Overseas Teachers' For Teachers of Literature

Course details

The primary objectives of this 2-week course for Teachers of Literature are

to explore ways to inspire and motivate students who are studying literature at 2nd level schools

to familiarise course participants with Irish, British and American literature in the English language and to explore methods of teaching this in the classroom

to consider the impact of recent pedagogical and classroom technology developments in ELT including developments in classroom technology on the teaching of literature

to establish contacts between teachers from a variety of European backgrounds and facilitate future networking among these professionals

to promote awareness of contemporary Irish history and culture, Irish literature and Irish writers in Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature as well as to promote awareness of contemporary Ireland

By achieving the above learning outcomes we aim to assist schools in addressing needs as identified in their European Development Plan and to re-inforce the capacities and international scope of the participating organisations.

Format

• This Course for Teachers of Literature is a two-week course consisting of 40 contact hours plus an extensive cultural and social programme which is directly linked to the morning sessions.

Methodology

The input sessions are a blend of lecture format and practical activities based on Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) methodology.

The activities include

• using a variety of literary texts
• examining ways of exploiting these in the classroom with a view to simultaneously developing language skills.

The morning sessions are complemented and reinforced by a series of directly related afternoon activities where the participants are encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom, further enhance their knowledge of Irish and international literature, focus on exploiting school trips in their own teaching environments to develop language skills of their students and provide opportunities to collect literary-related authentic materials for use in the classroom.

Day one

• On arrival participants meet their tutors and are given an induction covering information about the school and Dublin. They also receive out-of-hours emergency contact telephone numbers for key Alpha personnel. On completion of their induction they complete a needs analysis questionnaire. In some cases the schedule may be refined to adapt to specific requirements of a group.
• Details of the course are outlined including the content and methodology of individual sessions. Participants get to know each other through a communicative activity which reflects the general methodology of the course. The group discuss their professional backgrounds and some general principles of education and teaching literature.
• An orientation tour of Dublin to provide participants with an opportunity to practise their English in a more informal setting outside the classroom, familiarise them with the geography and literary history of the city and allow participants to collect authentic materials for use in the classroom.

Day two

• Irish literature 1. History of Irish literature. Famous Irish writers. Introduction to exploiting literary texts in the classroom.
• Developing the reading skill 1. Alternative approaches to using written texts in the classroom.
• Visit to the Joyce Centre. The life, works and influence of James Joyce.

Day three

• Irish literature 2. Contemporary Irish writers. Modern Irish themes. Further ideas on exploiting literary texts in the classroom.
• Using the arts and storytelling. Developing speaking skills and expanding literary vocabulary.
• Dublin Writers’ Museum. Audio tour to develop listening skill. Consolidation of input on Irish Literature and collecting authentic materials.

Day four

• Developing the writing skill 1. Writing summaries, reviews and criticism of literary texts.
• Developing the reading skill 2. Exploiting literary materials in the classroom. Text as a springboard for production.
• Trinity College. Contribution of alumni to Irish and international literature. Book of Kells and influence of early Irish missionaries in Europe. Collecting authentic materials.

Day five

• Drama in the classroom 1. Using drama activities to develop communication skills.
• Shakespeare 1. Novel approaches to understanding and teaching Shakespeare.
• Dalkey Castle. Living history performance. Insights into the influence of the English and development of the English language in Ireland. Practical applications for using drama for presentation purposes.

Day six

• Developing the writing skill 2. Developing creative writing skills.
• American Literature. Modern American literature. Using literary texts in the classroom.
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The life and works of Jonathan Swift.

Day seven

• Using the internet. Basic skills. The internet as a resource. Teaching websites. Introduction to concordancers and corpora in the classroom.
• Shakespeare 2. Exploiting Shakespeare in the classroom.
• National Library. Materials for developing writing skills in the classroom. W.B. Yeats.

Day eight

• Focus on British literature with particular reference to modern British literature.
• Drama in the classroom 2. Strategies for bringing texts to life.
• National Museum. Exploring various strands of Irish history and their influences on Irish literature.

Day nine

• Film in the classroom. Exploiting film in the classroom using a contemporary Irish film as an example.
• ELT activities for teaching literature and film.
• Watching an Irish film with suggestions as to classroom exploitation.

Day ten

• Using the internet 2. Designing materials using web tools.
• Course review and evaluation. Implications for future practice. Establishment of base and guidelines for future contact and networking.