Grammar for Language Teachers

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject aims to help students develop a better understanding of grammar and its place in second language learning and teaching. The subject covers such areas as word classes, tense and aspect and various types of sentence structures. It will also introduce students to discourse level features of language.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Analyse and describe spoken and written language to assist them in their teaching;
• Recognise and explain a range of grammatical forms and sentence structures;
• Apply this knowledge in language teaching practice.

• Twelve tasks completed in class and online throughout the semester (15 per cent)
• A seven minute in-class presentation and one page summary (15 per cent)
• An assignment of 3500 words due at the end of semester (70 per cent)

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Thornbury, S. (1997) About Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

• Evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in language;
• Articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written presentations;
• Develop an understanding of the significance and value of their knowledge to the wider community.