Education - ELT Writing Materials

ELT Changing Methodologies (20 credits)

As an experienced ELT practitioner, you can use this module to extend your practice and bring yourself up to date with cutting-edge professional dialogue and research. You’ll engage with current issues in ELT by asking: what is changing in the English language profession and why?

We’ll aim to answer this question through:

• debates
• talks with practitioners and specialists from the ELT field
• exchange of experience and expertise from the student cohort
• fieldwork
• small-scale research enquiry
• critical engagement with professional literature.  

You’ll be encouraged to review your current practice, and form your own critical responses to professional debates.

ELT Materials Writing (20 credits)

You’ll evaluate ELT materials and develop skills in materials writing in this hands-on module. You’ll engage with the latest professional dialogues about the nature and value of materials and their impact on learners, teachers and the learning culture. You’ll strengthen your critical skills in evaluating materials, from their role in learning to aspects of design. 

You’ll gain practical experience through scoping, researching and developing your own cycle of activities, which you’ll also trial and pilot. You’ll do this with an understanding of the real-world constraints that are involved in the ELT materials writing industry. You’ll also have considered the relevant research on materials writing design and practice.

Independent Study: Investigating Practice (20 credits)

This is a chance to carry out an independent study/practice investigation. You’ll choose your own topic, with approval from your module leader / subject co-ordinator. The topic will be relevant to your own practice, but areas of investigation might include (for example):

• developing pedagogical approaches or curriculum materials 
• evaluating learners’ achievement levels
• reviewing the evidence base for changes to educational practice
• appraising learning environments and learning opportunities.

It’s also possible to carry out retrospective evaluation of a project, provided the project took place within the last five years. This might be on:

• the impact of a professional development programme or initiative
• the experience of designing and delivering a new scheme of work 
• the process of implementing an educational change or project. 

Reading for Pleasure (20 credits)

Reading for Pleasure has gained a strong foothold in the latest National Curriculum. Exploring what reading for pleasure is and what it can mean in and out of the classroom is a worthy exploration. Yet acknowledging the importance of the pleasure of reading is not enough. How do we cater for young readers and how do we ensure that the worlds we share are as diverse as the world in which we live in? We'll explore a range of text types. Focussing on picturebooks and the complex relationship between word and picture.  

As part of the module, you might undertake activities like:

• collaborative presentation work with peers
• critiquing and exploring ideas in children's literature together
• investigating and discussing best practice in groups
• evaluating and exploring digital media. 

Children’s Literature Through the Ages (20 credits)

The history of children’s literature is an interesting one. A rich and tumultuous beginning and a growing diverse picture that we are building today. The genre leaves us with one question: who is children’s literature for? 

Written by adults, what do these stories tell us about our society and culture, and what political ideas do they carry? Are children aware of these ideas and their possible interpretation? 

You'll investigate its history and explore the ideas within two comparative texts from differing periods. Exploring issues relating to race, gender, politics and culture.  

This module is designed to complement the Reading for Pleasure module.