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Language Curriculum Design & Evaluation - EDU00017M

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  • Department: Education
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module is suitable for students with at least two years of formal teaching experience. It requires students to critically reflect on their experiences in implementing a language curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment and student experience.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

To help students develop an understanding of what a language curriculum is and how to design and evaluate it.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content
Students who successfully complete the module should be able to:

  • understand key terms such as curriculum, syllabus and needs analysis
  • be familiar with the parts that make up a language curriculum
  • see the coherent relationship between the different component parts
  • employ a range of tools to carry out an environment analysis and a needs analysis
  • be familiar with principles of teaching and learning that underpin goals and objectives
  • be familiar with the different types of language syllabus
  • assess the appropriateness of teaching approaches, methods and techniques within a
  • be familiar with a range of methods of assessment
  • design a language course for a particular context
  • evaluate the course in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness.

Academic and graduate skills

  • Formulate arguments and contribute to discussion
  • Develop academic writing skills
  • Participate in individual and group work, presentations, and peer-teaching activities
  • Demonstrate effective planning and time management
  • Word-process, manage files, use-email, VLE and the Web
  • Undertake empirical and literature research

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The summative assessment for this module is a 3,500 word essay.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

You will receive feedback in a range of ways throughout this module. This will include oral feedback in class, responses to posts on the VLE discussion board and written comments on work. You will have the chance to obtain feedback on your writing during the module, and you will have a short one-to-one meeting with a module tutor to discuss assessments.

You will be provided physical written feedback on assignment report sheets as well as them being readily available on the VLE. The feedback is returned to students in line with university policy. Please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information

Indicative reading

Nation, I.S.P and Macalister, J (2010). Language Curriculum Design. London: Routledge

Macalister, J and Nation, I.S.P (2011). Case Studies in Language Curriculum Design: Routledge

Brown, J. D. (1995). The elements of language curriculum. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Graves, K (2000). Designing language courses: A guide for teachers. Boston, MA: Newbury House.

Graves, K. (1996). Teachers as course developers. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Long, M. (2005). Second language needs analysis. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.