Introduction to teaching English as a foreign language (IEEL001)

This module is ideal for those who would like to learn more about how to teach English as a foreign language through English alone. The knowledge and skills developed through this module will be valued around the globe, and are also transferrable to many other types of teaching.

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.