Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to understand approaches to research in second language classrooms; plan a small scale research project for a second language classroom; make and transcribe a recording (audio or video) of a second language class; closely analyse certain aspects of a second language class.
Synopsis This subject considers recent second language acquisition studies that have taken the language classroom as their focus. Such research looks in depth at what actually happens in language classrooms, and treats such topics as the effectiveness of teacher talk as input to the language acquisition process; the special nature of classroom discourse; error treatment and correction; learner strategies; classroom practices that seem to enhance effective acquisition; research into reading and writing processes; and the assessment of learner progress in language classrooms. This subject is one of the compulsory subjects for the Graduate Diplomas in SLE and TAL.
Assessment Preliminary written assignment (2000 words): 20% + Oral class presentation: 20% + Final written assignment (5000 words): 60%