Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ENG5064

 
TITLE Developing English Language Proficiency

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for English Language Proficiency

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit equips students with a solid understanding of the core theoretical and practical issues related to how learners of English as a second or foreign language develop their proficiency. Students will be able to examine a range of methods and approaches that have been devised in order to facilitate the process of mastering the English language. This study-unit provides students with an opportunity of exploring the effective learning of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and receptive and productive skills. Students will be encouraged to apply this knowledge to a variety of TESOL contexts, materials and learners.

Study-unit Aims:

- To provide students with the tools to describe and analyse speech and writing;
- To provide students with the tools to describe and analyse English grammar;
- To develop students’ skills in using corpora to investigate language use;- To provide students with an understanding of the key theoretical and practical issues related to the development of English language proficiency;
- To enable students to identify methods and approaches that facilitate the development of English language proficiency in TESOL contexts;
- To enable students to describe the issues that specifically concern the development of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, receptive and productive skills; and
- To guide students to apply their knowledge of how English language proficiency is developed to a variety of TESOL contexts, materials and learners.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify the relationship between language form and and function;
- Identify the key theoretical and practical issues in relation to the development of English language proficiency;
- Identify the methods and approaches that have been devised to facilitate the development of English language proficiency;
- Describe the issues that specifically concern the development of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, receptive and productive skills.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Analyse and critique theory related to the development of English proficiency;
- Compare and contrast different theories, methods and approaches related to the development of English language proficiency;
- Apply their knowledge of theoretical and practical issues to a variety of TESOL contexts, materials and learners;
- Describe and analyse authentic material (spoken and written);
- Analyse a wide range of grammatical phenomena;
- Use corpora as a tool for language learning and language teaching;
- Write critically and engagingly about theoretical and practical issues related to the development of English language proficiency;
- Present their views through an informed process in oral form;
- Conduct tasks involving describing the structure of the English language.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Carter, R., & Nunan, D. (2001). The Cambridge guide to teaching English to speakers of other languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- McDonough, J., Shaw, C., & Masuhara, H. (2013). Materials and methods in ELT (3rd ed.). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
- O'Keeffe, A., McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (2007). From corpus to classroom: Language use and language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Shockey, L. (2003). Sound patterns of spoken English. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Yavas, M. (2011). Applied English phonology (2nd ed.). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Note: All texts are/will be available through the library or as part of the lecturer's resources. Students will be given a comprehensive study pack at the start of the study-unit.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Seminar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (15 Minutes) No 25%
Assignment Yes 75%

 
LECTURER/S Larissa Jonk
Stefania Pace
Jean Theuma
Odette Vassallo
Daniel Xerri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit