TESOL 103 - TESOL Teaching Methods II Syllabus
Course Description
This is the second of two courses on foreign language teaching methodology. This course emphasizes technology, cross-cultural and linguistic assessment, and classroom management.
Texts
No textbook is required. All readings and video viewing activities are housed directly within the course.
Course Outcomes
- The future teacher will understand some of the basic principles of cultural diversity and how their operation can affect the teacher's interpretation and assessment of students.
- The future teacher will understand basic classroom management techniques.
- The future teacher will understand some general assessment and some linguistic assessment techniques.
- The future teacher will be able to utilize some of the more prominent technologies used in second-language instruction.
Course Requirements
It will be expected that the student look at the Lesson Overview for each section to make sure he or she knows what is due and when. All readings and video viewing assignments will be listed on the overview page. Make sure to read and view the assignments thoroughly so that you are prepared to complete the assignments, quizzes, and/or discussion board/blog requirements.
It is assumed that students will be spending 9-12 hours a week on this course, so please plan accordingly to complete all the necessary requirements. There are time estimates indicated on each assignment concerning the amount of time you should spend on each activity. These estimates are not perfect calculations, but should provide you with a good frame of reference in completing your assignments.
Course Structure
This course is constructed with the course outcomes as its foundation. You will be asked to contribute through a variety of assignments, activities, and assessments that will help you achieve the desired outcomes.
This course is set up according to four units. They differ in length and have different kinds of assignments/activities in accomplishing the desired outcomes. The four units within this course are outlined below:
- Technology (Lessons 2-4)
- Teaching and Assessing Cultural Differences (Lessons 5-8)
- Classroom Management (Lessons 9-10)
- Assessment (Lessons 11-13)
Please do your best to fully contribute each week as you complete each of your assignments/activities for each unit. Your effort and invested time in earlier units will help prepare you for the units that come in the latter part of the course.
Assignment Categories
This course is designed to encourage a lot of interaction and discussion concerning completed assignments. Make sure to fully contribute and participate in completing, and when appropriate, sharing your work with your classmates.
There will be different assignment types that you will complete throughout the course. Some assignment types will be particular to a specific unit. To help you have a better picture as to what will be expected, read the assignment descriptions below:
Reading and Video Viewing: Each week you will be asked to read and view (as assigned) various materials regarding the topic of study that week. Each of these assignments will be listed on the weekly overview page for easy access. Make sure to be thorough in completing these assigned reading and viewing activities, as they will be the basis for your assignments, activities, discussion boards, and assessments.
Tool Box Sharing Board: This assignment type will predominantly be accomplished during the Technology Unit; however, there will be a few weeks interspersed throughout the remaining units in which you will complete a few other technology projects. These assignments allow you to research, create, and share various technology assignments. You will create a product that will benefit you in the classroom. You will then post your completed project on the sharing board as your initial post. At that point, you will be asked to review and comment on the projects of others. The final thing you will be asked to do is to capture at least 10 projects each time there is a sharing board assignment so that you complete the course with a “tool box” of items that you can use within your own future classroom.
Blog Self-Assessment: This assignment category will predominantly be completed during the Teaching and Assessing Cultural Differences Unit. You will be asked to create and maintain a blog that allows you to synthesize the information that you learn from your reading and video viewing assignments. You will complete a self-assessment every time a blog post is due. The self-assessment allows you to copy and paste your blog post so the instructor can easily grade it, as well as reporting on visiting the blogs of others. It is important to visit the blogs of your classmates to understand other perceptions and ideas gained through their learning experiences.
Situations: During the Classroom Management Unit, you will be able to demonstrate your learning from previous units as you engage in situational analysis of potential classroom scenarios. As you respond to various situations/scenarios, you will demonstrate understanding of learned principles and techniques in resolving potentially difficult classroom situations. You will post an initial response explaining your approach to resolving the situation, and then will engage in a class discussion responding to the initial posts of others. It is the hope that vibrant discussions ensue as you learn for yourself how to best respond to difficult situations. The blog assignment from the previous unit will come in handy as you refer to it to help you know how to possibly approach the proposed situations.
Write and Discuss Discussion Boards: These discussion boards are spread throughout the course to encourage you to first, think for yourself, and second, to see the views and opinions of others regarding the assigned topic. Make sure to carefully read each assignment before you begin writing. Your initial response will be due first; your response posts to the posts of your classmates’ will be due later in the week. Make sure to be thorough in all your contributions to each discussion board as you will be graded on how well you articulate your ideas as well as participating in a discussion with your classmates.
Papers: There are three papers you will be asked to complete. These one-page reflection papers will allow you to demonstrate your learning regarding the different topics you have studied. You will upload the paper through I-Learn for the instructor to grade.
Quizzes: There are a number of quizzes in this course, some are sprinkled throughout the course, but the bulk of quizzes will predominantly be found in the Classroom Management and Assessment Units. Think of these quizzes as a means to helping you learn the content. You will be encouraged to use your notes and video clips to help answer the quiz questions. You will only have one attempt to complete each quiz.
Exam: You will have one exam in this course. It will cover the Teaching and Assessing Cultural Differences Unit. You will be able to use your notes and video clips as you complete the assessment. You will have one attempt to complete the exam.
All of the above mentioned assignment categories will help you to achieve the course’s outlined outcomes. Take the time to engage in the material and to interact with your fellow students and you will come away more prepared to enter the TESOL classroom to teach your own future students.
Grading
Grading will be on a point system. The instructor’s evaluation of assignments is his or her subjective judgment and he or she makes no claims that the grading will be “fair.” There are 889 points possible in this course. The breakdown is as follows:
| Quizzes: | 209 points |
| Blog Self-Assessments: | 190 points |
| Situations: | 60 points |
| Culture Exam: | 55 points |
| Write and Discuss DBs: | 55 points |
| Papers: | 30 points |
| Tool Box Sharing Board: | 270 points |
| 93% - 100% | A |
| 90% - 92% | A- |
| 87% - 89% | B+ |
| 83% - 86% | B |
| 80% - 82% | B- |
| 77% - 79% | C+ |
| 73% - 76% | C |
| 70% - 72% | C- |
| 67% - 69% | D+ |
| 63% - 66% | D |
| 60% - 62% | D- |
| 59% and below | F |
LATE WORK POLICY: There is a 30% penalty for late work and a 10% penalty per day for late tests. All late work must be turned in before the final day of semester. Extra credit is not offered in this course.
The instructor will gladly make reasonable efforts to accommodate students with special needs. Please inform him or her of any special needs during the first week of class.
It is expected that you are courteous and respectful towards your instructor and fellow students. If not, the instructor has the right to take appropriate measures, at his or her discretion.
Additional Information
University Policies
Academic honesty is required and any violation with be dealt with according to the University Academic Honesty Policy. Policy on Sexual Discrimination/Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at (208) 496-1130.
Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:
Brigham Young University Idaho provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities pursuant to applicable disability law.
Information regarding services for BYUI students with disabilities may be found at http://www.byui.edu/disabilities
Disability Services
156 & 158 McKay Library, East Wing
BYU–Idaho
Rexburg, ID 83460-0425
(208) 496-9210
(208) 496-5210 fax
Email: disabilityservices@byui.edu
Personal Conduct
All of your correspondence with the teacher or other classmates must be respectful. Writing something disrespectful or “venting” is unprofessional and not becoming of a university student. In addition, it is not in accordance with the Honor Code of BYU-Idaho and you will be subject to discipline accordingly. You are invited to re-read the BYU-I Honor Code and the “Principles of Personal Honor” found by visiting http://www.byui.edu/student-honoroffice/ces-honor-code.
Contact Information
If any technical difficulties arise throughout the course contact the Online Support Center or the Help Desk before contacting the instructor.
Online Support Center
Phone: (866) 672-2984
Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu
Website: http://www.byui.edu/online/online-support-center
Text Messaging: (208) 557-4142
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM, MT
Skype: onlinesupportcenterbyui
Live Chat: Available on the Online Support Center Website.
Help Desk
Phone: (208) 496-9000
Toll Free Number: 1 (866) 237-5195
Email: helpdesk@byui.edu
Website: http://www.byui.edu/help-desk
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 9 PM Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Copyright
Materials on BYU-I I-Learn and related sites may be protected by US Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). These materials are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.
The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus at any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place.