Republic of the Philippines

SURIGAO DEL SUR STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE STUDIES
Tandag City
GRADUATE SCHOOL

Name: NELSON M. MAGANYAN

Subject: MAELT 210 Language Learning Design and Resource Management
Topic: English Language Teaching Material Development

SYNTHESIS
Material development considers as both a field of study and a practical undertaking. As field it
studies the principles and procedures of the design, implementation and evaluation of language teaching
materials. As practical undertaking it involves the production, evaluation and adaptation of language
teaching materials. Nikoopour & Farsani (2011), highlighted the point that the provision of ELT materials
must undergo a process. As defined, materials include anything which can be used to facilitate the learning
of a language. They can be either be represented in various mediums including the use of ICT tools and
software of which could either be instructional, experimental, elucidative, or exploratory in nature. The
development of these materials is anchored on the different goals of the language programs, pre-requisitely
identified prior crafting. They are tailored to meet the language needs of the country, an age, group,
business, science, even culture, and many other reasons. Stern (1983), underscored that learners directly
affects planning of the materials. The learners’ age, interest, level, culture and all others aspects revolving
the students must all be given with equal importance. Establishing and understanding this contextual factor
is relevant, as the selection of syllabus design intended to the appropriate learners is next thus strengthening
its aim to produce learners aligned English instructional materials. Richards and Rodgers (1986) identifies
approach, design, and procedure as the level and or stages of syllabus planning which exhibits the
interdependency of both theory and language teaching practices. This processed based planning of the
syllabus is the main basis of creating any of its five steps including; Grammatical or Structural, Functional-
notional, Situational, Skills-based, and Topic Based. Grammatical syllabus which highlights to the
communicative and practical use of language. On the other hand, skill-based syllabus includes the usage of
general themes and topics revolving in teaching the language.
REFLECTIVE ESSAY
One of the ultimate goals of providing language materials to the learners is to provide concrete
learning atmosphere that can develop the language skill impeccably and holistically. Moreover, the material
should also be a source of stimulating learners’ eagerness in learning the desired language. In spite this
increasing importance on the creation and utilization of the materials, teachers are still bound to a number of
issues that posts hindrance in creating effective, quality and students-specific materials. In order to discuss

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO DEL SUR STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE STUDIES
Tandag City
GRADUATE SCHOOL

the influence of the students can have on the material development as well as students’ principles.
Implementation will inevitably vary, from teacher to teacher due to factors of their experience, culture,
environmental background, individual principles, personality etc. The utilization of devised material tailored
to the specific needs of the students or amending those already available questions its validity and reliability
when used as materials for instruction. In many cases it seems that the evaluation of such material all boils
down to our personal judgement and pedagogy. Subsequently, the nature of the evaluation process of this
scenario will probably differ that it would ripple across through the response and learning performance of
the students using material.
Personally, developing English materials perhaps a challenging task as a teacher. Considering the
individual needs of the diverse learners especially this time of modular distance leaning modality. Following
the information and process suggested made thing much clearer for me as a language material developer in
my own classroom. Furthermore, the idea that the journal wants to inculcate to us educators is be innovative
enough in making relevant materials that will truly be the source in hitting the desired skills of the learners.