areas:

Current theories of language teaching and learning as they relate to TESL;
Giving instruction in speaking, listening, reading, and writing--separately and in combination;
Methods of pedagogical and professional development, including peer observation, self-critique, action research, and using and producing TESL research.

Instructional Objectives: Having successfully completed this course, you should:

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 your ability to approach language teaching reflectively;
Be able to make sense of current literature on TESL theory and practice, and to use it to develop and improve your own teaching practice.

Activities: There will be an approximately equal balance between teacher-fronted activities such as lectures and demonstrations, and student-centered activities such as group work, discussions, reports, and demonstrations.

Assessment: Students will be assessed on the basis of: in-class participation; shorter writing assignments; midterm and final exams; and a final project concerning a specific area of TESL practice.

In-class participation: 20%

Writing assignments 20%

Classroom Observation

Interview of ESL Student

Midterm exam: 20%

Final exam: 20%
Final project: 20%

Course Requirements:

Students are required to complete all assignments and tests on time.
Class attendance and active participation are required. Unlike pure lecture courses in which students learn (and are tested on) a discrete set of facts and concepts, this class involves developing pedagogical approaches and knowledge learnable only through full in-class participation and active learning.
Students are required to come to class on time, and to stay for the full period. I reserve the right to count students absent when they fail to do so.
Whether present or absent, students are responsible for all materials presented and discussed in class, and all homework assignments made during class meetings. That is, absence does not constitute an excuse for failure to turn in assignments on time or for poor performance on tests or homework assignments.

Tentative Schedule of Topics:
Meeting
1. Introduction; syllabus; ESL and Linguistics terminology; best and worst language learning experiences.
2. Language, language use, and communication; begin historical overview of language teaching methods.
3. The Audio-Lingual Method and behaviorist learning theory.
4. Cognitive psychology and the reaction to ALM; learner variables; teaching pronunciation.
5. The Natural Approach; the functional syllabus; teaching vocabulary.
6. Communicative Language Teaching; interaction; the roles of the teacher.
7. Teaching grammar.
8. Teaching listening skills.
9. Teaching speaking skills.
10. The conversation class; group and pair work.
11. Teaching reading skills.
12. Classroom presentations.
13. Classroom presentations.
14. Teaching writing skills.
15. Integrating the four skills; content-based instruction.
16. Learner strategy training; testing & evaluation.
17. Reflective teaching; professional development.
Final Exam Date: TBA

Note to students with disabilities: Students who need special accommodations in class should make an individual appointment with the instructor as soon as possible.