Course Detail

LIN 542 Language Teaching Methods

LIN 542 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:

Michael C. Raines, Ph.D.

Instructor name:
Michael C. Raines, Ph.D.
Instructional Assistant Professor of TESL & IEP

Instructor Information:
Michael Raines currently teaches in the TESOL Program in The Department of Modern Languages and also in the Intensive English Program. Originally from Tupelo, MS, Michael has been teaching ESL for a long time.

He first studied and taught in Mexico City for a number of years, and after that experience, returned to the United States to finish his Ph.D. in TESOL at Ole Miss. After finishing his degree, he taught at the University of Alabama for several years, where he was director of two programs: ESL and Foreign Language Education, and also managed a federal grant.

He has taught additional intensive TESL classes overseas. After his tenure at the University of Alabama, Michael returned to Ole Miss to teach Spanish and ESL for several years. In the Fall 2010 semester, he began teaching in the TESOL and IEP programs and has also taught a number of courses online for Modern Languages.

Contact Information:

Communication between the instructor and student can take the form of any and all of the following: 

  • You may call anytime between 8am-5pm M-F (662-915-1194). If you leave a voicemail, please include the course and section you are in and your full name.
  • Please feel free to e-mail anytime. I will try my best to return e-mails within 24 hours.
  • Grading may take up to 5 working days. Please do not email me grade-related questions before 5 days have elapsed.
  • Online Office Hours: by appointment via skype, telephone or campus visit

For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department:

The University of Mississippi
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
iStudy
P. O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Phone: (662) 915-7313, toll-free (877) 915-7313
Fax: (662) 915-8826
E-mail: istudy@olemiss.edu

Course Description

This course examines Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). We look at a variety of techniques, methods, approaches, teaching principles, issues and Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theories. This is a hands-on course, and so we attempt to apply such knowledge to teaching practices covering the various language skills, numerous situations (e.g., monolingual, multilingual), proficiency levels, etc. The ultimate goal is to enhance our teaching skills based on principles and to become reflective language teachers.

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of major TESL teaching techniques/methods/approaches, language teaching principles and basic theories of Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
  2. Develop activities and lessons grounded in principles of language teaching and/or SLA theory
  3. Develop Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and corresponding materials and assess whether activities and lessons met SLOs
  4. Select, evaluate, and adapt textbooks, materials, etc. for use with various proficiency levels, monolingual/multilingual classrooms, various skills, etc.
  5. Effectively manage a classroom
  6. Assess one’s own teaching and respond accordingly (i.e., Reflective Teaching)
  7. Critically evaluate issues in TESL, e.g., culture-related issues in the classroom, and respond accordingly

Course Outline:

This course consists of 14 instructional lessons.

You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance. *  NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page
LESSON Reading Assignments Due for Grades Pacing guide to complete the course in a semester
Start Here *You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance.* NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page. Syllabus Quiz Week 1
1 Introduction to TESL and TESL course; Methods/Approaches, CLT, teaching principles (Chapters 1-3) Questions 1-3, Journal entry on 1-3, Video introduction Week 1
2 Syllabus and curriculum design; World Englishes (Chapters 4-5) Questions 4-5, Journal entry on 4-5, Student learning outcomes
( SLOs)		 Week 2
3 Listening (Chapters 6-7) Questions 6-7, Journal entry 6-7, Week 3
4 Speaking (Chapters 8-10) Questions 8-10, Journal entry on 8-10, SLO oracy skills Week 4
5 Reading (Chapters 11-13) Questions 11-13, Journal entry on 11-13, Week 5
6 Writing (Chapters 14-16) Questions 14-16, Journal entry on 14-16, SLO literacy skills, Week 6
7 Grammar and Vocbulary (Chapters 17-19) 5 Week 7
MIDPOINT OF COURSE If you are a semester student, you are encouraged to reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the lesson has been submitted.		 All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course The exact date semester students are encouraged to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.
8 Assessing the Language Skills (Chapters 20-21) Questions 20-21, Journal entry on 20-21 Week 8
Mid-term Covers chapters 1-21 (Be sure to complete all work prior to this exam before proceeding in the course.) To be completed
before proceeding		 End of Week 8
9 Skills for Teachers 1 (Chapters 22-23) Questions 22-23, Journal entry on 22-23, Assessment tool, Lesson Plan, Week 9
10 Skills for Teachers 2 (Chapters 24-26) Questions 24-26, Journal entry on 24-26, Week 10
11 Integrated Approaches 1 (Chapters 27-29) Journal entry on 27-29 Week 11
12 Integrated Approaches 2 (Chapters 30-32) Journal entry on 30-32, Week 12
13 Focus on the Learner (Chapters 33-36) Integrated Approaches 1 (Chapters 27-29) Week 13
14 Focus on the Teacher (Chapters 37-40) Journal entry on 37-40, Week 14
Final Exam Final course exam (Be sure all work is completed prior to this exam.) To be
completed		 Week 15

Grading:

Grading Scale:
93 - 100% = A
90 - 92% = A-
87 - 89% = B+
83 - 86% = B
80 - 82% = B-
79 or below = C+ or below

GRADING INFORMATION:
The grading format is as follows:

  • Lesson Assignments (50%) (questions, journal, etc)
  • Exams (50%)
    • Midterm exam (25%)
    • Final exam (25%)

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.