Foundations in ELT Methodology

Course Overview

This online course builds on participants’ existing knowledge of communicative language teaching methods, including core principles, communicative competence, affective issues, and 21st Century skills in the language classroom.

Readings will develop a foundation in the theory of language teaching, while discussions tie theoretical ideas back to daily classroom practice. Participants will articulate their own language teaching philosophy, and describe how to implement English Language Teaching (ELT) best practices in their own teaching context.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe and justify ELT best practices. 

  • Analyze how their teaching practices align with best practices in ELT and what changes 
might be needed.
  • Articulate their English language teaching philosophy.

Course Scope and Sequence 


  • Week 1: Course introduction and cohort building. Communicative language teaching definitions and principles. Beliefs and experiences in language learning.
  • 
Week 2: Communicative competence definitions and implications. Teacher and student roles. ELT best practices. 

  • Week 3: Affective issues. Motivation, classroom atmosphere, differentiation, feedback, and error correction. Individual philosophy of English language teaching.
  • Week 4: Language skills and materials. Reading, writing, listening, speaking, and skill integration. Grammar and vocabulary. Focus on form. Authentic materials in the language classroom. 

  • Week 5: 21st Century skills in the language classroom. Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity. Information, media, and technology skills, final reflection. 


Course Requirements 


Course participants will be required to:

  1. 
Complete all reading assignments.
  2. Participate in weekly online discussions by posting thoughts and reflections about the 
readings and commenting on the posts of other course participants.
  3. 
Submit two in-depth reflection tasks.
  4. 
Give constructive and substantive feedback on fellow participants’ reflection tasks.