Things you can read…
Understanding and Developing Good practice: Language teaching in Higher Education
Klapper, John (2006)
CILT, the National Centre for Languages
This book supports the professional development and training of Modern Languages teachers in higher education. It links insights from pedagogical and applied linguistic research to the practicalities of the undergraduate language syllabus… Understanding and developing good practice is divided into three parts, focusing on: (1) teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning, on methodology and key characteristics of the university language learner; (2) general curricular issues central to the work of tutors, including course planning, autonomous learning, and assessment; and (3) core learning and teaching activities. This book is suitable for teachers of both specialist and non-specialist language students… Following an Introduction: Modern Languages and modern linguists, this book is divided into three parts.
Part I, Teachers and Learners, presents: (1) Reflecting on practice: language tutors’ beliefs and professional development; (2) How students learn languages: insights from second language acquisition; (3) Understanding the university language learner; and (4) Approaches to language teaching.
Part II, Curricular Issues, continues with: (5) Course design and lesson planning; (6) Promoting autonomy; (7) Information and communications technology; (8) Managing the language classroom; (9) Assessment: methods and feedback; and (10) Assessment: language testing.
Part III, Core Activities and Skills, concludes with: (11) Speaking and writing skills; (12) Listening and reading skills; (13) Using written texts in class; (14) Developing vocabulary; (15) Teaching grammar; and (16) Translation as a learning experience.
Journal of Second Language Writing
The Journal of Second Language Writing is devoted to publishing theoretically grounded reports of research and discussions that represent a significant contribution to current understandings of central issues in second and foreign language writing and writing instruction. Some areas of interest are personal characteristics and attitudes of L2 writers, features of L2 writers’ texts, L2 writers’ composing processes, readers’ responses to L2 writing, assessment/evaluation of L2 writing, contexts (cultural, social, political, institutional) for L2 writing, and any other topic clearly relevant to L2 writing theory, research, and instruction. Manuscripts should take care to emphasize the pedagogical implications of the work.
