Guided Case Study of an English Language Learner
Build your knowledge of language learners and learn key language teaching strategies through a guided case study of a student.
Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Guided Case Study of an English Language Learner
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Better understand how to teach English as an additional language
On this six-week course from Wintec, you’ll be guided through an in-depth case study of a particular learner, giving you insights and helping you to understand your own learners and how best to teach them English as an additional language.
Discover a range of learning strategies to enhance students’ learning
You’ll start this course by exploring the concept and outline of a case study to lay the foundations for the format of the course. By structuring your learning as a case study, you’ll be able to see each strategy, its implementation, and its results through a real-time example.
As you progress through the course, you’ll look at how to determine and adapt to different language proficiency levels as well as how to step back and observe a classroom. You’ll then explore the numerous learning strategies, what types of students each is appropriate for, and which strategies are best for language learning.
Explore the different types of motivation and how to utilise them in teaching
Motivation has been defined in a number of ways. Some believe it is a combination of a learner’s attitudes, desires, and willingness to expend effort to learn.
During the final week of this course, you’ll look at the different types of motivation, from instrumental and integrative motivation to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Develop your language teaching skills with the experts at Wintec
The teaching team on the Wintec/Te Pukenga Graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Level 7) has broad and lengthy experience in both teaching English language learners and as language teacher educators.
With their expertise, the educators on this course are uniquely positioned to help you build your skills and become a better language teacher.
Syllabus
Week 1
Using case studies to determine learner characteristics.
Introduction to this course: Guided Case Study of an English Language Learner
Welcome to this course. We hope that this course will be of interest to people already teaching English language learners as well as those who would like to work with these learners.
Preparing to carry out a case study
In the next activity you will get an overview of the essential elements of a case study.
Example of a case study proposal
Read the case study proposal below and complete the quiz.
Introduction to the learner
Read this short introduction to the case study learner, who comes from Ukraine.
Review of Week 1
What have you learned this week? Let's spend some time reflecting on and reviewing what we have learned this week.
Week 2
Obtaining information about the learner's background and language proficiency.
Introduction to Week 2
View the powerpoint below to review Week 1 and get an overview of Week 2 content and activities.
Language Proficiency Levels
Language Proficiency Levels
Language for Social Interaction and Language for Academic Purposes
Language for Social Interaction and Language for Academic Purposes
Introduction to the Learner
Read the description of the Case Study Learner (CSL). below. Then move on to the Interview with Oksana.
A Guide to Interview Guides
This article summarizes key considerations relating to conducting interviews for research purposes.
Interview with Oksana
This is the full interview with Oksana, which you will need to refer back to for other activities in the course.
Oksana talks about social and academic English
Oksana talks about social and academic English
Review of Week 2
Complete the quiz to review and check your understanding of some of the main ideas from Week 2.
Week 3
Observing the language learner in the classroom
Introduction to Week 3
This week we will focus on culture and cultural differences and their impact on learning English as an additional language. We will also watch and comment on an interview with the case study learner on this topic.
Classroom Observation
Read the classroom observation schedules to prepare for watching the classroom observation video. Then watch the classroom video in the next step, and complete the two observation schedules.
Classroom Observation - Video
Classroom Observation - Video
Review of Week 3
Complete the quiz to check your understanding of some of the concepts introduced this week about the learner's language level.
Week 4
Exploring the process of adjusting to a new culture and the interaction of culture and language learning.
Introduction to Week 4
This is an introduction to the topics for this week.
The acculturation process
The acculturation process
Hall's Classification of Cultures (1976)
Listen to the lecture and take notes on the ideas of anthropologist Edward T. Hall into classifying cultures as either HIGH CONTEXT or LOW CONTEXT.
Acculturation and 'Distance' theory
A model of acculturation developed by Schumann (1976) proposes that two factors could make language learning easer or more difficult - social distance and psychological distance. Watch the video and comment on these.
Oksana talks about acculturation
Oksana talks about acculturation
Review of Week 4
Review of Week 4
Week 5
Investigating individual differences and evaluating their impact on language learning
Introduction to Week 5
Introduction to Week 5
Introduction to personality factors in language learning
Introduction to personality factors in language learning
Take the 16 Personalities Test
Focus on personality
Introduction to learning strategies for language learning
Focus on learning strategies
Oksana talks about her personality and her learning strategies
In this step, we will watch the interview with the learner again, and focus on Oksana's perception of her personality in relation to language learning, and also her use of learning strategies.
Interview with Oksana's teacher
Please read the transcript of the interview with Oksana's teacher, then contribute to the discussion.
Review of Week 5
Review of Week 5
Week 6
Looking to the future: Learner motivation and recommendations for Oksana
Introduction to Week 6
Introduction to Week 6
Different types of motivation
Different types of motivation
Oksana talks about motivation
Oksana talks about motivation
Looking to the future: Recommendations for Oksana
Looking to the future: Recommendations for Oksana
Review of this course
Review of this course
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the benefits of using case studies to determine learner characteristics
- Identify information about a learner's background and language proficiency
- Reflect on a language learner's performance in the classroom
- Explore the process of adjusting to a new culture and the interaction of culture and language learning
- Investigate individual differences and evaluate their impact on language learning
- Identify learner motivation and present recommendations for a case study learner
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone currently working with English language learners (either in formal or informal settings), or those who are considering this type of work in the future.
It will be especially useful to teachers or prospective teachers at all levels of education, from pre-primary through to tertiary.
Who will you learn with?
I have previously worked as an English language teacher in Papua New Guinea and in New Zealand, and I am currently the Programme Coordinator of the Graduate Diploma in TESOL at Wintec in Hamilton.
I have worked in English language teaching since 1988 in the UK, Japan, Spain & Te Pūkenga in NZ.I have a CELTA, DELTA & MEd in TESOL from Manchester, UK & have worked as a CELTA & EMI trainer.
Who developed the course?
Wintec
The Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) is a leading tertiary education provider and one of New Zealand’s largest Institutes of Technology. Established in 1924, Wintec delivers technical, vocational, and professional education across a broad range of qualifications, domestically and internationally.
What's included?
This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.
- Unlimited access to this course
- Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
- Tests to validate your learning
- Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
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