ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of English Language & Applied Linguistics)

Dear Student,

We welcome you to Diploma in TEFL course “Psycholinguistics and Language

Teaching Methodology, Code: 5655”. This course intends to acquaint you with the latest
trends and strategies in teaching of English. You have to submit two assignments for this
course. The first assignment is theory base; whereas, the second assignment is a research
based project.

NOTE: Remember that it is compulsory to attend at least 7 classes out of the total 10
classes. Similarly, you are required to pass both components: the written report as
well as presentation of the second assignment. Failing to attend the required number of
classes and pass/complete either of the components of 2 nd assignments, you will be
declared fail even if you have passed the final written examination.

Your study packet for course 5655 includes:

1. Textbook: 5655
2. Supplementary reading material – Reader (for both courses 5655, 5656)
3. Two assignments
4. Six assignment forms.

(Note: Schedule for tutorials and assignments will be sent by the regional office
concerned.)

In Case any item is missing please contact:

The Mailing Section

Allama Iqbal Open University
Sector H-8, Islamabad

Wishing you best of luck,

Course Coordinator

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 ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
(Department of English Language & Applied Linguistics)
WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING
THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD
OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
“AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

Course: Psycholinguistics and Language Teaching Methodology (5655)

Level: Diploma TEFL Semester: Spring 2016
Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 40

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
Q.1 What do you understand by behaviourism and mentalism? How would you
differentiate between the two theories with some relevant examples? (15)
Q.2 Can you think of some examples of positive and negative reinforcement in
learning? Which one do you think has proved more effective in learning new
concepts? Justify you opinion. Do not copy the examples from the textbook and
write down some new examples out of your own experiences. (15)
Q.3 Discuss in detail the role of the following salient features in the foreign language
learning: (20)
 Motivation
 Personality
 Learning strategies
 Language aptitude
Q.4 What is the importance of reading skills in an EFL classroom? Plan a lesson based
on reading skills for secondary school students learning English. Also, devise at
least three activities for each stage (presentation, practice, and production) in your
lesson plan to exploit at elementary level. (20)
Q.5 Write an imaginary dialogue of approximately 10 sentences on any topic of your
own choice. The dialogue should reflect the features peculiar to spoken form of
language e.g. repetition, hesitation, contracted forms, incorrect grammar, and
unfinished sentences etc. (10)
Q.6 Imagine that students are in three different classes learning English by three
different methods i.e. grammar-translation, audio-lingual and direct method. What
strengths and weaknesses would you expect each student to display in his/her
competence in understanding listening, speaking, reading and writing? (10)
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Q.7 Do you think first language acquisition and second language learning involve
similar strategies? Discuss some of the differences and similarities between the two
processes with relevant examples. (10)

ASSIGNMENT No.2
(Project)

This assignment is based on research oriented activity. You are required to carry out the
research and prepare a brief report on your findings in any one of the areas given below.
You will submit the report to the tutor within the scheduled period, present the same in
the course/assignment presentation workshop (the schedule of the course/assignment
presentation workshop will be intimated by the tutor concerned or the regional office).
The compulsory presentation carries 100 marks; 40 marks for the written report
assignment and 60 for the presentation.

These are a few guidelines for writing and presenting the report:
a. The written report should be written in clear, concise and correct English.
b. It should be 5-8 double spaced typed/handwritten pages.
c. The presentation will be assessed and evaluated mainly in
i. Contents the assignment / report
ii. Communication skills
iii. Language accuracy
iv. Language fluency
v. Presentation style
d. You may use transparencies, charts or any other material for good presentation with
the permission of your tutor (if possible).
e. You have to follow either APA or MLA guidelines for research mechanics and
citation, do not forget to consult thesis handbook which is provided to you with
your study material.
f. The following headings should be incorporated in the research report.
i. Introduction to the study
ii. Statement of the problem
iii. Significance of the study
iv. Objectives of the study
v. Population /sample
vi. Delimitations of the study
vii. Review of related literature
viii. Research design
ix. Data collection
x. Data analysis
xi. Findings
xii. Conclusion
xiii. Recommendations
xiv. Bibliography

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You will prepare you project on any one of the following topics. You tutor will assign
different topics to different students during your classes. For examples, if the
number of students in your class is twenty, some topic may not be assigned to more
than four students. Choose any one topic from the three given.

1. “Analyzing the effectiveness of using of Activity Based English teaching method at

the Elementary level” Design a questionnaire (10-15 questions) for teachers to
investigate the effectiveness of Activity Based English teaching for improving
integrated skills. Select 10 teachers from different institutions as a population.
Attach all questionnaires with your assignment. Analyze and discuss the responses
using percentile.

2. What is the difference between trained and untrained English language teachers?
Observe two trained teachers (experienced teachers) and two untrained teachers
(newly appointed teachers) of secondary level in their English language classrooms
for a week and note down in your research diary or observation sheet:
a. what difference or similarity is present in their methodology of teaching,
b.their confidence level,
c. their creativity in planning activities,
d.their interaction with students e.g. handling students’ queries regarding the lesson,
e. and who is better than other and in what ways?
Write a report based on your observation. The report should include the names of
teachers (optional), their institutes, their qualifications and most importantly your
analysis, discussion and conclusion of the above mentioned points.

3. It is believed that positive and negative reinforcement has a definite role in

changing the behavior of an individual and a learner. Positive reinforcement is
often used as praise or a reward whereas negative reinforcement is often used for
punishment. It was B.F. Skinner, the founder of Behaviorusim, who first used it this
way. Reinforcement theory is one of the motivation theories; it states that
reinforced behavior will be repeated, and behavior that is not reinforced is less
likely to be repeated. Children learn to speak because their parents give them
positive reinforcement when they speak correctly and vice versa, similarly students
respond more positively to praise than to punishment. In the light of the above
points, discuss the pros and cons of using positive and negative reinforcement in a
language classroom. Conduct a mini research in one of the language classes and
record the attitude of the teacher(s) (positive or negative reinforcement) along with
resulting behavior of the learners and its impact on language learning. Discuss in
detail the findings of your research in the report.

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