LING 426: Researching Oral Language Pedagogy

Course Aims and Objectives

The main aim of the course is to promote an empirical approach to language pedagogy, with special reference to the teaching of oral abilities.  The course explores - and aims to interrelate:

a) empirical studies of oral language, and oral language processing and development, and    

b) empirical studies of the impact of pedagogical activities. 

Course Content

The course draws on both L1 and L2 transcript data, both from naturally occurring contexts, and from pedagogical and non-pedagogical activities, with speakers from a range of levels of proficiency, and from different language backgrounds. The course will also be able to study sample materials. Sessions will involve discussion and hands-on implementation and analysis, around theoretical readings, empirical data-sets, and pedagogical and research elicitation materials. Topics on the course are likely to include:

  1. The scope of the problem: differences between speech and writing and pedagogical issues
  2. Aspects of oral discourse: types of talk
  3. Aspects of oral language processing
  4. Oral interaction and collaborative talk
  5. Teaching listening as problem-solving
  6. Teaching academic listening
  7. Types of oral language task
  8. Communicative repetition in oral teaching
  9. Oral skills and the teacher

Recommended Reading

Anderson, A. & T.Lynch. 1988.  Listening. Oxford: OUP

Barnes, D. & F. Todd. 1995.  Communication and learning revisited. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Publishers Inc.

Bygate, M. 1987. Speaking . Oxford: OUP

Bygate, M., P.Skehan, M.Swain. 2001. Researching pedagogical tasks: second language learning, teaching and testing. Pearson Educational Ltd.

Cameron, D. 2001. Working with spoken discourse.  Sage

Carter, R. & M.McCarthy, 1998. Exploring spoken English. Cambridge: CUP

Flowerdew, J. (Ed.) 1994. Academic listening.   Cambridge: CUP. 

Hall, J.K. & L.S.Verplaetse (Eds.) Second and foreign language learning through classroom interaction . Lawrence Erlbaum.

Johnson, K. 1996.  Language teaching and skill learning. Oxford: Blackwell.

Kormos, J. 2006. Speech production and second language acquisition. Mahwah. Lawrence Erlbaum.

Littlewood, W. 1992.   Teaching oral communication.  Oxford: Blackwell.

Samuda, V., & Bygate, M. ( 2008). Tasks in second language learning. Houndmills: Palgrave.

van Lier, L. 1996. Interaction in the language curriculum. Awareness, autonomy and authenticity. Harlow: Longman.

Assessment

A 5,000 word written assignment.

Additional Information

MALS and MATESOL; MA TEFL: subject to permission of MA TEFL Director of Studies

Term taught: 2