Course Syllabus
Course: TESL 1400
Division: Humanities
Department: Teach English as Second Lang
Title: Language Teaching Methods
Semester Approved: Summer 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Spring 2028
End Semester: Spring 2029
Catalog Description: Students will gain the tools for language teaching, with a focus on Teaching English as a Second Language. Preparation and presentation of lesson plans is a major focus of this course.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: Native speaker of English or successful completion of the Snow College ESL requirements.
Justification: Potential language teachers need to develop a repertoire of skills and techniques. It is crucial that practitioners learn the tools and techniques developed to create their own teaching style. This course is an integral part of language teaching programs. It is a core course for the Teaching English as a Second Language emphasis and the TESL certificate. It is accepted at BYU-H for the TESOL major and most likely transfers as an elective course to other institutions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be prepared to teach English to non-native speakers. Students will create lesson plans in the 4 skill areas of language teaching and present these plans to one another.
Students will develop a personal philosophy of what makes an excellent teacher.
Through classroom discussion, observation of ESL and foreign language classes, and reflection, students will write a one-page personal teaching philosophy.
Students will study historical and current English language teaching practices.
Through research, discussion, homework, quizzes, tests and writing lesson plans, students will discover the best language teaching practices.
Students will be aware of cultural differences and sensitive to cross-cultural issues.
Students will prepare and give a slides-based presentation on an aspect of American culture.
Content:
The course will introduce students to a Second Language Acquisition Theory, evaluate teaching issues and challenges, and explore how theoretical concepts are translated into empirical issues.
The course will provide students with a historical perspective and current techniques of language and teaching methods.
Students will create lesson plans and gain practical teaching experience in the language learning classroom and develop a teaching philosophy.
Students will learn to use technology to supplement and enrich their classroom.
TESL theory and application are intrinsically and implicitly invested in the plurality of language learning communities and styles, and in engaging deliberately with diversity and difference in the language classroom.
Key Performance Indicators:
At the instructor’s discretion, the following criteria will be used for the purpose of assessment:
attendance and participation 10 to 15%
writing (research, teaching philosophy, etc.) 15 to 20%
quizzes & tests 35 to 50%
presentations 15 to 25%
lesson plans 20 to 30%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
How to Teach English, by Jeremy Harmer, current ed.
Pedagogy Statement:
A variety of inclusive activities and strategies will be used in the class so that students learn to apply these effectively in their own in teaching by first experiencing and practicing them firsthand. This course focuses on student creation of lessons and the instructor will share relevant experience from the classroom, as well as a model/demo a variety of inclusive and effective classroom activities. The course especially engages with and responds inclusively to aspects of both US classroom culture, as well as global/non-US varieties of classroom culture, based on the experience of these students and those they will likely go on to teach in the future.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Online
Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 15
