ED3561- Introduction to Second Language Education
Instructor- Paula L. Kristmanson
Tuesday and Thursday- 10- 11:30 AM
Office hours- 8-10 AM Tuesday & Thursday
and 1:30-4:30 PM Monday & Wednesday
Contact information- 458-7115 (w), 451-1810(h), or
pkristma@unb.ca (your best bet for quick response!)
Description of Course:
During this course, students will examine and explore basic principles of second language teaching and learning. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect upon questions such as: how do people learn language?; how do we learn language in a classroom environment?; what is the role of grammar instruction?; what is the communicative/ experiential approach to language teaching?; what is the role of interaction and negotiation in language teaching?; how do we learn to read and write in a second language?; how do affective factors affect language learning?; how do we assess language learning?
Students will examine effective approaches to teaching second language and demonstrate these through in-class micro-teaching, designing a multidimensional unit, oral presentations, class and small-group discussions, and responding orally and in writing to various questions and issues.
Course Outline
Week 1- Sept. 12 - Sept. 14
Theme: Theoretical foundations of second language learning and teaching
Objectives:
To identify and describe various approaches to teaching second language and to give examples of these approaches
To discuss and reflect upon principles second language acquisition and how they apply to classroom learning
Week 2- Sept. 19- Sept. 21
Theme: the multidimensional curriculum- the communicative/ experiential approach
Objectives:
To follow the guidelines set out in the National Core French Study (NCFS) in order to create a multidimensional unit
To write objectives that reflect the communicative and experiential nature of the multidimensional approach
Week 3- Sept. 26- Sept. 28
Theme: Interactional Approach/ Cooperative Learning
Objectives:
To demonstrate various aspects of the interactional approach and of cooperative learning to peers
To view a video in order to identify aspects of the interactional approach and to identify certain cooperative learning strategies
Week 4-- Oct. 3-Oct. 5
Theme: Literacy Learning
Objectives:
To examine ways of learning to read and write in a second language
To discuss and to determine how reading and writing can be integrated into an interactional and communicative/experiential approach to language teaching
Week 5- Oct. 10- Oct. 12
Theme: The Affective Domain
Objectives:
To discuss determine the role of motivation and attitudes in the second language learning environment
To examine learning styles and strategies in order to determine how they influence our teaching and learning a second language
To address the question: What constitutes a successful second language learning environment?
Week 6- Oct. 17- Mid-term Exam
Week 6- Oct. 19
Theme: Language Assessment
Objectives:
To examine principles of second language assessment
To try out various evaluation techniques
To develop one evaluation technique for use in our multidimensional unit
Week 7- Oct. 24 - Oct. 26
Theme: Language Assessment (continued)
Week 8- Oct. 31- Nov. 2
Theme: Multidimensional units
Objectives:
To share our best ideas with our peers
Week 9- Nov. 7- Nov. 9
Themes: Methods and Activities
Objectives:
To examine two approaches to teaching languages (TPR and natural approach) in order to determine how they can be integrated into a communicative/ experiential methodology
To demonstrate aspects of these approaches in peer groups
Week 10- Nov. 14- Nov. 16
Themes: Music & Poetry And Storytelling & Drama
Objective:
To present a given topic to peers in the form of a group presentation which will include demonstration of the given approach.
Week 11- Nov. 21- Nov. 23
Themes: Games And Literacy Development
Objective:
To present a given topic to peers in the form of a group presentation which will include demonstration of the given approach.
Week 12- Nov. 28- Nov. 30
Themes: Affective Activities
Objective:
To present a given topic to peers in the form of a group presentation which will include demonstration of the given approach.
Week 13- Dec. 5- Dec. 7
Themes: Reflections and Conclusions
Objective:
To reflect upon the course and how it will effective and influence future teaching
Required textbook:
Richard-Amato, P.A. (1996). Making in Happen: Interaction and the Second Language Classroom- from theory to practice. White Plains, NY: Addison-Wesley Publishing Group.
Assessment:
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