Chapter 8: Course Designing

PARAMETERS OF COURSE DESIGNING

Parameters of course designing there are choices between the two poles of the
dichotomy.

There are many positions along that continuum.

i. Positions pre-determined by the circumstances. For example: Client and

environment etc.
ii. Other positions are determined by the course designer.

PARAMETERS OF COURSE DESIGNING

Following are the parameters of the course designing.

1. Should be intensive or extensive?

2. Should the learner’s performance be assessed or non-assessed?
i. EAP Intensive courses
ii. EOP Intensive courses
3. Should the course deals with immediate needs or delayed needs?
4. Should the role of the teacher be that of the ‘provider’ or the knowledge
and activities or should it be as a ‘facilitator’ of activities arising from
learners expressed wants?
i. Teacher as a provider or input
ii. Teacher as a facilitator or consultant
5. Should the course has broad or narrow focus?
i. Broad Focus
ii. Narrow Focus
6. Should the course be ‘pre-study’ or ‘Pre-experience’ or ‘run-parallel ‘with
the study or experience?
7. Should the material be ‘common core’ or ‘specific ‘to the learners?
 8. Should the group taking the course be ‘homogeneous’ or should it be
‘heterogeneous’?
9. Should the course design be ‘fixed course ‘or ‘negotiated course design’?

1. Should course be intensive or extensive?

Sr# Intensive ESP Courses Extensive ESP Courses

1 Totally committed to that ESP Occupies only a small part of a
course student’s timetable or a professional
person’s work schedule

Time: It is a pre-session six months to a one month course to a year.

Assumption: Learners need to reach a certain level of proficiency before they

actually begin their course.

EOP INTENSIVE COURSE

i. Companies and their managers, secretaries or technicians

ii. Concentration on certain skill in language for the period of the course.
iii. It is to enhance the performance of the employ.

Course

Intensive Extensive

EAP EOP
Intensive Intensive
course Course

C. Advantages of Intensive Course

 Focus is only on the purpose of learning.

 They have no distractions.
 Total focus on the ESP course.
  A Great deal of variety in activities can be given.

Situation:

Residential course+ Intensive = English language environment even outside the

classroom can be provided.

D. Disadvantages of intensive Course:

a. Without reinforcement, what is learnt in the intensive course may lie

dormant.
b. Decline of motivation in longer time period.

Situation:

In One year of the intensive English course, the motivation of the English declined.

E. Advantages of Extensive Course:

i. They can run parallel with the subject course or the

professional activity.
ii. It generally remain flexible.
iii. ESP course id the part of the timetable.
iv. Learners assessed during the course.
v. ESP is taught as a subject so, it increases the motivation.

Situation:

Students are enrolled in the ESP course to improve their specific skills. The ESP
course is the part of their timetable along with the main course. So, they would
learn with motivation and enjoy the course.