Individual differences in foreign language learning.
What are affective factors and how do they influence language learning?
Sociolinguistic factors and their role in language learning/language teaching
Age as a factor determining success in foreign language learning
Child-adult differences in the process of acquiring a second language.
Discuss the notion of LAD. What implications does it have for language acquisition?
Krashen's theory of SLA
Mentalists' views on first language acquisition.
Discuss the critical period hypothesis. Is there a critical period in second language acquisition? Explain.
Contrastive analysis - does it have any role to play in the process of language teaching?
Behaviourist views on first language acquisition.
How do children acquire their mother tongue? Discuss some theories you are familiar with.
Rote learning vs. meaningful learning
Humanistic psychology and its influence on language teaching
Functions of language
The role of L1 in different teaching methods
The role of motivation in foreign language learning
Input vs. interaction. Identify the two terms and explain how they relate to language learning/teaching.
Field dependence and field independence and its role in foreign language learning
The role of input in different language acquisition theories
Where do errors come from? Explain how different theories of second language acquisition try to account for learners' errors.
How can we classify errors?
The notion of interlanguage and its significance for language teachers
Learning styles and learning strategies
Why was the strong version of CAH rejected?
Types of modified input and its role in language acquisition
Differences and similarities between first and second language acquisition.
The notion of fossilization - definition, causes, ways of preventing.
Positive and negative language transfer
The affective filter hypothesis of Krashen's SLA theory
The notion of communicative competence and its components
The function of learned competence in Krashen's SLA theory
Explain the process of hypothesis formation and testing
The notion of comprehensible input and its relevance for language teaching
What are communication strategies? Should they be taught?
Cognitive factors in language learning
Communicative language teaching - advantages and disadvantages
Communicatively based approaches - what do they offer?
Guidelines for using L1 in the foreign language classroom.
The role of self-assessment in foreign language learning
Basic techniques for presenting vocabulary.
Differences between spoken and written language.
Ways of promoting learner's autonomy
Different types of syllabuses
What should needs analysis include?
Criteria for coursebook evaluation.
Guidelines for using authentic listening materials.
Factors affecting the learning of pronunciation
Aspects of classroom management
What listening sub-skills can be developed through the use of video?
What makes a reading text difficult
Criteria for vocabulary selection
Stages of action research
Characteristics of primary school learners
Different types of assessment and their advantages and disadvantages
Error correction techniques
Features of a well designed test
Dealing with heterogeneous classes
Features of communicative activities
The role of culture in foreign language teaching
What does it mean to know a word?
Top-down vs bottom-up approaches to teaching the receptive skills.
Tools for teacher development
Explicit vs implicit teaching of grammar
What is the role of strategy training in developing students' autonomy
Functions of pre-reading/listening activities
Different types of syllabi and their advantages and disadvantages
Criteria for selecting authentic materials
Translation as a testing technique
Features of a successful speaking activity
How to teach foreign language grammar.
Inductive vs deductive teaching of grammar: when would you use them?
Dealing with errors in a foreign language classroom.
Discuss various types of student-teacher interaction and their advantages and disadvantages.
Present the sequence for introducing an new grammatical item.
Suggest two different ways in which you could introduce the structure contained in If it rains, I'll stay at home. Give reason for your choice.
Give reasons for and against using pair- and group-work in the classroom.
List different kinds of student grouping in the classroom and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. Explain when you would use each of them.
Compare the two receptive skills.
What is the difference between intensive and extensive listening/reading? Give examples.
Describe pre-reading/listening, while reading/listening and post reading/listening activities.
What does teaching reading involve? What techniques are used to teach reading?
Student reading aloud in the classroom: a waste of time or a useful exercise?
What kind of activities can be built around a text in a foreign language?
Reasons for testing and types of tests.
Give examples of some techniques for testing grammar.
Multiple choice tests - advantages and disadvantages. What aspects of language can be tested using multiple choice tests?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of correcting all errors immediately after they have occurred?
Dictation - what does it practice? Describe some modern dictation techniques.
List and describe some techniques for consolidating and then checking vocabulary.
What are some common problems with learning/teaching foreign language vocabulary?
What are collocations and idioms and what are some of the problems involved in teaching them? Give and example of each and explain how you would teach it.
How would you present the following vocabulary items: tooth, tape-recorder, charity, mammal. Give reasons.
What are contemporary view on teaching writing?
Information gap activities and their role in the classroom.
List the characteristic features of a truly communicative activity. Give examples.
The use of visual aids in the classroom.
Discuss different types of exercises and their function in the teaching of grammar.
How can we test communicative ability of our students.
Discuss different activities leading to the development of the speaking skill.
What should we aim at while teaching pronunciation?
What should be the stages in teaching foreign language pronunciation?
Should we use literature in the classroom?
Using songs and poetry in the language classroom.
The role of homework, types of homework assignments, guidelines for checking and evaluation.
Dealing with mixed ability/heterogeneous classes.
Discipline problems: origins and ways of dealing with them.
Guidelines for error correction.
What should a good lesson plan include?
What factors should be taken into consideration while planning a lesson?
Using video recordings in the classroom: dos and don'ts. Project work in the classroom.