Curriculum Design in English Language Teaching

Curriculum design does not have one best approach.

It evolves over time and is shaped by student needs, collaborative input, and past experiences. A well-designed curriculum directly impacts how a teacher teaches and a student learns. Learn the basics of this fundamental skill and walk through the essential steps to take when designing curriculum: needs analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation. Ilka Kostka and Lucy Bunning offer reflective questions and recommendations for analyzing curricula to inform future change.

About the English Language Teacher Development Series

As the English language teaching field continually reinvents itself, the pressure is intense for language teachers to update their knowledge. The English Language Teacher Development Series is a set of short resource books written in an accessible manner for all types of teachers of English. The series offers a theory-to-practice approach, a variety of practical methods, and time for reflections that allow teachers to interact with the materials presented. The books can be used in preservice settings, in-service courses, and by individuals looking for ways to refresh their practice.

Ilka Kostka is an assistant teaching professor in the American Classroom and Global Pathways Programs at Northeastern University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate ESL courses and contributes to curriculum development. She is the co-editor of SLW News and a member of the Editorial Review Board of TESOL Journal.

Lucy Bunning is an assistant teaching professor in the American Classroom and Global Pathways Programs at Northeastern University. She teaches ESL and service-learning courses, contributes to curriculum development, and conducts classroom-based research. She has also taught ESOL in community, private, and university-based programs in the US, Kenya, and Rwanda.

Thomas S.C. Farrell, PhD, is a professor at Brock University, Canada. His professional interests include reflective practice and second language teacher education and development. He has published widely in these areas. His work can be found at www.reflectiveinquiry.ca.