LG622-7-AU-CO:
Teaching, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking in TEFL/TESOL
2025/26
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
02 September 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA QX1312 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL),
MA QX13JS Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
The module looks at the recent history of teaching the four skills in English Language Teaching (ELT) contexts. The module explores some of the different ways in which theories of reading, writing, listening and speaking have shaped pedagogy and classroom practice and materials development. The module will cover key themes and topics such as the process approach to writing and genre theory, literacy as a social practice, assessment and materials design. The module will create opportunities to link theories to practice and will offer students opportunities to apply their ideas in class.
The module aims to explore the main debates that have shaped and informed the different approaches to the teaching of reading, writing, speaking and listening in ELT. In exploring these ideas students will have a better understanding of the different ways in which reading, writing, listening and speaking is understood and conceptualised, and they will be provided with a theoretical platform from which to consider, and reflect upon, their own experiences and approaches to teaching the four skills. The module aims to encourage students to reflect on and apply theories to practice through microteaching opportunities.
By the end of the module, students will:
1. be able to critically discuss the different approaches to teaching reading and writing
2. be able to critically discuss the different approaches to teaching listening and speaking
3. be able to discuss their preferred approaches to the teaching of the four skills
4. be able to take a principled approach to evaluating and adapting course books and materials for reading, writing, listening and speaking in ELT
5. be able to apply theories to practice
6. be better prepared for the classroom-based practice teaching in the spring term.
All materials for the module will be uploaded in onto Moodle.
All materials will be made available to students in advance of the class for students to be able to prepare in advance and will be available via listen again. The reading lists draw from writers in a wide range of contexts and students are encouraged to read around and select materials that are of direct interest and which may be published in languages other than English. The nature of the content is such that it allows for students to bring their own experiences and identities to the topics and discussions.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
100% |
Additional coursework information
N/A
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Yuchen Zong, email: yuchen.zong@essex.ac.uk.
Yuchen Zong
4.119; yz23597@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
No
Dr Sal Consoli
Dr Troy McConachy
University of Warwick
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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