The main aims of this module are to help the students to become able to:

Analyse and evaluate materials
Adapt materials
Develop materials
Reflect upon subconscious beliefs about teaching and learning
Articulate the principles behind teaching and materials
Critically appreciate the relevant literature on language learning, teaching and materials development
Conduct a needs/wants analysis
Design a course

(LO1) Students will become able to analyse and evaluate language learning materials in the light of the relevant literature on language learning, language teaching and materials development (cf. possible dissertation)

(LO2) Students will become able to adapt existing materials in the light of the relevant literature on language learning, language teaching and materials development (cf. one of the realistic options in their own context)

(LO3) Students will become able to develop materials for specific learners and contexts with clear objectives and appropriate methodology.

(S1) Students will gain research skills of analysing and evaluating texts and activities

(S2) Students will gain practical skills of identifying the problems of existing resources and solving them.

(S3) Students will gain practical skills of creative use of existing resources for specific purposes to suit the learners and contexts

(S4) Students will gain the ability to communicate ideas with concision and clarity.

(S5) Students will gain organisational skills in managing time and workloads, and in meeting deadlines.

Topics covered typically include: Principles and Procedures of Materials Development; Materials Development; Analysis and Evaluation; Adaptation; Materials for Developing Skills; Materials for Grammar and Other Linguistic Features; Materials for Developing Vocabulary; The Course Design Process and Needs Analysis.

This module will be delivered by weekly 1-hour whole-cohort workshops and weekly 1-hour seminars of no more than 25 students. The majority of teaching will be delivered face to face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on-campus delivery and where technology affords a better learning experience.

This module takes an experiential approach in a sense that the students will actually evaluate, adapt and develop language learning materials for different focuses, learners and contexts. The students will be given real life tasks that are designed to provide opportunities to learn about theoretical and practical issues in course and materials design and also to reflect upon their own internal theories, as well as critically appreciating the relevant literature on learning and teaching.

The students will also be able to put into practice what they have learned in the other MA modules (e.g. ‘Practical Classroom Techniques’, ‘Methods of En glish Language Teaching’, ‘Second Language Acquisition’, ‘Speaking and Listening’, ‘Lexis and Vocabulary Teaching’). Through the process the students will be able to further deepen their understanding of the first and the second semester module subjects.

The majority of teaching will be delivered face to face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on campus delivery and where technology affords a better learning experience.