Temple Distinguished Lecture Series, September 17th

English Education Discourse Analysis in the Language Classroom

Professor:
     Dr. Noël Houck (California State Polytechnic University, U.S.A.)

Schedule:
     Saturday, September 17, 14:00 - 21:00
     Sunday, September 18, 10:00 - 17:00

Most teachers have some idea about what happens in different types of language classrooms. However, a closer look may reveal that something entirely different is occurring. In this course students will gain a deeper understanding of what goes on in EFL classrooms, with the result that they are able to ultimately make more informed, intelligent choices about their own classes.

In this course we will look at language classrooms with an eye to describing (rather than evaluating) what is happening in them. Using methods developed to identify activity types and analyze teacher and learner interactional practices in the language classroom, students will dissect stretches of classroom discourse and assess their implications for language pedagogy, comparing their findings with claims made in research on second language acquisition and language pedagogy.

By the end of the course students will be able to use different approaches to discourse analysis to

1. Identify the function of a stretch of classroom discourse
2. Identify the effect of certain teacher on classroom interaction
3. Identify often-unrecognized student practices and their implications for language acquisition
4. Assess second language acquisition research claims on the effect of certain classroom practices on language acquisition.