Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 - Course Planning: Course Planning: Knowing where Knowing where are you goingare you going

PresentersPresenters::Laura Mizuha and Melanie BrooksLaura Mizuha and Melanie Brooks

Goals are the big picture of your course. They are specific objectives for your

students.

Goals (p.38)

p38. What are goals? They usually fall into these 4 categories:

1. Language knowledge – vocabulary, grammar, cultural knowledge

2. Language skills – listen, speak, read, write, & translate

3. Language learning skills – be more effective language learners

4. Motivation – develop and maintain their OWN motivation

Most teachers focus on these.

Most GOALS are influenced by two things already: 1) what the school or college exam requires and 2) your own ideas of what

students want.

Examples from SnowCase 1 – College English

NO National Exam

Freedom to choose the goals and design the course

Flexibility to change and do different things

There is probably a textbook. Maybe you have chosen it or maybe not

Case 2 – High School Seniors

National Exam (Vestibular)

Less freedom to design the course. Most of focus is on preparing for the exam

Not enough time to cover ALL the material, NOR for adding fun activities

Goalsp40. Why is goal setting so important?

Set the direction of the course. If you know where you

are going, then you know how to get there.

Students also know where they are going motivation

Students will trust you more if they feel you are taking them somewhere

Goalsp42. General Principles for Goal Setting

Healthy Balance of Skills

Basic Skills and Knowledge

Skills and Knowledge Goals

Building students’ interest in English-language study

•Listening over speaking•Reading over writing•Communication over accuracy•Vocabulary over grammar

Goalsp42. General Principles for Goal Setting Healthy Balance of

Skills

Basic Skills and Knowledge

Skills and Knowledge Goals

Building students’ interest in English-language study

• General skills may be more useful than specific skills.

Ex: conversation repair vs. how to open a bank account

Goalsp42. General Principles for Goal Setting Healthy Balance of

Skills

Basic Skills and Knowledge

Skills and Knowledge Goals

Building students’ interest in English-language study

• Mix goals of skills and knowledge more students will have a chance to shine.

Goalsp42. General Principles for Goal Setting Healthy Balance of

Skills

Basic Skills and Knowledge

Skills and Knowledge Goals

Building students’ interest in English-language study

• Building Students’ Interest in English Study

• Keeping students interested, especially if your course is required.

Personal Experience Attribution Theory –

oversimplified, if students attribute their success to their own hard work, they will value the success more and be more motivated to continue. I believe that students face a

point where they believe impossible things become possible.

For me, it was getting my M.A. I almost didn’t graduate my

undergraduate program (B.S.). Then, later, I graduated from a

very prestigious and difficult M.A. program. This belief (more than my ability) made me a better teacher.

Materials: The Textbook

p44. Advantages

Saves lesson preparation time

Provides continuity to the course

Facilitates students’ study and review

Students can see and mark progress in English

p44-45. Disadvantages

Textbooks have a lot, (sometimes too much) information and details

Books show reading and writing better than listening and speaking

Finishing the book becomes more important than learning and using English

Personal Example The course textbook was

ALREADY chosen for this course. Good points – we like the

book. I can follow the book chapter by chapter (general to specific)

Bad points – The book can difficult and has a lot of information.

We don’t have enough copies of the book

GOAL: Finishing this book means that you will complete U.S. college-level work.

Methods p45. Methods normally come from:

The recommendations of the textbooks and materials for the course.

What my colleagues are doing. The way/methods that my teachers used when I was in

school. p46. The method you SHOULD use, MUST match your

goals NOTE: not only one big goal, but there are also many small goals for

various activities.

The best way to develop language skills is to practice them... again and again.

Don’t shock or scare your students if they REALLY hate something, they won’t do it (at all).

The Syllabus p47. It is where the TEACHER and STUDENTS

both can see and share the goals of the course. It has 5 parts: Course name, Teacher’s name

and contact information, Goals of the course, Course plan, & evaluation (grades)

1. The students know all the important information from the course.

2. It makes the teacher set the goals in the beginning of the course.

3. It prepares the student for the goals and builds confidence in the teacher.

Language Learning Projects (LLPs):

Working toward Breakthrough

LLPs are not only for you, but also your STUDENTS.

They prepare students for autonomy.

If LLPs are new to your students, it will take practice to make a good plan… and also, to follow the plan.

Explaining (by the teacher) and writing journals (reflection by the student) may be better in Portuguese. What do you

think?

Suggestion You can give extra

credit for studying at home and keeping a journal about it.

OR

You can make 10% of the course grade, to study at home.