Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/esl-reading
Are you an English teacher looking to enhance your students’ reading comprehension skills in a dynamic and effective way? The Coursera course, ‘Teaching EFL/ESL Reading: A Task Based Approach,’ offers a comprehensive and practical guide to revolutionizing your reading instruction. This course delves deep into the principles of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), a communicative approach that utilizes real-world tasks as the core of language learning activities.
From the outset, the course clearly defines what constitutes a ‘task’ in language learning, exploring various task types and their role in curriculum design. It provides a solid rationale for adopting TBLT, outlining how task-based lessons are typically structured. The insights from experts like Dr. Nick Andon from King’s College London add significant weight to the theoretical underpinnings.
Module two shifts focus to the multifaceted nature of reading itself. It examines reading from cognitive, communicative, and strategic perspectives, highlighting the crucial link between background knowledge and comprehension. The discussion on developing reading fluency is particularly valuable for teachers aiming for practical application.
Module three is where theory meets practice, comparing classroom reading with real-world reading and establishing principles for communicative reading instruction. The detailed exploration of the three-phase reading lesson, along with examples and insights from Prof. Cathie Wallace, provides a clear roadmap for lesson planning. The integration of tasks into reading lessons is a key takeaway.
What sets this course apart is its emphasis on integrating language focus within the task-based framework. Module four addresses how to incorporate grammar and vocabulary work effectively at different stages of a task-based reading lesson. Techniques like pre-teaching vocabulary and textual modification, discussed with insights from Dr. Parvaneh Tavakoli, are highly practical.
Moving beyond intensive reading, module five introduces extensive reading, its principles, benefits, and its synergy with TBLT. The discussion on extensive reading programs and the example of a reading circle by Dr. Sam Duncan offer inspiring ideas for fostering a love of reading.
The final module empowers you to become a materials designer. It guides you through text sourcing, task creation, and even writing new tasks for existing texts, featuring practical advice from Caroline Herring and Prof. Pauline Foster.
Overall, ‘Teaching EFL/ESL Reading: A Task Based Approach’ is an exceptional course for any EFL/ESL educator. It’s well-structured, packed with expert insights, and offers actionable strategies that can be immediately implemented in the classroom. If you’re serious about improving your students’ reading skills through engaging and effective methods, this course is a must-take.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/esl-reading