Autumn Semester 2023-24 

EGH432: Assessment 1 (3,000 words, 100% weighting) must be submitted by 12.00 noon on Monday 15th January 2024 on Turnitin.

 This 3,000-word written piece will involve a critical discussion of a relevant issue in Language Teaching Methodology, based on the theory and research evidence from second language acquisition and teaching literature. You will be expected to analyse and discuss these issues in light of your specific teaching/learning situation. Guidance on how to structure this assignment is given below. Choose ONE of the following topics:

 1. Vocabulary Write an article for an ELT teachers' magazine (national or international), outlining some of the main factors, both theoretical and practical, that should be considered in effective vocabulary teaching. Consider a particular learning group in your article (e.g., proficiency level, age, learning context...), and specify the type of methods, words, aspects of word knowledge, strategies, etc. that should be prioritised to aid in building their vocabulary. 

2.Grammar

Write an argument essay on the advantages and drawbacks ot the PPP approach in teaching the grammar of a second language. Draw on insights from second language learning theory in your commentary and critically consider what empirical research has been carried out, what are the alternatives to P-P-P are and which method would be more suitable for your learning/teaching context. In your discussion, do draw on your own experience of learning/teaching grammar, but supporting it with research evidence and 

3. Reading Write an argument essay on the teaching of reading in second languages in general and in your specific learning/teaching situation. What is the nature of the reading process in second languages? What are the dangers of over-reliance on either top-down or bottom-up processing? What techniques/strategies are available for facilitating top-down processing, (i) bottom-up processing? Which of these approaches would be more suitable for your particular learning/teaching context? 

4. Writing The genre-based approach to teaching writing has been referred to as subjective, vague ly defined, unstable, or even irrelevant to diverse types of ESL/EFL learners' (Hinkel, 2006: 126). Discuss the genre-based approach to L2 writing teaching and compare it to other approaches to writing instruction. Your argument essay should include the following areas: an Basis of the criticism to the genre-based approach and what scholars have said about it