Course

Teaching Reading, Writing, and Grammar to Adult Students of English as a Second Language

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Teaching English as a Second Language
Course code
TESL 4203
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
Summer
Winter

Overview

Course description
This is one of a group of six courses that together lead to a Douglas College Certificate in Teaching and Tutoring English as a Second Language to Adult ESL Learners. Students learn how to structure reading and writing activities and grade them to the level of the students, using resources to develop complete reading, writing and grammar lesson plans. The course gives students a broad overview of English grammar as it is taught to ESL speakers. Students are introduced to techniques for teaching grammar and vocabulary to ESL learners in a wide range of settings. Students will also learn how to create assessment tools for these skills.
Course content
  1. basic methods of teaching reading to adults for whom English is a second language 
  2. basic methods of teaching writing to adults for whom English is a second language
  3. strategies for teaching English grammar and vocabulary in context
  4. development of tasks and mini-lessons for teaching reading and writing
  5. assessment of and other types of response to ESL students’ written work and reading assignments
  6. development of useful resource materials and lesson ideas
Learning activities
  1. Lecture/demonstration
  2. Small group/pair discussion
  3. Individual/small group projects
  4. Individual/small group presentations
  5. Group discussion
  6. Reading and writing assignments
  7. Micro-teaching
Means of assessment

Courses are evaluated on the standard graded system that applies in evaluating coursework for credit courses. Students are assigned grades according to their level of achievement on a variety of assessments which may include evaluated assignments, presentations, teaching simulations, and tests. A class participation mark may be included in the grade.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. apply the basic tenets of  second language reading theory as it applies to adult ESL learners
  2. apply the basic principles of  reading methodology to teaching adult ESL learners
  3. apply the basic principles of second language writing methodology to teaching adult ESL learners
  4. demonstrate an understanding of English grammar from a TESL perspective by creating teachable segments for grammatical items
  5. select and develop tasks for teaching ESL reading, writing, and grammar for a hypothetical classroom
  6. assess the usefulness of commercially available resources for teaching ESL reading, writing and grammar in specific teaching contexts
  7. create materials for teaching ESL reading, writing and grammar in specific teaching contexts
  8. develop quizzes and other means of assessment to measure ESL student progress in reading, writing and grammar
  9. respond to ESL student writing in appropriate and constructive ways
Textbook materials

Students may be required to purchase textbooks.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for TESL 4203
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) DOUG TESL 4202 (3) & DOUG TESL 4203 (3) = UFV TESL 410 (4) & UFV TESL 4XX (2)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025