LANGTCHG 301 : The Second Language Curriculum

Arts

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Introduces principles and procedures used in course design and to evaluate TEFL courses, coursebooks and materials. Develops a practical understanding of how to set about planning an EFL curriculum.

Course Overview

 The subject of this course is the second language curriculum. Curriculum is a broad term that can include syllabus and materials selection, teaching strategies, assessment and evaluation.
LANGTCHG 301 is divided into two main components: the first half of the course reviews the main types of second language curricula and curriculum options from which the teacher can make selections; in the second half of the course, we examine some of the planning tasks and decisions that the teacher needs to carry out before and during the course including consideration of the social and teaching context and learners’ needs, setting goals, and planning units and lessons, and assessing learning.
Each session of LANGTCHG 301 will include explicit instruction from the lecturer, analysis of curriculum documents, and opportunities for small-group and whole-class tasks and discussions. Students will be assessed through two major assignments and one test (in the final week of the semester). The two assignments will require demonstration of an understanding of theoretical concepts from the course through practice-oriented curriculum tasks. All handout notes, practice tasks and materials for LANGTCHG 301 are available in a course text. Tutorials will provide opportunities for assistance with understanding and discussion of core concepts, assignment preparation, and test revision.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LANGTCHG 101 or 30 points passed at Stage II or above or approval of Academic Head or nominee

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate understanding of the range of curriculum components to be selected from and organised in an English language teaching curriculum (Capability 1.1)
  2. Apply understanding of the ELT curriculum to construct an exemplar for a particular context and group of students (Capability 1.2)
  3. Evaluate the appropriateness of the communicative curriculum in specific contexts and for specific groups of learners (Capability 2.3)
  4. Evaluate the appropriateness of different types of ELT curricula and curriculum components in global contexts (Capability 3.1)
  5. Communicate propositions persuasively in an argument essay and curriculum options clearly and concisely in a course design task (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the global context to the design and implementation of any ELT curriculum. (Capability 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 80% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, including class time and personal study and assignment preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Online

NOTE: the online mode is available in 2023 ONLY to Year 3 BEdTESOL students from the EDSW Faculty.

Attendance is required at scheduled online activities including tutorials.

Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All handouts for LANGTCHG are available in a course text, which can be purchased from the University bookshop in the Kate Edgar Commons.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Feedback from 2022 was particularly appreciative of the availability of a teacher-produced course text (which will be updated for 2023) and the many opportunities for group and class interaction in both lectures and tutorials. This will continue in 2023. However, some students in this large class found that book chapters were unavailable due to high demand, so I will be changing and updating resources for 2023.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 28/10/2022 05:11 p.m.