Materials development for language learning and teaching - Tomlinson
Description
http://journals.cambridge.org
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Lang. Teach. (2012),
45.2
, 143–179
c
Cambridge University Press 2012
doi:10.1017/S0261444811000528
State-of-the-Art Article
Materials development for language learning and teaching
Brian Tomlinson
Leeds Metropolitan University
brianjohntomlinson@gmail.com
Do ‘Materials development’ refer to all the processes made use of by practitioners who produce and/or use materials for language learning, including materials evaluation, their adaptation, design, production, exploitation and research?
Tomlinson & Masuhara (2004: 7) proposed the following questions for evaluating criteria:
a) Is each question an [blank_start]evaluation[blank_end] question?
b) Does each question [blank_start]only ask[blank_end] one question?
c) Is each question [blank_start]answerable[blank_end]?
d) Is each question free of [blank_start]dogma[blank_end]?
e) Is each question [blank_start]reliable in the sense[blank_end] that other evaluators would [blank_start]interpret[blank_end] it in the same
way?
Many reports on micro-evaluations of materials are written for sponsors of projects or for publishers and are, understandably, confidential. Some reports of evaluations of materials in action are dotted throughout the literature but are rarely collected in one volume or issue.Some reports of evaluations of materials in action are dotted throughout the literature but are rarely collected in one volume or issue. This is a point made by Ellis (2011: 234), who adds that such micro-evaluations are:
Always seen as not localised and big scale, and so theoretically interesting.
Often seen as too localised and too small scale, and so theoretically uninteresting.
Never seen as localised and middle scale, and so theoretically unuseful
Question 6
Question
Which Author did suggest that: 'Providing the learners with an important role in adapting the materials they are using. In order to involve learners in the process, she proposes that materials should actually be written with learner adaptation in mind, aiming to be learner-centred, flexible, open-ended, relevant, universal and authentic, and giving choices to learners.'?
Tomlinson & Masuhara (2004: 11) aim ‘to [blank_start]help[blank_end] teachers to [blank_start]reflect[blank_end] upon their own [blank_start]practice[blank_end]
and [blank_start]identify[blank_end] principles and [blank_start]systematic procedures[blank_end] for materials adaptation’.
Organice the 3 main aspect of 'Materials production'
1 [blank_start]How writers write[blank_end]
2 [blank_start]Principled development of materials[blank_end]
3 [blank_start]Practical guidance to writers[blank_end]
In the last forty years [blank_start]materials development[blank_end] has progressed dramatically, both as [blank_start]an academic field[blank_end] and as [blank_start]a practical undertaking[blank_end]. We are now much more aware of the [blank_start]principles and procedures[blank_end] of materials development that are most likely to [blank_start]facilitate language acquisition[blank_end] and development and are much better at actually [blank_start]developing effective materials[blank_end]. Teachers also seem to be more [blank_start]constructively critical[blank_end] of their coursebooks and to be more willing, confident and able to localise and [blank_start]personalise their coursebooks[blank_end] for their learners.