innovative approaches - neas · resources • curriculum development in english language teaching...
TRANSCRIPT
General English
General English Plus
• Intermediate and Upper Intermediate
levels
• Differing objectives and teaching styles
Our Organisational Culture
• 2 campuses, Sydney & Melbourne
• Wide range of OS study motivations
• Majority General English
• Long-term goals decided during
study period
• Diverse nationality mix
–
Nationality Mix
AMERICAS 13%
BRAZIL 19%
CHINA 5%
CENTRAL EUROPE
15%
WESTERN EUROPE
14%
JAPAN 13%
KOREA 10%
MIDDLE EAST 2%
SOUTH EAST ASIA 4%
TURKEY 2%
What we did…………
1. Confronted the problem
2. Explored solutions
3. Built a course
4. Rolled out the course
5. Reviewed the course
General English Feedback
• Teacher feedback
• Prospective student feedback
• Current student feedback
1. Disconnection between
General English course
& necessary ESP skills
2. General English
not addressing long-term
student learning plateau
Two Core Problems
Questioning status quo
1. Lower level IELTS/EAP courses?
2. Raise entry level requirements?
3. Increase ESP content in GE?
4. Teach differently to re-stimulate
learning?
General English
General English Plus
• Intermediate and Upper Intermediate
levels
• Differing objectives and teaching styles
Course Development
Process
• Researched material
• Chose the team
• Developed action plan
• Regular process review
Curriculum Development • Microskills analysis
– Specific skills within macro skills;
reading, writing, listening, speaking
• Cross-referencing ESP materials
• Multifunctional course content
• BICS Vs CALP (basic interpersonal (cognitive academic
conversation skills) language proficiency)
Integrating Vocabulary
• From BICS to CALP
• Instruction
• Analysis
• Reinforcement
• Response: grateful
Critical Thinking
• English Ability ≠ test score + critical
thinking
• Cooperation and exposure
• Range of spoken activities
• Comfort zone
• Response: scared but enthusiastic
Teacher Orientation
• Training and support
• Class atmosphere
• Materials
• Teacher response: refreshing and
challenging
–
Roll Out Components
1. Educate teachers why and what
2. Build the course backend
3. Educate students why and what
4. Train marketing how to promote
Outcome surprises
• Sustained course popularity
• Diverse nationality mix
• Teacher training
opportunities
• Meets multiple student
needs simultaneously
–
Obstacles along the way • Confusing the marketers
• Student & teachers
understanding the course
• Training teachers out of the
‘GE teaching’ comfort zone
–
Resources
• Curriculum Development in English Language
Teaching – Jack C Richards
• Testing for Language Teachers – Arthur Hughes
• Leadership and the New Science: Discovering
order in a chaotic world – Margaret J Wheatley
• Language, Culture and Cognition: A collection of
studies in first and second language acquisition
- Lilliam M Malave-Lopez & Georges Duquette