SYLLABUS DESIGN

DESIGNING COURSES – HOW TO?• 1. FACT FINDING STAGE – SOCIETAL

FACTORS• 2. BASIS FOR CURRICULUM AND

SYLLABUS DESIGNING• 3. LEARNERS AND TEACHERS NEEDS• 4. GOALS AND INSTRUCTIONAL PLANS• 5. THE COMMUNICATIVE SYLLABUS• 6. MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT – SOCIO

CULTURAL APPROPRIATENESS, LINK BETWEEN SYLLABUS AND AUDIENCE

• 7. READING SKILLS

ASSESSING SOCIETAL FACTORS A. LANGUAGE SETTING B. PATTERNS OF LANGUAGE USE C. ATTITUDES TOWARD LANGUAGE D. POLITICAL AND NATIONAL

CONTEXT

A. LANGUAGE SETTING

Significance of the language setting in terms if its effects on the learners and the learning process

Eg: language setting may be a strong support for the learning of the target language

Initial survey should provide a description of the role of TL

ESL OR EFL?

WHO ARE THE LEARNERS?

A. IN NEED OF SURVIVAL SKILLS SETTLING IN A NEW COMMUNITY

B. COME FOR A LIMITED TIME, FOR A WELL-DEFINED PURPOSE

C. ESL, EFL, ESP

B. PATTERNS OF LANGUAGE USE

C. ATTITUDES TOWARDS LANGUAGE A. Attitudes towards the language,

people who speak it, and the culture it represents – group attitude

B. Attitude towards the learning process itself, individual needs, teachers’ efficacy, materials, school system – personal attitude

ATTITUDES TOWARDS LANGUAGE POSITIVE ATTITUDE – reflect high

regard and appreciation to language and culture, high personal motivation, feeling of self fulfillment, success, and enthusiasm

NEGATIVE ATTITUDE – historical factors, political and national trends, social conflicts. Creates psychological distance affecting learning-teaching process

D. POLITICAL AND NATIONAL CONTEXTS POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS – the

administration in power and its views of the language

NATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS – promoting nationhood, patriotism, development of national language

QUESTIONS TO ASK – a. local languages for early education, b. the preferred national language for intermediate education, c. an international language for government and higher education

SUMMARY

IN DESIGNING COURSES : The language setting Patterns of language use Attitudes towards language Political and national contexts

POINTS TO PONDER

What are Saudi learners’ language needs?

What are their attitudes towards English and the learning of English?

Can learning English or other foreign languages lessen the significance of Arabic?

Are English courses offered in YUC sufficient for Saudi students?