The module gives an introduction to the main considerations in planning, delivering and reflecting on a lesson for learners studying English as a foreign language.
Module leader: Peter Martin
An English teacher at the University of Liverpool since 2018, Peter has experience teaching in the UK and South America. He has also taught on multiple teacher training programmes including Trinity CertTESOL, Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL).
Aims
- To build students’ confidence in understanding, discussing and communicating complex ideas, both in written and spoken language
- To develop skills in research, collaborative learning and in preparing and delivering a group presentation
- To introduce students to the main considerations involved in planning, delivering, and reflecting on a lesson of English as a Foreign Language.
Content
The following topics will be considered on the module:
- Learner profiles
- Teacher roles
- Teaching receptive skills
- Teaching productive skills
- Raising awareness of language systems
- Effective classroom management
- Promoting and assessing learning
- Materials supplementation and development
- Maintaining learner engagement and motivation
- The influence of syllabus, assessment and assigned textbooks
- Writing a formal lesson plan.
Structure
The module will be delivered over a three-week period in six two hour sessions (four hours per week, total 12 hours contact time). The final block will be an assessment session.
Each session will take the form of an interactive seminar or workshop. The teachers will demonstrate the approaches used in teaching English as a Foreign Language and students will have a number of opportunities to put what they are learning into practice with their classmates. Students will be expected to participate fully and actively throughout the sessions.
In addition, it is expected that students will spend 34-38 study hours outside of the classroom contact hours on activities including assigned reading, optional reading of areas of personal interest, homework tasks, web research and preparation for assessment. The ‘flipped classroom’ approach will be used, requiring students to prepare in advance for the sessions, and so students should be aware that in order to fully benefit from the face-to-face classroom sessions, they will need to have done the preparation work assigned beforehand.
The course will be practical in nature, with the sessions highly focused on giving the students as much practical experience as possible, and encouraging them to put theory into practice throughout.
The indicative schedule is as follows:
Session one: Introduction to the module and to ELT
The course will begin with some general information about the module, including the aims and assessment. Then it moves on to consider the roles and importance of both the teacher and the learner in language learning classrooms.
Session two: Teaching language systems
This session will introduce students to the main language systems of Grammar, Vocabulary, Functions and Phonology. Students will have the opportunity to practise analysing some target language and considering how to present and practise such language with learners.
Session three: Teaching skills
Students will learn about the differences and similarities between the four skills of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. They will consider some useful techniques for teaching and developing these skills in the classroom.
Session four: Classroom management
In this session the focus will be on a range of classroom management techniques which help with effective teaching and learning. Students will have the chance to practise methods such as giving clear instructions, eliciting, asking concept checking questions, and conducting feedback.
Session five: Planning a lesson
Students will look at the features of an effective lesson and learn to write a formal lesson plan. In this lesson they will also look at choosing and using published material to support their lessons and lesson planning.
Session six: Group presentation of lesson plans
In this final session the students will give a short presentation about their written lesson plan, describing aims, outcomes, learning activities and rationale.
Teaching methods
The teaching approach will include the following:
- Taught sessions
- Flipped classroom – preparation work
- Small group working
- Group discussions
- Presentations
- Online learning
- Loop input
- Workshops.
Assessment
Assessment will be by: Group presentation (worth 50% of the overall mark) Multiple choice/short answer paper (20 questions) (worth 50% of the overall mark) Standard University policies apply with regard to late submission of assessments
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Better understand and communicate complex ideas in written language
- Research a topic and work collaboratively in this research to produce a written essay/reflection
- Demonstrate a basic awareness of the skills and knowledge required in teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Skills
Key skills that will be developed:
- Collaboration and teamwork, through group discussions, activities and tasks in class
- Communication, demonstrated orally in group discussions, activities and tasks in class, and in writing by production of assessed assignment
- Practice and microteaching within the sessions.
Books, ebooks and websites
The University Library website at provides access to many relevant books and electronic books, as well as academic journals and databases.
Recommended pre-course reading and core texts
Any of the following:
- Scrivener, J. (2005) Learning Teaching. Macmillan: Oxford
- Harmer, J. (2015) The Practice of English Language Teaching: 5th Edition. Pearson: Harlow
- Ur, P. (2012) A Course in English Language Teaching. CUP: Cambridge.
All three of these books are excellent introductions to EFL teaching, but it is not necessary or required to read all of them. We would recommend choosing and reading one, or at least dipping into the chapters of particular interest to you.
We may also assign readings from these books as preparatory work during the course.
Useful websites
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