MA-TESOL, Materials and Methods Preparation

Introduction

My current teaching job does not require a syllabus because they are not useful for second grade students at my school. However, as I have mentioned before the IEP, individualized education program, guides our curriculum, which informs parents on progress, and expectations.

For this discussion, I will use what I have learned, thus far, to create a scenario that applies current materials, approaches, and methods I would use for an intermediate ESL classroom syllabus.

Communicative Language Teaching and Its Influences

Learning about your students learning styles, personalities, culture, and home life is very important. Surveys help get an idea of student backgrounds, which is easily created and administered using Google drive. This is assuming all students have Internet access. Using pictures paired with words and questions make the surveys exciting and aids language barriers. Teachers can review reading, writing, and listening levels trough discourse in activity. Also, if possible, there should be a transfer of student academic information from previous institution to help prep for the course. If unavailable then student survey will help aid in information collection.

Learners and Learning

Student surveys allow for comfort and honesty in feedback to teachers. The teacher should continuously be learning methods that will improve classroom. This feedback helps implement new approaches and materials for curriculum. Learning from feedback, ultimately improves learning in the classroom.

Conclusion

Developing a syllabus guides students and teachers on course expectations. Some students need structure of a syllabus than others. It really is a way to meet students’ needs in preparation for a course. It also answers simple questions that reduce questions that will most likely need to be answered. A syllabus reduces ambiguity in course goals, which, again, some students need more than others. I would make sure I put my contact information, helpful, resources, curriculum build, big projects, activities and the weight of each assignment in my syllabus for my imaginary ESL class.

Reflection

Developing a syllabi’s reduces ambiguity in course outline, by telling students what they need, sets expectations, basic course preparation. Some students need these items more than others. Surveys help inform teachers of methods, approaches, and materials that aid learning.