English for Teaching Purposes from Coursera

Thinking about teaching your university subject in English but it’s not the Language you normally use?

Then, English for teaching purposes is the course for you. A course on English and teaching methodology that aims to help university lecturers do their teaching in English, in line with university internationalisation policies.

The course structure is the same for all learners and there are opportunities for them to link up with colleagues from universities all over the world who share the same discipline and discourse community, to ask questions and exchange ideas.

This MOOC targets lecturers who wish to begin using English in their teaching. A priori, this means university lecturers from countries where English is not the L1 or a widely-used language (Romance language-speaking countries, for example), though in fact the course is open to teachers from all educational stages who want to teach through English, following the principles of EMI (English Medium Instruction).

On completing the course, you should be able to do the following.

a) Teach a university subject in English, having gained the necessary confidence and skills.

b) Integrate all aspects of CLIL (methodological, pedagogical, strategic, attitudinal, motivational, linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmatic) to put together their own English-medium course on their particular subject.

c) Describe the characteristics of the university lecture discourse genre (planning, agents, channels, phases, dynamics, and current flexibility of the genre).

d) Understand and perform the basic linguistic macro-functions within English teaching discourse.

e) Understand and perform, using the appropriate linguistic exponents (vocabulary, structures, and phraseology), the main micro-functions in English teaching discourse: metalinguistic, informative, evaluative, inductive, and social.

f) Consolidate their oral expression and interaction skills, and their grammar and vocabulary, at English levels C1 and C2 as defined by the Council of Europe.

English for Teaching Purposes is a course provided by the Language Service at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1. Implications for lecturers switching to English as the classroom language

Analysing the critical issues (contextual, linguistic, motivational and methodological aspects). Level of English. Managing anxiety. Improve through re-thinking your teaching to improve it. Teachers’ discourse. Analysing real practice and choosing a particular class as a basis for later course work.

Unit 2. Functions related to delivering courses through English (1)

Functions related to discourse structure: beginning and ending a class, concluding. Functions related to clarifying concepts for the students: giving examples, classifying, comparing and contrasting, defining.

Unit 3. Functions related to delivering courses through English (2)

Functions related to information management: describing processes, expressing cause and effect, describing graphs, helping learners to manage new information. Functions related to evaluation: expressing certainty, presenting evidence, giving one’s opinions. Functions related to induction: giving instructions, motivating learners. Functions related to socialisation: handling classroom interactions and questions in the learning environment.

Unit 4. Recording your class

Recording the class sequence analysed throughout the course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides methods and activities to build confidence in teaching through English

Develops a course using English as the medium of instruction based on methodological and pedagogical principles

Builds understanding of the university lecture discourse genre and how it can be adapted for English-medium instruction

Teaches the functions and skills needed for teaching in English, including discourse structure, concept clarification, and information management

Offers opportunities to apply these functions and skills in a real teaching environment

Develops proficiency in English through activities aimed at consolidating oral expression, interaction skills, grammar, and vocabulary

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English for Teaching Purposes with these activities:

Review English vocabulary and grammar

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Reviewing vocabulary and grammar can increase confidence before the course begins.

Browse courses on English Vocabulary

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Read an article in English and note down any unfamiliar vocabulary.
Practice writing short sentences in English using the new vocabulary.
Review English grammar rules, focusing on tenses and verb conjugations.
Complete practice exercises to reinforce grammar concepts.

Watch videos on best practices for teaching in English

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Watching videos on best practices can provide valuable insights on effective teaching techniques.

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Search for videos on platforms like YouTube or Coursera.
Choose videos that focus on teaching in English as a foreign language.
Take notes on key strategies and methodologies presented in the videos.

Identify mentors who have experience in teaching in English

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Seeking guidance from experienced mentors can provide valuable insights and support for improving teaching practices.

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Attend conferences and workshops to connect with potential mentors.
Reach out to faculty at other universities who are actively involved in EMI.
Join online communities and discussion forums for EMI practitioners.

Five other activities

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Read "Teaching in a New Tongue" by Diane Larsen-Freeman

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of methodologies, techniques, and strategies for teaching through English.

View An Introduction to Second Language Acquisition... on Amazon

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Read chapters that align with the course content.
Take notes on key concepts and ideas.
Reflect on how the book's insights can be applied to the course.

Create a lesson plan for teaching a university subject in English

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Creating a lesson plan helps develop skills in planning and organizing English-medium instruction.

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Determine the learning objectives for the lesson.
Select appropriate materials and activities for the lesson.
Plan the sequence of activities for the lesson.
Consider different teaching strategies and techniques to engage students.

Practice using English phrases and expressions for classroom interaction

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Practicing English phrases for classroom interaction can improve fluency and confidence in managing the classroom.

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Identify common phrases and expressions used in the classroom.
Practice using these phrases in simulated classroom situations.
Record yourself using the phrases and expressions.

Create a compilation of resources for teaching in English

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Compiling resources can organize and systematize materials for easy access and future reference.

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Collect materials such as lesson plans, articles, and videos.
Categorize and organize the materials based on topics or themes.
Create a digital or physical repository for the compiled resources.

Contribute to open-source projects related to English medium instruction

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Contributing to open-source projects can provide practical experience in applying English-medium instruction principles and collaborating with others.

Browse courses on Open Source Projects

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Find open-source projects related to EMI.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and knowledge.
Participate in project discussions and code reviews.
Make contributions to the project's documentation or codebase.
Share your experiences and insights with the project community.

Career center

Learners who complete English for Teaching Purposes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Foreign Language Teacher

This course is highly relevant to the role of a Foreign Language Teacher, as it focuses on English for teaching purposes. The course will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to teach English effectively to students from diverse backgrounds and proficiency levels.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Language Teacher

English Language Arts Teacher

For those interested in pursuing a career as an English Language Arts Teacher, this course can provide valuable insights into the use of English for teaching purposes. The course will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively teach English language arts to students from diverse backgrounds.

See salaries and explore the career path for English Language Arts Teacher

Curriculum Developer

In the role of a Curriculum Developer, you will be responsible for designing and developing educational curricula. This course can provide a strong foundation for this role by helping you understand the principles of EMI (English Medium Instruction) and how to integrate them into your curriculum design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Teacher Educator

For those interested in pursuing a career as a Teacher Educator, this course can provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of teaching through English. The course will help you develop the skills necessary to support teachers in their professional development in this context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher Educator

Language Instructor

As a Language Instructor, you will be responsible for teaching a foreign language to students. This course can provide a solid foundation for this role by helping you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively teach English to students from diverse backgrounds.

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Teaching Assistant

As a Teaching Assistant, you will be responsible for assisting professors with teaching and research. This course can provide a strong foundation for this role by helping you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively support students in their learning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teaching Assistant

Professional Development Coordinator

For those pursuing a career as a Professional Development Coordinator in higher education, this course can provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of teaching through English. The course will help you develop the skills necessary to support faculty in their professional development in this context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professional Development Coordinator

Instructional Designer

As an Instructional Designer, you will be responsible for designing and developing educational materials and programs. This course may be beneficial to you in developing the skills necessary to integrate CLIL (methodological, pedagogical, strategic, attitudinal, motivational, linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic) aspects into your instructional design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Higher Education Administrator

The role of a Higher Education Administrator requires an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of teaching through English in higher education. This course can provide valuable insights into the field and help you develop the skills necessary to support faculty and students in this context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Higher Education Administrator

Educational Researcher

This course can be beneficial to Educational Researchers interested in studying the use of English as a medium of instruction in higher education. The course provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of teaching through English and can help researchers develop a deeper understanding of the field.

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School Administrator

The role of a School Administrator requires an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of teaching through English in higher education. This course can provide valuable insights into the field and help you develop the skills necessary to support teachers and students in this context.

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College Or University Teacher

In the role of a College or University Teacher, you will be responsible for teaching students in a higher education setting. This course may assist you in preparing for this role by providing the necessary confidence and skills to teach a university subject in English, as well as help you understand the characteristics of the university lecture discourse genre.

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Translator

This course may be beneficial to Translators who work with academic texts or materials related to higher education. The course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively translate English texts related to teaching and research.

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Education Consultant

As an Education Consultant, you will offer advice and guidance on educational issues to individuals and organizations. This course may be of interest to you, as it can help build a foundation in English for teaching purposes, which is important for communicating effectively with clients and colleagues in an international context.

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Literacy Specialist

This course may be useful for Literacy Specialists who work with students learning English as a second or foreign language. The course can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively support students in developing their literacy skills in English.

See salaries and explore the career path for Literacy Specialist