English Language Teaching – State of The Art Essay
Order Description
State of the Art Essay:
This will consist of a survey of changes in one aspect of English language teaching over the last 50 years or
so.
Aims:
1. For students to investigate an area of language teaching that will add to a participant’s corpus of
knowledge on the subject.
2. For teachers to feel confident implementing different approaches to language teaching as revealed during
the literature search.
3. To develop students’ ability to read widely and critically in a specific area in a limited amount of time.
Description:
ELT and applied linguistics are dynamic fields that are rapidly changing: A survey/review of past journals and
current journals highlight the many changes in ideas and practices that have occurred. In this assignment you
are expected to survey the relevant literature and report on developments in approaches to ONE ASPECT of
LANGUAGE TEACHING. You will need to refer to language teaching trends and the learning theory behind
them (both historically and currently) in order to highlight the recent trend in your nominated area. This will be
achieved by reading journal* articles (at least 12) and referring to a few core text books.
Some possible topics are developments in the teaching of:
listening
speaking
reading
writing
grammar
pronunciation
vocabulary
Alternatively, you could also look at and survey developments in:
teaching language using technology
language testing
Any ideas for other topics should be approved by the lecturer for the unit.
You should:
First check your choice of topic to make sure it is not too
broad.
Reference your article according to the APA referencing
system.
Use the following format to present your work. You may use these headings or write continuous prose.
Recommended format
Introduction (description of the area chosen and an indication of what you will talk about in
your presentation).
Overview of the main changes in ways of teaching in the skill/area you have selected against a
background of the different views on learning and teaching that have been around over the
last 100 years or so.
Current developments in the skill/area.
Conclusions and informed predictions for new directions in the area you have chosen.
References (APA).
Marks: 50
Words: Approx 2,000
* The following are some journals you may wish to use but the best way to research this is simply to google the subject:
TESOL QUARTERLY
LANGUAGE TEACHING RESEARCH
LANGUAGE LEARNING
ELT JOURNAL
STUDIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS
LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY
LANGUAGE TEACHING
