LSMLST: Issues in Language Skills Teaching

Module code: LSMLST

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Erhan Aslan, email: erhan.aslan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces the processes involved in the development of the oral/aural (i.e., listening and speaking) and literacy (i.e., reading and writing) skills in a second language. The module also provides an overview of current and effective methods of teaching in ESL/EFL contexts, focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Through using a highly interactive skills-based approach, students will experience in practice the academic and pedagogic ideas during the modules.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe key theories and processes involved in the development of the four language skills in a second language;
2. Apply their understanding of these ideas in explaining techniques and methods for the teaching of the four language skills;
3. Evaluate teaching materials for the teaching of select language skills, and in particular identify how they reflect particular methods for teaching or theories of learning the four skills;
4. Develop critical analytical and synthesising skills through evaluating sample teaching materials and research data in course readings.

Module content

The module covers the following topics: the movement toward skills integration and the limitations of a discrete-skills approach; issues in learning oral/aural (speaking, listening) and literacy (reading, writing) skills in a second language; current and effective methods of teaching listening, speaking, reading, writing; evaluation of current teaching materials for select language skills in a second language.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module consists of interactive lectures and seminar sessions. It will rely heavily on class interaction and the active participation of class members in discussions and activities. Lecture and seminar activities in class will give you several opportunities to understand key concepts in English language teaching and make links between theory and practical situations. Given the interactive nature of the module format, class participation and regular attendance of all class members are essential to fully benefit from this course.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive on-going feedback from the instructor and from other students in the form of comments during class and online discussions. There will also be in-class and/or online tasks which will formatively assess learned knowledge and skills.

Reassessment

Additional costs