METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING ESL

APLN 525-01

Dr. Susana M. Sotillo 

This course will examine current issues in the theory of ESL teaching and explore recent developments brought about by technological innovations.  Issues may include, but are not limited to, innovative teaching methodologies, the application of language learning theories to classroom teaching, and the adaptation and development of instructional materials. Students will learn to incorporate computer-mediated communication and the new technologies into their learning and teaching practices.  

Location and Time:         Thursdays, 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Dickson Hall 280
                                                                  6.15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dickson Hall 276

Office Hours:  In Cyberspace, Wednesday 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. (download and install NetMeeting)

Course Requirements:

All students will complete required reading assignments, Internet research projects, and participate in web-based discussion groups. Your grade will be calculated as follows: Attendance and classroom/cyberspace participation, 15%; completion of research/teaching assignments and in-class presentations, 25%; exams and research assignments; 30%; Web-based teaching portfolio, graphics presentation, and videotaped classroom teaching assignment, 30%.

We will use the Internet to engage in long-distance teaching and information exchange.  Please use the MSU e-mail student accounts.

Required Texts:

The Elements of Language Curriculum (James Dean Brown).  Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 1995.
New Ways of Using Computers in Language Teaching.  (Tim Boswood, Editor).  TESOL Series, 1997.
Creating a Winning PowerPoint 2000 Presentation. 
Cliffs Notes, 2000.

Join the Discussion Forum and exchange information with classmates and ESL students.

Please note: This syllabus is a guide subject to modifications. All Web-based documents are always under construction.

Date

Topics/Assignments

Books/Articles

January 17 Overview of Curriculum and Needs Analysis -- Introductory concepts.  Examine available learner language data. Brown, Chapters 1 & 2; handouts.  Assignment #1:  Specify goals and objectives for your ESL course.  Select an approach, method, and technique.   Identify the roles of teacher and learner.
January 24 Introduction to NetMeeting as a real time conferencing system.  Classroom discussion:  Your teaching and learning philosophy. Boswood, New Ways, pp. 3-52.  Brown, Goals and Objectives, pp. 71-107.  
January 31 Behavioral vs. Cognitive Approaches to learning.  Overview of major theories of learning. Brown, Chapter 6, Teaching, pp. 179-216.  Using PowerPoint for effective presentations.  
February 7 Cyber teaching: Resources on the Web:   Dave's ESL Cafe Preparing lesson plans with PowerPoint.  Teaching Approaches and Appropriate Technologies.
February 14 Overview of teaching approaches:  the Direct Method, the Natural Approach, and the Communicative Approach.  Guest speaker:  Dr. Daniel Mengara. Boswood, New Ways, pp. 53-61.  
February 21 Teaching grammar and writing in cyberspace.  Assignment #2: Please select two of the following Interlanguage samples and prepare an analysis of local and global errors.  Read the instructions carefully.   Assignment is due March 7. Boswood, New Ways, pp.71-93; 131-168.  Implementing these ideas in your own classroom.
February 28 Materials development on the Web.  Using technology to teach ESL.   Brown, Materials, pp. 139-178.  Assignment #3: Create a Web-page and upload your syllabus.  Prepare lesson plans.  Boswood, 169-195.
March 7 Web page development exercises. Completion of your Web page.  Please find a server to host your Web page.  Assignment #2 due.
March 14

SPRING RECESS

Review reading assignments.  What research tells us about computer-mediated instruction and communication. 
March 21 Exam #1:  Overview of major teaching approaches and techniques in teaching English as a foreign/second language.  The role of technology in instructional practices. How theory informs our teaching and learning practices: 5:00 to 6:15 p.m., Di280. Visit the Internet TESL Journal.  Select one research article and prepare a written summary and analysis.  You will then be asked to incorporate the theoretical aspects of the article you have chosen into one of the lesson plans you are preparing for inclusion in your own Web page.  New deadline for Web Page is April 4th.  This will also be part of your first exam.
March 28

Teaching pronunciation to ESL students.  Text to speech demos.  Exploring speech communities: Sociolinguistics in teacher preparation programs. Optional: Participate in USENET discussion groups.

Revisit Conway's article on Behavioral and Cognitive approaches to learning.  Create a lesson plan, which includes specific learning activities or tasks, based on a constructivist approach to language learning  (Read handouts to be distributed in class and on-line articles.)   Read articles in the TESOL Journal, Vol. 10, No.1, Spring 2001.  Boswood, pp. 242-249. 
April 4 Assignment # 4: Teaching culture via e-mail and the Web.  Prepare a "culture-bias" questionnaire for your English-as-a-second language students.  Creating Constructivist Classrooms.Successful cross-cultural communication. Visit Frizzy University Network (FUN).  Assignment #3 due.   Evaluating multimedia tools to teach culture.  Exam#2:  Choose a CD-ROM, video or film to teach about cultural differences and write a seven-page manual with illustrations.
April 11 Communicating globally on the Internet: Tools and resources.  Visit The HUT Internet Writing Project. Semester Project:  Make arrangements to videotape your ESL classroom teaching.  Prepare a video clip to upload to the CHSS server.
April 18 Testing: criterion-referenced and norm-referenced instruments.  Developing online quizzes and tests. Brown, Testing, pp. 108-138.
April 25 Getting started with concordancing:  Corpus linguistics in the ESL classroom. Read the TESOL Journal, Vol. 10, Nos. 2/3 Summer/Autumn 2001.
May 2 Reading Day -- Please be sure to complete your videotaping assignment. Reading Day.
May 9

Week of Finals

Evaluation of videotaped teaching assignment.  Hand in evaluation of second-language learner's academic progress.