HENKE1901U English - Free topic 1: Reading and Writing in a Foreign Language – Research and Implications for the Classroom

Literacy skills form an important part of the teaching of English as a foreign language in the Danish sixth-form college and competence in these areas is essential for students’ further studies. Therefore, the aim of this course is to give participants a specialised background for discussing, evaluating and researching different aspects of reading and writing in a foreign language. We will be dealing with language processing: understanding the complex nature of foreign language production and reception processes and how they interact. Hence, theoretical models of reading and writing processes and empirical studies of these processes in the foreign language will be addressed, including the language learning potential of reading and writing in a foreign language. To apprecia­te results of empirical studies, research methods will be in focus. Furthermore, implications for the foreign language classroom will form an essential part of the course. For some participants the course might provide inspiration for research projects in relation to their thesis ('speciale'). The course will be conducted using a mixture of lectures, group work and dis­cussions. Readings will mainly consist of research articles selected from scholarly journals.