Linguistics - Spring 1999

Time:T, Th 2:00-3:45
Location: Cowell 134

TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES

This course is designed for students who are interested in the practical aspects of teaching communicative English language skills to speakers of other languages, both at home and abroad. Focus will be on adult second language learning, though there will be some discussion of working with children. Students will meet twice weekly in the university classroom for lecture, discussion, practice exercises, and small group work. In addition, students will spend 4-6 hours a week as observers/student teachers in a local English as a Second Language classroom.

Topics covered will include (not necessarily in this order):

1. Overview of history and methods in TESOL

2. Twelve basic principles of successful teaching

3. Techniques and materials for teaching listening comprehension

4. Techniques and materials for teaching speaking

5. Techniques and materials for teaching reading

6. Techniques and materials for teaching writing

7. Integrating the four skills

8. Learner variables - age

9. Learner variables - proficiency levels

10. Creating a lesson plan

11. Issues in cross-cultural sensitivity

12. Techniques and materials for teaching grammar

13. Techniques and materials for teaching vocabulary and idioms

14. Choosing a textbook

15. Creating your own materials

16. Placement and testing

17. Learner strategy training

18. Classroom management

19. SLA research

20. Review and synthesis

Required texts include:

Brown, H. Douglas. Teaching by Principles, an Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Prentice Hall Regents, 1994.

Ellis, Rod. Second Language Acquisition. Oxford Universiyt Press, 1997

Pollard, Laurel and Natalie Hess. Zero Prep: Ready-to-Go- Activities for the Language Classroom. Alta Book Center Publishers, 1997.

For further information, contact Peggy Miles email: peggy_miles@macmail.ucsc.edu

Revised 8/3/04.