• Review related principles of second language acquisition and learning theories;
• Examine the theoretical assumptions, research history, and typology of learning strategies;
• Explore possible ways of obtaining, analyzing information on L2 learner's learning process;
• Learn how to assess the individual needs of students to enhance effectiveness in the classroom;
• Develop materials and resources to fit the classroom needs;
• Design strategies-based activities and generate new teaching ideas;
• Discuss current and future applications of the concept of language learning strategies to web-based learning environments ; and
• Gain a deeper awareness of their own strengths both as a learner and as a teacher .

The course will cover the following areas:

• Essential principles of assessing second language learning, as well as the critical tools teachers need to evaluate performance fairly and effectively
• Fundamental principles for evaluating and designing assessment procedures
• Standardized testing
• Assessing listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• Alternative assessment

This course intends to provide students with an overview of the current state of theories and studies of second language acquisition (SLA). The course will discuss and examine key issues in second language learning and teaching from the interdisciplinary perspectives of linguistics, psychology, and education. The purposes of this course are (1) to help students improve their understanding of how learners learn a second language and about themselves as language learners; (2) to help students learn about how to become more successful language learners; (3) to serve as the theoretical foundations for training in second language teaching, no matter it is teaching English or Chinese as a second language.

The course includes various in-class activities and out-of-class practice to encourage different learning modes and styles: lectures, group discussion, writing on-line, video watching, peer review, portfolio compiling, and student-instructor conference, to name a few.

This course is a required course in methodology for future language teachers who have taken the prerequisite course of Introduction to Foreign Language Pedagogy. The course intends to help prospective teachers to build a repertoire of practical language teaching options and classroom techniques that are embedded in accepted principles of language learning and teaching. Theory and research of related issues will be also discussed.

The course will cover four major areas, i.e., evaluating and adapting materials, introduction to teaching the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), lesson design and implementation, and language assessment.

The course will also introduce basic language teaching skills and have students practice various techniques and activities in micro-teaching situation, such as planning lessons; encouraging creative language use; using language learning games, songs, and rhymes; teaching pronunciation; developing listening skills, oral skills, reading skills, writing skills; and classroom testing.