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Study information

Developing Language Teachers

Module titleDeveloping Language Teachers
Module codeEFPM269
Academic year2025/6
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Nicholas Bremner (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

10

Number students taking module (anticipated)

20

Module description

This module aims to promote your life-long development as a language teacher and help you to develop a capacity for promoting that development of other teachers in TESOL.  A central focus of this module is on teachers, teaching, and teacher learning, especially, the complexity of what teachers know and think in relation to what they do in their classrooms and the different approaches for teacher education and learning in diverse TESOL contexts. Throughout the module, you will be engaged in analysing and discussing who you are, what you know, what you think, how you teach as a TESOL practitioner in comparison with the thinking and teaching of other members of the class. You will learn how to reflect on your practices and further your own learning as a teacher as well as how to work with other teachers to encourage them to reflect on their work and improve their skills through a variety of approaches.

Module aims - intentions of the module

  1. To introduce fundamental concepts and good practice in teacher education
  2. To critically examine approaches and procedures in language teacher education
  3. To familiarise students with the concept of reflection and its relevance to teacher development 
  4. To engage in active critical reflection of the professional work being done by self and others.
  5. To consider issues in the design of a teacher education and development programmes with reference to sociocultural and socio-political contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the principles and techniques involved in language teacher education.
  • 2. Demonstrate a systematic approach to the design of tasks for teacher education with reference to a specific context.
  • 3. Develop a thorough understanding of the concept of reflection and reflective practitioner and its relevance to language teacher education and development.
  • 4. Apply a critical understanding of the implications of the changing socio-political dimensions of TESOL contexts for teachers' professional identities.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Undertake a critical analysis of teacher education practices informed by theoretical insights regarding TESOL teacher development.
  • 6. Apply the concept of reflective practitioner to an exploration of their own professional development individually, collaboratively and institutionally

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. Engage in independent and cooperative learning with peers from different cultural and pedagogic backgrounds, as evidenced through group discussion.
  • 8. Critically reflect on academic literature in the field of teacher education with specific reference to specific contexts
  • 9. Identify and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a sound analysis of theoretical concepts related to the field and their application to a specific context

Syllabus plan

The topics that we typically cover on this module are:

  • Language teacher knowledge
  • Language teacher identity
  • Language teacher ethics and professionalism
  • Researching language teachers
  • Approaches to teacher training, education and development
  • Language teacher beliefs
  • Reflective practice
  • Approaches to teacher learning

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
151350

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 1510 x 1.5 hour Lecture / Workshops
Guided Independent Study45Pre-session preparation
Guided Independent Study30Wider reading
Guided Independent Study60Preparation for formative and summative assessments

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
An outline and synopsis of the topic that will be worked on for the summative assessment350 words1 and 7, and, depending on topic, 2, 3, 4 and 6Written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay which considers theoretical insights and their practical application to the application of teacher education principles to a particular language education context. 1003,400 words1, 5, 6, 8 and 9 and, depending on topic, 2, 3 and 4.Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay (3,400 words)Re-submission of essay (100%)1, 5, 6, 8 and 9 and, depending on topic, 2, 3 and 4.6 weeks

Re-assessment notes

Resubmission will be capped at a mark of 50%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bailey, K., Curtis, A. and Nunan, D. (2001) Pursuing Professional Development. Newbury House

Bolton, G. (2011) Reflective Practice (3rd edition). Sage.

Brandt, C. (2006) Allowing for practice: a critical issue in TESOL teacher preparation. ELTJ 60/4, pp.355-364

Burns, A. And Richards, J. (2009) The Cambridge Guide to Second Language Teacher Education. Cambridge University Press.

Farrell, T. S. C. (2007) Reflective Language Teaching. Continuum.

Richards, J. and Farrell, T. (2011) Practice Teaching: A Reflective Approach. Cambridge.

Wright, T. and Bolitho, R. (2007) Trainer Development. Lulu.com

Malderez, A. and Wedell, M. (2007) Teaching Teachers: Processes and Practices. Continuum.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Tutors will provide a detailed bibliography for the various topics covered.

Key words search

TESOL, teacher education, teacher training, teacher development

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

EFPM266

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

2010

Last revision date

14/04/2025