Justifying course and task design in language teaching

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Date
2003
Authors
Weideman, Albert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: We often neglect to justify course and task design in language teaching in terms of current insight. This article articulates a number of general considerations that influence course design in communicative language teaching, as well as one specific condition: that the task or course must make language learning possible in the classroom. It concludes with a consideration of three essential criteria: that the task or course design embody a broad (communicative) perspective on language, that it provide learners with opportunities for focusing on the learning process itself, and that it use learners’ personal experience as a starting point for tasks.
Afrikaans: Die ontwerpers van taalkursusse en -opdragte versuim dikwels om hul ontwerpe te regverdig aan die hand van eietydse insigte. Die artikel bespreek enkele algemene beginsels wat kursusontwerp beïnvloed. Dit identifiseer ook een oorkoepelende voorwaarde, naamlik dat die taak of kursus die aanleer van taal in die klaskamer moontlik moet maak. Die artikel sluit af met ’n bespreking van drie noodsaaklike kriteria in kursusontwerp: die belang van ’n breë kommunikatiewe perspektief op taal, leerders moet die geleentheid gebied word om op die leerproses self te fokus en leeerders se persoonlike ervaring moet as basis gebruik word vir die ontwerp van opdragte.
Description
Keywords
Language teaching, Communicative language teaching, Language teacher
Citation
Weideman, A. (2003). Justifying course and task design in language teaching. Acta Academica, 35(3), 26-48.