National and KapodistrianCourse: TEFL Practicum
University of AthensTerm: Winter 2013-14 Semester: 7th
School of PhilosophyInstructor: Dr M. Drossou
Faculty of English StudiesEmail:
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS
TEFL PRACTICUM COURSE INFORMATION
1. FRAMEWORK OF THE COURSE
This course, which is a component of the Pre-service EFL Τeacher-training Programme that the Faculty offers, builds on the knowledge and skills that students developed by having successfully completed in previous semesters two relevant core courses: Applied Linguistics to Foreign Language Teaching and Learning and ELT Methods and Practices. Conducted in the form of seminars and workshops that are organized in thematic areas so that trainees can choose among aspects of TEFL that interest them the most, the purpose of the course is to provide them with opportunities to develop practical knowledge with regard to the teaching of English in different learning situations. Seminar and workshop instructors carefully guide them to put into practice current educational and language teaching/learning approaches, methods and techniques in planning courses and lessons for children, adolescents or adults who are learning English for different purposes; in designing, adapting and evaluating materials; in testing and assessing learners’ ability to use English; in facilitating the learning process through the use of audiovisual aids and computers. By the end of the course, participants are expected to have developed different skills, evaluated through a portfolio approach.
2. COURSE STRUCTURE
Students taking the course during the academic year 2013-14:
Attend three-hour contact classes with their instructor on specific days and times (see: Section 4 below: “Course Syllabus”)
Cover the reading material assigned during the semester (see: Section 3 below: “Course Reading”).
Select two workshops (one from Group A and one from Group B) offered by teachers and teacher-trainers (See: “Workshop Information” and “Workshop Timetable”).
Build their personal TEFL Portfolio
3. COURSE READING
Students taking the course during the academic year 2013-14are required to read:
The volume: Aspects of English Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Athens: University of Athens, 2010.
Material suggested by their workshop tutors
Material suggested by their instructor
4. TENTATIVE COURSE SYLLABUS
Week 1: Τuesday19November12-3Amphitheatre 445
Introduction to the course - Workshop sign up
Week 2: Τuesday26November 12-2Amphitheatre 445
TEFL Portfolio - Report Specifications
Weeks, 3, 4, 5, 6: Tuesday3December – Friday10 January
Workshops Group A
Weeks7, 8, 9, 10, 11: Monday 13January–Thursday13February
Workshops Group B
Week 11: Tuesday 11 February 12-2Amphitheatre 445 Workshops Group A: feedback and evaluation
TEFL Portfolio
Exam guidelines – Course evaluation
5. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
In order to pass the course, students must accumulate at least 48 points on the basis of the following:
- Everyone is required to select two workshops (one from each Group) and do all the required work (30-0 points for each workshop).
- Everyone is required to take part in the final exam (40-0 points).
Extra credit:
- TEFL Portfolio(3-0 points - deadlineFebruary– date to be announced).
- You may choose to write one report for a workshop in which you participated (students work in pairs – Extra credit 5-0 points – deadline for reports: Group A workshops 21 January, Group B workshops 18February).
- Exam participants may do all the questions or do only part of the exam, depending on the credit that they have accumulated from the workshops they have attended. However, they may not sit for the exam if they have not participated in at least one workshop.
- In order to pass the course students must attain at least 20 pointsin the final written exam.
- The grade 10 is reserved for those who have accumulated at least 95points.