Techniques for Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Clauses

University of California, Irvine via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/teaching-adjective-clauses

Introduction

# Course Review: Techniques for Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Clauses on Coursera In the realm of English language teaching, mastering grammar can be both a challenge and a delight. For educators looking to deepen their understanding of intermediate grammar concepts and enhance their teaching skills, the course **"Techniques for Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Clauses"** on Coursera is a remarkable opportunity. As the second course in the **Teach English: Intermediate Grammar** specialization, it promises a comprehensive exploration of adjectives, adjective phrases, and adjective clauses, with a focus on effective teaching methods. ### Course Overview This course expertly breaks down the complexities of teaching adjectives and their clauses, making it easier for educators to impart this essential grammar knowledge to their students. It emphasizes not only the theoretical underpinnings but also practical strategies that foster interactive and engaging learning environments. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Welcome** - The course opens with an introduction to its purpose and significance. Understanding the challenges that students face when learning adjectives and adjective clauses sets the stage for more focused learning. 2. **Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Phrases** - The first module delves into the common difficulties associated with adjectives. You'll encounter innovative activities aimed at helping students grasp how to use adjectives effectively. A highly beneficial component is the opportunity to design a lesson plan and receive feedback on a video demonstration of your teaching style. 3. **Teaching Adjective Clauses** - This section focuses on adjective clauses, providing practical suggestions to simplify these concepts for students. Expect to engage in fun practice activities that make learning enjoyable. The practice-centric approach continues here, allowing participants to refine their lesson delivery based on peer feedback. 4. **More about Teaching Adjective Clauses** - Expanding on the previous module, this week introduces various types of adjective clauses. The course covers new activity ideas to enhance student engagement. Participants are encouraged to create lessons and present them, honing their instructional techniques through peer reviews. 5. **Teaching Reduced Adjective Clauses and Appositives** - The final week tackles reduced adjective clauses and appositives, introducing strategies for teaching these advanced concepts. Additionally, you'll benefit from new activities designed to keep the learning process dynamic. The course culminates in assignments that require both written and video demonstrations of your teaching proposals. ### Detailed Review **Strengths:** - **Structured Learning:** The course is meticulously structured, allowing educators to build on their understanding progressively, which is crucial for grasping complex grammar. - **Practical Application:** The emphasis on creating lesson plans and video demonstrations helps participants translate theory into practice, fostering a deeper understanding of teaching methodologies. - **Interactive Feedback:** The peer review mechanism encourages collaboration and provides constructive criticism, an invaluable aspect for budding educators. - **Engaging Activities:** The course is filled with activities that are not only enjoyable but also effective in teaching grammar. This helps educators think creatively about how to engage their own classrooms. **Areas for Improvement:** - Some participants may find the pace of the course challenging, especially those who are new to teaching or grammar instruction. More introductory resources could be beneficial. - While the course offers a robust framework, additional resources or readings on teaching ESL students from diverse backgrounds could enhance learning. ### Recommendation I highly recommend the **Techniques for Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Clauses** course to educators looking to enhance their grammatical teaching techniques. Whether you are a novice teacher seeking to build confidence in your instructional abilities or an experienced educator looking to refine your methods, this course offers invaluable insights. With interactive components, constructive feedback mechanisms, and a focus on making learning enjoyable, this course stands out as a vital resource for anyone involved in teaching English grammar. By the end of the course, you should feel more equipped to tackle the intricacies of adjectives and adjective clauses, ensuring your students benefit from a richer, more complex understanding of the English language.

Syllabus

Welcome

This is the second course in the Teach English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. Here, you will learn to teach adjectives and adjective clauses effectively. These are very important for helping students make their sentences interesting and more complex. In this course, you'll learn what is hard for students to learn and some methods for helping them understand adjectives and adjective clauses.

Teaching Adjectives and Adjective Phrases

In the first module, you will learn what is difficult for students about learning to use adjectives and adjective phrases correctly in English. You'll learn some great activities for helping them practice, and you'll get a chance to make a lesson for teaching adjectives and a video demonstration of your teacher talk.

Teaching Adjective Clauses

In the lessons this week, you will learn about teaching adjective clauses. You will hear suggestions for making this material easier for students to understand and ideas for fun practice activities. You'll also get the chance to practice what you've learned and get feedback on your lesson and video demonstration.

More about Teaching Adjective Clauses

This week, you will learn about other types of adjective clauses and how to teach them. You will again learn new activities for helping your students practice these other types of adjective clauses. Then you will practice what you've learned by creating your own lesson for students and demonstrate your teaching skills by sharing a video of your instructions to students for feedback from your peers.

Teaching Reduced Adjective Clauses and Appositives

In the final week of the course, you will learn how to teach students about reduced adjective clauses and appositives. You will hear about strategies for introducing these concepts to students and learn some new activities for making your classes interesting. Finally, you will demonstrate your own lesson ideas and teaching skills with the final written and video assignments.