ΕΓΛ612: Literacies and Language Teaching

The aim of the module is to offer future educators theoretical and methodological tools for teaching language with special emphasis on teaching Modern Greek as a first language in primary and secondary education. Initially, the history of teaching the language course and the transition from a grammar-centered approach to text-centered and communicative approaches are examined. The Module focuses on the points of divergence between prescriptive and descriptive approaches to language teaching, the concept of language error and how this concept is reflected in language teaching practices, but also on a critical review of the communicative approach compared to structural-functional and text-centered approaches. The different trends and contemporary approaches to language arts are presented in detail. In particular, theories of genre and basic principles of Systemic Functional Grammar are examined, while the pedagogy of critical literacy is thoroughly studied. Special emphasis is placed on capitalizing on linguistic variation, both geographical and social, for language teaching. Through the lense of the above theoretical approaches, a critical review of curricula as well as teaching materials is attempted. Finally, students will practice designing language courses, drawing on contemporary approaches to language and literacy learning.