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Module Title
LM Syllabus and Materials Design
School
Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department
Linguistics and Communication
Module Code
09 29914
Module Lead
Dr Crayton Walker
Level
Masters Level
Credits
20
Semester
Full Term
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions
None
Exclusions
Description
The module considers the problem of reconciling syllabus and materials design with what is known about the process of language learning and examines the attempts that established approaches to syllabus design have made to solve this problem. The module goes on to propose a more radical solution involving the establishment of a pedagogic corpus, the use of task-based methodology, and the development of analytical exercises.
This is a very practical module designed for practising teachers. It demonstrates that a syllabus is a lot more than simply a list of items at the start of a handbook. The module demonstrates that a syllabus typically reflects: - beliefs about language and how language works - beliefs about how we learn, or maybe acquire a language - the way culture influences teaching and learning situations
The module introduces students to a variety of different types of syllabus such as the traditional grammatical syllabus, the lexical syllabus, the functional-notional syllabus, and the task-based syllabus. Students are encouraged to look at a range of teaching situations and consider how different type of syllabus can be used to meet the needs of different types of language learner. The later parts of the module look at materials development, evaluating material and how to adapt course books so the content is ‘lifted off the page’.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
critically describe and assess established approaches to syllabus design;
critically discuss the issues involved in the design of a pedagogic corpus;
design and critically discuss teaching materials based on tasks and analytical exercises;
discuss the relationship between syllabus design, teaching methodology and the learning process.