My name is Susanne Greés and I will be the course coordinator for this term and also your instructor for the first module of English didactics. I can be contacted on Susanne.grees@hig.se. The course will run for two terms with a total of 30 credits, with 20 credits in the autumn term.
The structure for the autumn term is as follows:
- 0010 English Didactics 6 cr, weeks 41–44
- 0020 Placement for Teaching Practice 10 cr, weeks 45–50
- 0030 Language Structure with a Didactic Focus 4 cr, weeks 51–02
There will be one day of on campus teaching for the didactics module in week 41 on 11/10, 9–15 with more information on Canvas prior to this day. The seminars for the English Didactics module will be on Tuesdays, 10–12.
Teaching occurs to a large extent in seminars where plenty of opportunities for interaction in English are provided. All teaching is in English and aims to encourage discussion and reflection concerning the role and function of English as well as aspects of its application as an educational subject for compulsory education, years 7–9 or upper-secondary education.
To participate fully in our courses it is important that you prepare for the seminars by reading the instructed parts of the course literature. This is obligatory and vital in order to be able to participate in discussing particular models and issues brought up in the literature, rather than discussing topics in general. Therefore it is important that you get hold of the literature well in time for the relevant sessions.
Literature for the first course
Following is a list of the course literature that you will need. For the first module, English didactics, you will need Lightbown & Spada, Lundahl, Oshima & Hogue and Skolverkets publications, see list below:
- Estling Vannestål, M. (Senaste utgåva). A university grammar of English: with a Swedish perspective. Lund: Studentlitteratur.
- Lightbown, P. M. & Spada N. (Senaste utgåva). How Languages Are Learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Lundahl, B. (Senaste utgåva). Engelsk språkdidaktik: texter, kommunikation, språkutveckling. Lund: Studentlitteratur.
- Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (Senaste utgåva). Longman Academic Writing Series 4: Essays. White Plaines, NY: Pearson.
- Skolverket (Senaste version). Kommentarmaterial.
- Skolverket (Senaste version). Läroplaner och kursplaner i ämnet engelska.
Communication
You will be automatically registered on Canvas when you register for the course. This is our main channel for communication and where you will find material about our course such as the timetable, instructions, assignments, etc. This is also where the different instructors will post general announcements concerning the course and the individual sessions. Therefore, check the course Canvas page regularly. If you need support with any technical issues concerning Canvas, contact the support service through itsupport@hig.se
Since our course is digitally based it means that we will not meet physically, except the on campus seminars on 11/10. Instead we will meet in our virtual classroom via Zoom. For us all to be able to benefit from a good quality of reception it is recommended that you use broadband and not a wireless connection. It is also important that you use a good headset with a microphone instead of the microphone on the computer only. A good camera is also essential for communicative purposes. Please note that you are expected to use your microphone and camera throughout the course since several of the course modules include seminars where you are to participate in discussions. Unfortunately Ipads and Iphones do not work sufficiently for this activity.
The links to the Zoom-rooms will be posted on Canvas. You click on the link and follow the instructions to the classroom. Participation in these sessions via Zoom is an essential part of the course. Even though we do not meet physically you shall think of it as equivalent to classroom teaching which means that an active contribution is beneficial for everyone.
Cheating and plagiarizing are serious academic offences, which result in failing the module in question and being reported to the college’s disciplinary commission. To learn about plagiarism and get basic information on how to avoid it, please read the disclaimer posted on Canvas carefully before the beginning of the course; print it, sign it, make a copy/take a picture, and upload it to Canvas.
Look forward to meeting with you all in October!
/Regards Susanne
The course is given by the Faculty of Education and Business Studies.