Unit information: Introduction to teaching Modern Languages as Foreign Languages in 2019/20

Unit name	Introduction to teaching Modern Languages as Foreign Languages
Unit code	MODL20021
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Ms. Q Poetzsch
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces students to key concepts in the teaching of modern foreign languages and develops students’ ability to analyse and reflect on these concepts in the setting of the contemporary modern languages classroom. Students will learn to apply critical theoretical perspectives to practical scenarios (including teaching observation and a practice mini-lesson) by producing a teaching plan and a teaching sequence in groups. They will reflect on their learning by means of a portfolio and reflective writing involving peer and teacher feedback.

The unit aims to introduce students to academic discourse surrounding the teaching of modern languages, now a discrete subject of study within applied linguistics, and to apply this to the challenges involved in becoming a reflective practitioner.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. a sophisticated Understanding of key-concepts of MFL teaching and learning as an academic discipline 
2. skills in key concepts to develop a teaching sequence 
3. ability to produce teaching materials to deliver a teaching sequence'  
4. skills to analyse, evaluate and reflect on teaching practice and how to be a reflective practitioner

Teaching Information

This unit will rely on the “flipped classroom” approach for its delivery. It will be taught in a mix of lectures, seminars and language specific workshops and demonstrations. This unit may also involve some local field trips for teaching observation.'

Assessment Information

• Portfolio (40%): original lesson plan, observation forms, final plan and materials (ILO 2.3)

• Reflective writing (max 1500 words) (60%) drawing on the portfolio and the process, based on own observation and feedback (peer and teacher observation forms) (ILO 1, 4)

Reading and References

Rod Ellis, Language Teaching Research and Language Pedagogy (2012)

David Nunan, Jack Richards & Theodore Rodgers, Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (2014)

Vivian Cook, Second-Language Learning and Language Teaching (2008)

R.C. Gardner & W.E.Lambert, Attitudes and Motivation in Second-Language Learning (1972)

Zoltan Dörnyei & Ema Ushioda, Teaching and Researching Motivation (2011)

Muriel Saville-Troike & Karen Barto, Introducing Second-Language Acquisition (2017)

Sections from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as well as its Companion volume.