Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

This module forms part of the MA in TESOL degree

Aims

Students will:
- discuss issues and principles of materials design and the relationship between materials, culture and ideology;
- learn about the basic design principles relevant to technology-enhanced language learning materials;
- evaluate the role of authentic materials in TESOL;
- evaluate coursebooks for TESOL and consider reasons and ways of adapting and supplementing them;
- design, develop and evaluate materials for language skills development, multiliteracies, interculturality, and global competence;
- understand the major advantages and limitations of technology-enhanced resources, discuss how they can be used for language learning and teaching, and evaluate how they can be integrated into language courses;
- develop materials using various technologies.

Outline Of Syllabus

Developing an understanding of issues and principles of materials design in TESOL such as the role of culture, ideology and authentic materials in language learning and teaching.
Evaluating, adapting and supplementing TESOL coursebooks.
Designing and creating language teaching tasks for all language skills as well as grammar and vocabulary.
Considering the role of technologies, multiliteracies, interculturality, virtual exchange, and data driven learning in language development and creating materials.

Week 1 – Materials AND learning, ideology, culture, syllabus, method, research
Week 2 – Principles and procedures of materials development & Theory in technology enhanced language teaching
Week 3 – Evaluation and adaptation of coursebook and technology-enhanced materials
Week 4 – Developing intercultural language materials
Week 5 – Developing tasks and materials for virtual exchange and global competence
Week 6 – Developing authentic materials using the Internet, chatbots, Generative Artificial Intelligence
Week 7 – Multiliteracies and multimodality in TESOL materials: Digital multimodal composing
Week 8 – Data-driven learning: developing materials using corpora and concordance tools
Week 9 – Computer games (mini games and MMORPGs)
Week 10 – Simulations and Extended Reality
Week 11 – Assignment preparation

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To develop a critical understanding of the issues and principles in language teaching materials.
To understand the criteria for coursebook evaluation in TESOL.
To understand issues in developing materials for reading, listening, speaking and writing skills, and for grammar and vocabulary.
To reflect on the role of data driven learning, technology, multiliteracies, and interculturality in TESOL materials.

Intended Skill Outcomes

To discuss the relationship between materials and culture and ideology.
To collect and edit authentic audio-visual materials.
To evaluate available TESOL coursebooks, and consider adaptation and supplementation.
To design and implement virtual exchange in TESOL.
To design and develop language teaching materials using technology, such as simulations, computer games, vocabulary and grammar activities, skills-based tasks, using technologies such as GenAI tools, H5P.org, SketchEngine, Flip, Padlet, videoconferencing, Weebly, ENACT, Scratch, etc.)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide introduction to and discussion of:
-       issues and principles of materials design in TESOL
-       theories and implications of developing materials using technology
-       criteria for evaluation of TESOL materials
-       issues on materials design for reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, and grammar and vocabulary
-       the role of data driven learning, multiliteracies, interculturality, and virtual exchange in materials development.
Workshops provide practice in:
-       coursebook evaluation and adaptation
-       designing and developing authentic materials
-       using technologies for material design

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Design or creative project functions as an assessment of students’ ability to evaluate, design and adapt TESOL materials, including tasks and activities for language skills, grammar and vocabulary, technology-enhanced learning, multiliteracies, interculturality and data-driven learning. The materials will be accompanied by a rationale, which will assess the students’ ability to discuss various design issues and principles covered during the module.

The reflective log will monitor and foster student learning during their participation in a virtual exchange collaborating with peers in another country. The virtual exchange will also focus on materials design. Students will reflect on different aspects of their experience, such as self-introductions, task design, and facilitation requirements.

General Notes

N/A