SYLLABUS

Shaping the Way We Teach English, 1:

The Landscape of English Language Teaching
This is the first of two teacher training courses based on the internationally-recognized Shaping
the Way We Teach English videos and resources and sponsored by the U.S. Department of
State and the University of Oregon. You can begin with either course. This five-week course
explores important aspects of teaching English as a second or foreign language. The goal is to
help you become a better teacher. By the end of this course, you should be able to explain how
the various materials and approaches presented will lead to better language learning; to choose
appropriate materials and apply varied classroom activities to improve your students study of
English; and to better evaluate both your own and other teachers practices.
More details will be provided in the To-Do List each week.
Week 1: AUTHENTIC MATERIALS AND REALIA
Authentic materials and realia that really motivate learners; course overview,
introductions
Video introduction
Pre-week knowledge check
Video: Using and Adapting Authentic Materials
Required and optional readings
Required and optional discussion forums
Contest (optional)
Coursera profile (optional) and Introductions Forum
End of the week:
Weekly Quiz
Complete at least 2 posts in the required discussions
Week 2: PAIR AND GROUP WORK FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Using small groups to make your class more communicative; Phase 1 Lesson
Plan Project
Video introduction
Pre-week knowledge check
Video: Pair and Group Work
Required and optional readings
Required and optional discussion forums
Contest (optional)
End of the week:
Weekly Quiz
This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by the University of Oregon.
MOOC Shaping the Way We Teach English. Copyright 2015 University of Oregon. All rights reserved.
Syllabus: Shaping the Way We Teach English, 1: The Landscape of English Language Teaching
Page 1

Complete at least 2 posts in the required discussions

Submitted Phase 1 lesson plan, using template and rubric (the deadline is 11:59 pm
Pacific time on October 12)

Week 3: CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING

Creative and critical thinking to drive learning; Phase 1 peer and self-evaluations
Video introduction
Pre-week knowledge check
Video: Critical and Creative Thinking
Required and optional readings
Required and optional discussion forums
Contest (optional)
End of the week:
Weekly Quiz
Complete at least 2 posts in the required discussions
Submitted three Phase 1 peer evaluations (deadline: 11:59 pm Pacific time
October 17) and Phase 1 self-evaluation (deadline: 11:59 pm Pacific time on
October 19)
Week 4: LEARNER FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT
Formative assessment and error correction in the classroom; Phase 2 Lesson
Plan Project
Video introduction
Pre-week knowledge check
Video: Learner Feedback
Required and optional readings
Required and optional discussion forums
Contest (optional)
End of the week:
Weekly Quiz
Complete at least 2 posts in the required discussions
Submitted Phase 2 lesson plan, using template and rubric (deadline: 11:59 pm
Pacific time on Monday, October 24)
Week 5: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT
Language structured by themes and topics in the curriculum; Phase 2 peer and
self-evaluations; course evaluation
Video introduction
Pre-week knowledge check
Video: Language Contextualization
Required and optional readings
This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by the University of Oregon.
MOOC Shaping the Way We Teach English. Copyright 2015 University of Oregon. All rights reserved.
Syllabus: Shaping the Way We Teach English, 1: The Landscape of English Language Teaching
Page 2

 Required and optional discussion forums

Contest (optional)
Week 5, continued
End of the Week:
Weekly Quiz (all Weekly Quizzes must be completed by 11:59 pm Pacific time on
November 2)
Complete at least 2 posts in the required discussions
Submitted three Phase 2 peer evaluations (deadline: 11:59 pm on Saturday,
October 31) and Phase 2 self-evaluation (deadline: 11:59 pm Pacific time on
Monday, November 2)
Course Evaluation
Please note: The United States returns to Standard Time (moving the clocks one hour
back) on November 1, 2015. This time change will affect your self-evaluation deadline
and the deadline for all Weekly Quizzes and discussion posts.
All deadlines are 11:59 pm Pacific time on the day indicated. To convert your local time to
Pacific time, you can use World Clock Time Zone Converter:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by the University of Oregon.
MOOC Shaping the Way We Teach English. Copyright 2015 University of Oregon. All rights reserved.
Syllabus: Shaping the Way We Teach English, 1: The Landscape of English Language Teaching
Page 3