LANG41815: Teaching Young Learners

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• at the end of this module, students will:
• understand the various roles and challenges faced by teachers of young learners (aged 4-18), focusing particularly on the high school age range and high school teaching contexts (11-18) and/or the situation in primary education and/or private language schools
• understand the key principles involved in the effective teaching of young learners
• be familiar with a range of teaching methods potentially appropriate for teaching young learners
• have considered ways of optimising learning through the use of extra-curricular resources and opportunities
• be familiar with relevant testing procedures and approaches available to teachers of young learners (including exams)
• have an understanding of evaluation procedures for teaching programmes involving young learners and ways of making adjustments within the constraints of organisations and educational contexts

• this module focuses on key issues facing teachers in any context involving the teaching of English (as a foreign, not second, language) to young learners.
• broadly speaking, these issues relate to syllabus-planning, materials selection, methodology and the wider psycho-social and technological environment of teaching young learners.
• a particularly important aspect of the course will be to familiarise participants with resources and methods available to them both in the UK and abroad

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• key characteristics of the student population (young people aged 14-18) and typical teaching contexts
• constraints typically experienced by teachers teaching young learners and options available to resolving these
• an understanding of the range of teaching methodologies suitable for language teaching

Subject-specific Skills:

• ability to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various teaching methodologies suitable for teaching young learners
• ability to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various teaching materials suitable for teaching young learners
• ability to plan lessons with the specific needs and potential of young learners in mind
• ability to plan appropriate assessment for young learners
• ability to appropriately evaluate teaching and learning outcomes in young learner contexts

Key Skills:

• ability to read and understand primary texts in language pedagogy
• ability to apply various principles of classroom management
• ability to plan appropriate and effective classes taking account of significant issues affecting young learners (eg the role of feedback and correction; pacing; learner-centredness)
• ability to source and evaluate materials and authentic resources available for the teaching of young learners in the light of theories of language acquisition
• ability to understand principles of course design, testing and evaluation for contexts in which young learners are taught

• lectures will introduce the principles of teaching young learners and give students an opportunity to explore and discuss key issues, opportunities and teaching skills (primarily relating to materials and methods)
• the seminar will provide an informal setting for discussing first drafts of assignments

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