Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This guide enjoys copyright under the Berne Convention. In terms of the Copyright Act, no 98
of 1978, no part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any other information
storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the proprietor.
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Using this Module Outline ...................................................................................................................... 4
This Module on Learn ............................................................................................................................. 5
Icons Used in this Document and on Learn ............................................................................................ 6
Module Resources .................................................................................................................................. 7
Module Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Module Outcomes .................................................................................................................................. 9
Assessments .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Introduction
Welcome to Professional Didactics: SP English (SPDE7111). In this module, we will focus on the
role of the educator in the teaching and learning of language skills in the Senior Phase (Grades
7 to 9).
English is a global language, written and spoken throughout the world. It is used as a medium
of instruction in many educational institutions and is the predominant form of communication
in other arenas such as entertainment, business, and research.
A comprehensive grasp of English and the associated core skills, therefore, should enable
learners to engage in effective social interactions and relationships which are likely, in turn, to
result in increasing self-confidence and self-esteem as they engage with others. This is why
good English language skills are essential for the academic progress of learners in the Senior
Phase.
This module is designed to support the development of the language skills needed to facilitate
learning in the classroom, through effective engagement with the requirements of the
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
By the end of this module, you should be able to design language lessons that meet the needs
of diverse groups of senior phase learners whilst also developing the critical, creative, and
analytical thinking skills that are key to their success in the workplace. You should also be well-
equipped to apply appropriate assessment strategies and tools to support and gauge the
progress of your learners.
We hope you will enjoy this module and take the opportunity to apply the knowledge and
experience gained in your ultimate teaching practice.
• This document does not reflect all the content on Learn, the links to different resources,
nor the specific instructions for the group and individual activities.
• Your lecturer will decide when activities are available/open for submission and when
these submissions or contributions are due.
Ensure that you take note of announcements made during lectures and/or posted within
Learn in this regard.
Kindly note:
• Unless you are completing this as a distance module, Learn does not replace your
contact time with your lecturers and/or tutors.
• SPDE7111 is a Learn module, and as such, you are required to engage extensively
with the content on the Learn platform. Effective use of this tool will provide you
with opportunities to discuss, debate, and consolidate your understanding of the
content presented in this module.
• You are expected to work through the learning units on Learn in your own time –
especially before class. Any contact sessions will therefore be used to raise and
address any questions or interesting points with your lecturer, and not to cover
every aspect of this module.
• Your lecturer will communicate submission dates for specific activities in class and/or
on Learn.
Icon Description
A list of what you should be able to do after working through the learning
unit.
Sections where you get to grapple with the content/ theory. This is mainly
presented in the form of questions which focus your attention and are
aimed at helping you to understand the content better. You will be
presented with online resources to work through (in addition to the
textbook or manual references) and find some of the answers to the
questions posed.
REMEMBER:
Module Resources
Prescribed PM1: SPDE7111 Module Reader – The Module Reader can be accessed
Material (PM) on your Portal.
for this Module
PM2:
Department of Basic Education. 2011. Curriculum and Assessment
Policy Statement Senior Phase Grades 7-9: ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE.
Pretoria: DBE. [Online] Available at:
https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/CD/National%20Curriculum%2
0Statements%20and%20Vocational/CAPS%20SP%20%20HL%20%20EN
GLISH%20GR%207-9%20%20web.pdf?ver=2015-01-27-155553-090
ISBN: 978143150492-3
PM3:
Hatton, J. & van der Walt, T. The use of South African works of fiction as
class readers in Grades 7-9
https://teachenglishtoday.org/index.php/2011/01/the-useof-south-
african-works-of-fiction-as-class-readers-grades-7/
PM4:
Nteboheleng, M. 2008. Exploring approaches to teaching reading skills
in English at senior phase in secondary schools in Mbizana district in the
Eastern Cape: a case study. Available at:
http://vital.seals.ac.za:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:161
61?site_name=GlobalView&exact=sm_creator%3A%22Masilo%2C+App
olonia+Nteboheleng%22&sort=sort_ss_title%2F
Recommended Please note that a number of additional resources and links to
Readings, resources may be provided throughout this module.
Digital, and Web You are encouraged to engage with these as they will assist you in
Resources mastering the various objectives of this module.
They may also be useful resources for completing any assignments. You
will not, however, be assessed under examination conditions on any
additional or recommended reading material.
Module Purpose
The purpose of this module is to provide students with a framework of core pedagogical
knowledge and practices that will allow them to apply their specialised content knowledge
to the development and delivery of lessons in the Senior Phase in a competent, proficient,
and critically reflective manner.
Module Outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subject specialisation’s
MO1
Senior Phase curriculum and specialist pedagogy.
Design engaging and effective CAPS-relevant lessons that meet the needs of
MO2
diverse groups of Senior Phase learners.
Demonstrate knowledge of different assessment purposes, practices, and tools
MO3
for determining learning and guiding future planning in the Senior Phase.
Defend a chosen assessment strategy for given scenarios, learners, outcomes,
MO4
and content.
Assessments
Integrated Curriculum Engagement (ICE)
Minimum number of ICE activities to complete 4
Weighting towards the final module mark 10%
Summative Assignment
The summative assignment • Ensure that you work through all the activities,
will assess all learning units exercises, and revision questions on Learn and in your
in this module. It will textbook. You must have completed close readings of
include theory-based your prescribed material to ensure that you have
application, prepared adequately for your examination for this
synthesis and evaluation module.
type questions. • Pay close attention to the instruction words (like list,
apply, describe, analyse, etc.) and to the mark
allocations of each task to ensure that you provide the
correct depth and detail in your responses.
• Make sure that you are able to meet all the objectives
for all learning units.
Module Pacer
Code Programme Contact Sessions Credits
SPDE7111p PGC1p 36 contacts 24
SPDE7111w PGC1w 12
Learning Unit 1 Language in the Senior Phase Curriculum
Overview:
This learning unit focuses on the four primary language skills, examining different
approaches to their development in English Home Language learners as outlined in the
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for the Senior Phase (Grades 7 to
9). We will also explore the approach taken in CAPS to the ongoing improvement of
language structures and conventions, and the ways in which literature, including
poetry, can be used to support language development in the Senior Phase. Finally, we
will look at the different terms specifically associated with the teaching and learning of
English Home Language
Please work through Themes 1 to 3 on Learn, together with the relevant sections of your
prescribed source/s.
You should be very familiar with the different language skills based on your own
undergraduate studies. However, teaching those skills requires a very different focus as
you will now be responsible for providing opportunities for learners to develop those skills
themselves, using scaffolding and a variety of teaching and learning strategies. You may
find it challenging, therefore, to approach the development of language skills from an
educator’s perspective.
PM3: Nteboheleng, M.
2009. Exploring approaches
to teaching reading skills in
English at senior phase in
secondary schools in
Mbizana district in the
Eastern Cape: a case study
Theme 3: Teaching Language PM1: Department of Basic
Terminology Education. 2011. Curriculum
Overview:
In this learning unit, we will examine ways in which to teach language effectively,
beginning with a look at the impact that different learning styles may have on language
teaching. We will then explore the role of multimodality in language development through
the use of a range of different media in order to accommodate different learning styles.
We will end the unit with an investigation into the development of appropriate lesson
plans to include the use of multimodal media in the Senior Phase classroom.
Please work through Themes 1 to 3 on Learn, together with the relevant sections of your
prescribed source/s.
You may find it difficult initially to analyse the lesson plans provided in the CAPS
document. However, it is important that you are familiar with the guidelines provided so
that you are able to select appropriate types of resources to support your teaching,
bearing in mind the benefits of using multimodal resources.
Overview:
Assessment is one of the most important teaching and learning tools. Not only can it be
used to verify whether or not lesson objectives have been met, sometimes referred to as
assessment of learning, assessment can also be used to inform remediation strategies, if
and when necessary, usually described as assessment as learning. More importantly,
assessment should function as an integral part of the teaching-learning process. In this
case, it becomes assessment for learning.
In this learning unit, we will examine different forms/ types of assessment in order to
understand their different purposes, practices and roles within the curriculum. We will
also look at various assessment methods and tools/ instruments that may be used in the
assessment process including ways in which they can be designed and developed to meet
specific purposes.
Please work through Themes 1 to 3 on Learn, together with the relevant sections of your
prescribed source/s.
You may find it hard to differentiate between assessment types, methods, tools and
instruments as these terms are often used interchangeably. However, the emphasis here
is not on the meanings of these terms, but rather on the use of different assessment
strategies to assess and support the development of language skills in the classroom.
Overview:
By now, you should be aware of the importance of using different teaching and learning
strategies in the language classroom. This also holds for assessments. However, using
different assessment strategies goes beyond ensuring inclusivity as different strategies
may assess different language skills. Because learners develop language skills at different
rates, assessing levels of competency in those skills often requires the use of tools such as
rubrics, that may involve qualitative measurements being made by learners themselves,
their peers or their educators. Such measurements may be accused of bias when learners’
achievements are recorded, reported and/ or moderated. Hence the need to be able to
defend the assessment strategies used.
In this learning unit, we will examine the role of the educator in the assessment process in
more detail, including the importance of aligning language assessments to the curriculum
and of accurately recording, reporting and moderating the results of assessment. We will
then explore the ways in which different assessment strategies can be used to measure
competency in multiple skills, including critical, creative and analytical thinking skills,
paying particular attention to the role of holistic assessment. Finally, we will end the unit
with a look at the use of alternative strategies such as problem-based and scenario-based
assessments that require critical thinking skills.
If you are a contact student, you will likely spend 16 sessions on this learning unit.
If you are a distance student, you will likely complete this learning unit during the course
of Academic Weeks 9 and 12.
Please work through Themes 1 to 3 on Learn, together with the relevant sections of your
prescribed source/s.
You may find it challenging to develop tools appropriate for holistic assessment of
multiple skills. However, there are considerable benefits of using such assessments, both
for learners and educators. Although time-consuming to develop initially, such
assessments can be designed in such a way that they can be used repeatedly and across
several grades. In addition, there are many free assessment tools available online that can
be easily adapted to meet your specific requirements.
Academic LO1: Discuss the role of the educator in Module Reader – Chapter 4
Weeks: the assessment process; &5
10-12 LO2: Discuss the importance of aligning
Related assessments to the curriculum; PM1: Department of Basic
Outcomes: LO3: Analyse ways in which skills Education. 2011. Curriculum
MO01 competency can be assessed; and Assessment Policy
MO02 Theme 2: Holistic Skills Assessment Statement Senior Phase
MO03 Grades 7-9: ENGLISH HOME
MO04 LO4: Justify the importance of holistic LANGUAGE. Pretoria: DBE
assessment;
LO5: Discuss the process of designing a
holistic assessment;
LO6: Develop a marking scheme to
ensure holistic assessment;