SYLLABUS

THE SYLLABUS What do we mean by a syllabus?

Six stages of syllabus :

1. The Evaluation Syllabus

2. The Organisational Syllabus

3. The Material Syllabus

4. The Teacher Syllabus

5. The Clasroom Syllabus

6. The Learner Syllabus

2. Why should we have a syllabus?

There are acknowledged and hidden reasons for having a syllabus :

Language is a complex entity A syllabus gives moral support to the

teacher and learner An ESP syllabus has cosmetic role The syllabus can be seen as a statement of

projected routes A syllabus is an implicit statement of on

the nature of language and learning

A syllabus provides a set of criteria for materials selection and/ or writing.

A syllabus is one way in which standardisation is achieved

A syllabus provides a visible basis for testing

3. On what criteria can a syllabus be organised?Criteria of organising syllabus:

Focus Select Subdivide Sequence

Presented below are some contents list from a range of ESP courses:

Topic Syllabus Structural / Situational Syllabus Skills and Strategies

4. What role should a syllbus play in the course design process?

1. A language-centred approach2. A skills-centred approach3. A learning-centred approach4. The post hoc approach

The role of the syllabus in a language-centred approach

Analyse target situation

Write syllabus

Write or select texts to illustrate items in syllabus

Write exercises to practiceItems in the syllabus

Devise test for assessing knowledge of the items in the syllabus

The role of the syllabus in a skills-centred approach

Analyse target needs

Select interesting andrepresentative texts

Devise a hierarchy of skills to exploit the textsOrder and adapt the textsas necessary to enable a focus on the required skills

Devise activities /techniquesto teach those skills

Devise a system to asses the acquisition of the skills

The role of the syllabus in a learning-centred approach

Analyse target situation

LEVEL 1 Establish general

syllabus of topics ,tasks

Create interesting and

enjoyable materials Produce detailed language/skills

syllabus

LEVEL 2 Check language and skills

content of materials and

make necessary adjusment

Analyse learning situation

The role of the syllabus in a post hoc approach

Write materials on

undefined criteria

Write cosmetic syllabus to satisfy sponsors, teachers, students et al.