Focus on Instruction: Teaching and Assessing Language Learning

Catalog description

Develops an understanding of and ability to use effective teaching and assessment practices that support adult English language learning. This course facilitates the candidate's understanding of and ability to use effective teaching and assessment practices that support adult English language learning. Students will: a) recognize the highly situated and interpretative processes involved in English language learning and teaching and be able to reflect on, critically analyze, and evaluate their own instructional practices; b) understand subject matter content from an instructional perspective, learn to anticipate areas that may require additional instructional support, and carry out a range of appropriate instructional strategies and activities that support English language development; c) demonstrate an understanding of the central issues and current approaches to the teaching of English language speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, as well as approaches to language instruction that are content-based and focused on English for specific purposes; d) recognize the interconnectedness of teaching and assessment, assess students' knowledge using multiple forms of assessment, and address students' diverse needs, backgrounds, and English proficiency as they plan instruction. Major topics will include concepts surrounding second language assessment as well as classroom strategies to evaluate and monitor adult learners' English language learning. Also, students will explore the central issues and techniques for teaching oral communication (listening and speaking), literacy (reading and writing), and grammar. Students will complete a curricular development project, teach and videotape classroom lessons for mentor instructor feedback. A focus will be on guiding students to develop their own teaching practices appropriate to a group of adult English language learners in the specific context in which they live and work. This course is one of four required courses that make up the Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).