2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
EDUC2090 Language Description for Education
20 creditsClass Size: 50
Module manager: Dr Richard Badger
Email: R.G.Badger@education.leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
Module replaces
EDUC2041, EDUC 2051This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
Are you thinking of doing some language teaching in the near future? If so, don't be caught out by those tricky grammar and vocabulary questions that students always ask. One of the most important aspects of any English language teacher's knowledge is knowledge of English itself, especially information which is likely to be useful to learners. This module should equip you with basic knowledge and a set of skills for describing language for teaching at the levels of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and whole texts. By the end of the module, you should be able to do simple phonetic transcriptions of English, be able to identify word classes and aspects of word meaning, and describe some of the main grammatical structures of English, in particular the verb tenses. Teaching is by seminar, and includes many hands-on language analysis tasks, which are done in small groups. Assessment is by a portfolio of language description tasks in which you are asked to analyse samples of language taken from authentic texts, teaching materials or produced by learners, linking your analysis to issues relating to teaching and learning English. There are no pre-requisites for this module.Objectives
On completion of this module, students should:- Be able to describe language in terms of the four levels of the four levels of phonology, lexis, grammar and discourse
- Be able to transcribe simple sentences into phonemic script.
- Be aware of some different ways of describing grammar for different purposes, and able to comment on the suitability of these for teachers and learners.
- Have an overview of the structures of English, in particular the verb systems, in order to be able to use reference books and in order to be able to understand the language aims and structures of course books.
- Be able to analyse texts in terms of lexical patterns: collocation, sense relations and idiom.
- Understand the notions of form and meaning and be able to comment on how they are dealt with in reference books and course books.
- Be able to describe and apply to the analysis of texts the frameworks of conversation analysis and text structure.
Syllabus
This module aims to provide students with an introduction to ways in which the English language can be described and analysed in order to help learners of English as a foreign language. Students will learn phonemic transcription, and develop their awareness of learners' pronunciation difficulties and teaching techniques to overcome these. They will study basic grammatical categories and structures such as the tense system, with application to TESOL. They will also practice analysing texts using some basic notions from the fields of lexical and discourse analysis. The course will be structures around examples of teaching materials, reference materials and examples of learners' written and spoken language. We will also use authentic texts such as newspaper, magazine and spoken texts, for some of the analysis.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 11 | 2.00 | 22.00 |
Seminar | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Private study hours | 175.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 25.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
Preparation and reading for lectures and seminars.Preparation, reading, and writing up assignments.
TUTORIALS: Students are entitled to an email or face-to-face tutorial
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Progress will be monitored through contributions to lectures/seminars, and assignments.Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay | 4,000 words or equivalent, taking the form of a series of language analysis and discussion tasks | 100.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 20/09/2016
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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