Dr Marina Mattheoudakis

Professor

Classes will be held on

Wednesdays: 14.00-16.00 and
Fridays: 13.30-15.30

Consultation hours: Wednesday: 11.30-13.30

Friday: 11.00 – 13.00

Room: 306A

Ling 3-329 R: The classroom: principles and practices

This course aims to familiarize students with the principles and techniques of
language teaching. It will bring together current theory and research in order to
encourage innovative classroom practice and it will provide students with the
opportunity to relate the theoretical knowledge acquired in Ling 3-225 and Ling 3-
226 to the choices and decisions English language teachers have to make in their
daily teaching practice. The course will cover a wide range of topics related to the
teaching of English as a foreign language to learners of different age groups (e.g.
teaching the skills, class management, lesson planning, the role of different
discourse types in E.F.L., etc.) and it will attempt to allay the fears that are often
expressed by teachers new to the profession.

Course outline
 Looking at teachers and learners
(a) teachers’ different views and beliefs about teaching and learning
(b) students’ differences (e.g. learning styles and preferences, language learning
ability, learning experience, etc.)

 Younger and older learners

It is well known that learners of different ages have different needs, competences,
and cognitive skills. As this course refers to the teaching of English to learners of
different age groups, it is essential to discuss differences between younger and older
students in relation to their cognitive and language development.

 Teaching heterogeneous classes

Managing and teaching heterogeneous classes is considered to be one of the
commonest problems facing language teachers. Teaching strategies and techniques
for dealing with heterogeneous classes (e.g. groupings, grading of activities, etc.) will
be explored and discussed.

 Classroom management
Classroom management covers a wide range of issues which are very often ignored
in the teaching practice. These include, among others, students’ seating
arrangements and groupings, teachers’ use of their physical presence in class,
prevention and treatment of discipline problems, etc.

 Making a lesson plan

Lesson planning aims to provide teachers with a proposal for action that they can
follow during their teaching sessions. Within a lesson plan, teachers identify their
teaching aims, specify the content of their lesson, anticipate potential problems. In
this course we will explore the purpose and content of a lesson plan, as well as the
form it should take.

 Selecting and developing materials

The selection, development and use of textbooks and supplementary materials is an
important part of teachers’ job, as such materials guide and affect the lesson
procedure. Materials include anything which can be used to facilitate the learning of
language (e.g. linguistic, visual, auditory, etc.). Factors that influence the selection of
materials, are, among others, students’ age and language level, the methodology
adopted, the syllabus and topic selected, etc.

 Teaching vocabulary and grammar

Vocabulary and grammatical structures have traditionally been the basis of all
language teaching. In this course component, students will explore innovative
techniques aiming to help language learners to build their vocabulary and expand
their knowledge of grammar.

 Teaching the skills

The teaching of skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) will cover issues
such as the reasons and principles that lie behind the teaching of skills, activities
that can promote their development, as well as suggestions that future language
teachers can explore in their teaching practice.

In each session, references will be made to (a) the types of feedback teachers
can use in their teaching practice, (b) methods of assessing students’ learning
and (c) the use of various discourse types (e.g. literature, songs, etc.) in the
teaching of English as a foreign language.
Selected bibliography

1. Bland J. (2015). Teaching English to young learners : critical issues in

language teaching with 3-12 year olds. London, N.Y.: Bloomsbury
2. Cohen, L., L., Manion N K. Morrison (2002). A Guide to Teaching Practice.
London: Routledge/Falmer
3. Fried-Booth, D. (2002). Project work. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
4. Hall, D. and A. Hewings (2001). Innovation in English Language Teaching.
London, N.Y.: Routledge
5. Hall, Joan Kelly. (2002). Methods for teaching foreign languages : creating a
community of learners in the classroom. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill.
6. Harmer, J. (1998). How to teach English. An introduction to the practice of
English language teaching. Harlow: Longman.
7. Harmer, J. (2007). The practice of English language teaching. London:
Longman.
8. Harwood, N. (2010). English Language Teaching materials: Theory and
Practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
9. Hedge, T. (2014). Teaching and Learning in the language classroom. Oxford:
OUP.
10.Hess, N. (2001). Teaching Large Multilevel Classes. Cambridge: CUP
11.Huü ttner, Julia Isabel., Mehlmauer-Larcher, Barbara, Reichl, Susanne, Schiftner,
Barbara (2012). Theory and practice in EFL teacher education : bridging the
gap. Bristol, UK ; Tonawanda, NY : Multilingual Matters.
12.Phillips, S. (2001). Young Learners. Oxford: OUP
13.Prodromou, L. (1992). Mixed ability classes. London: Macmillan Publishers.
14.Puchta, H. and M. Schratz (1993). Teaching teenagers. England: Longman.
15. Rixon, S. (1981). How to use games in language teaching. London: Macmillan.
16.Renandya, W.W. and P.W. Handoyo (2016). English Language Teaching today:
Linking Theory and Practice. Springer (via HealLink)
17.Scrivener, J. (2003). Teaching Grammar. Oxford: OUP
18.Scrivener, J. (2005). Learning Teaching: A Guidebook for English Language
Teachers. Oxford: Macmillan
19. Ur, P. (2012). A course in English language teaching. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
20.Warjnryb, R. (2003). Stories: narrative Activities for the Language Classroom.
Cambridge: CUP
21.Watcyn-Jones, P. (1995). Grammar games and activities for teachers. Penguin

Useful Websites
http://www.onestopenglish.com/
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/
https://elt.oup.com/?cc=gr&selLanguage=en
http://www.englishteacherwebsites.com/
https://www.hltmag.co.uk/aug19/