Introductory description

Following two weeks of general introduction to and critique of received versions of ‘the’ (global) history of ELT/TESOL, weekly sessions will concentrate on some particular practical approaches to ‘doing history’, namely, biography, historical textbook and document analysis and oral history (with appropriate ethical approval), engagement in these being presented as useful for (the students’ own) professional development not just for academic research purposes. Finally, there will be preparation for and presentation at a yearly public event (e.g. online webinar) to be associated with the ELT Archive based on students’ own small-scale studies carried out during the module. A particular theme will be chosen in advance each year to focus attention and provide a consistent thread running through different parts of the module. This will result in an event / associated ELT Archive website ‘exhibition’ of wider interest value (e.g. women in ELT; role of L1; or ‘nativespeakerism’ / local teacher contributions in ELT).

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1 – Why history? [critique of existing accounts]
Week 2 – Why histories? [critique of existing accounts, continued]
Week 3 – Principles of biography
Week 4 – Principles of oral history
Week 5 – Principles of historical materials analysis
Week 6 – Principles of document analysis
Week 7 – Preparation for presentation
Week 8 – Presentations

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate general understanding of the value of historical research in the field of ELT • Understand the value of (eliciting) primary historical data in relation to their own context • Demonstrate a principled approach to historical data generation in relation to their own context • Critically evaluate various possible interpretations of historical data, with reference to their own context

Indicative reading list

Anderson, J. (2017). ‘A potted history of PPP with the help of ELT Journal’. ELT Journal 71/2: 218–227.

Doff, S. and Smith, R. (2023). Policies and Practice in Language Learning and Teaching: 20th-Century Perspectives. Amsterdam University Press.

Howatt, A.P.R. and Smith, R. (2014) ‘The history of teaching English as a foreign language, from a British and European perspective’. Language & History 57/1: 75-95.

Howatt, A.P.R. with Widdowson, H.G. (2004). A History of English Language Teaching (2nd edition). Oxford University Press.

Hunter, D. and Smith, R. (2012). ‘Unpackaging the past: “CLT” through ELTJ keywords’. ELT Journal 66/4: 430-439.
Richards, J.C. & Rodgers, T.S. 2014. Approaches and methods in language teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Smith, R. (2016). ‘Building “Applied Linguistic Historiography”: Rationale, scope and methods. Applied Linguistics 37/1: 71-87.

Stern, H.H. (1983). Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.

Research element

• oral history interview
• materials and/or document analysis

Note: A blanket application for ethical approval of oral history interviews will be sought, well before the module begins.

International

Students are themselves mostly from international contexts and will be encouraged to ressarch those contexts more deeply.

Subject specific skills

• Ability to evaluate past and current innovations in the field of ELT/TESOL
• Knowledge of past developments in approaches to ELT/TESOL
• Critical reflection, from a historical perspective, on ‘buzzwords’ in ELT/TESOL
• Ability to carry out small-scale investigations into history of ELT/TESOL in their own context

Transferable skills

• Work effectively in an intercultural team
• Analyse secondary and primary sources
• Contribute effectively to organization of an in-person or online event
• Communicate clearly in a public oral presentation
• Communicate effectively in writing
• Self-direct a research study (in collaboration with others)
• Plan and manage workload and resource production (writing / recording) deadlines