And it's quite a lot!
To be fair, I knew I would need to do a lot of work as part of the preparation for the DELTA Module 1 exam. I knew I could be a lot stronger on theories behind how and why people learn and acquire languages. I also realised that my understanding and use of language terminology and concepts needed to be significantly improved.
A key reason for starting the course was to start to fill in these gaps in my knowledge which, in turn, would make me be better at what I do in the classroom. Before the course started, I knew there would be a lot of reading to be done. I was correct. I don't think I've ever read as much as I have done over the last month. Thankfully (and encouragingly!), I have found it easy to stay interested and motivated!
My reading has bounced around between language learning terminology, information about language acquisition and different techniques to analyse texts. Along the way I've taken numerous detours into areas such as phonology, testing, error correction and lexis. All this has improved my knowledge and understanding hugely. It's also helped me do the assignments to a reasonable standard. I just need it to stay in my head!
My main challenge now is to know where and when to stop reading. I seem to have chosen wisely with the books I bought in advance of the course but those, together with all the on line information available might be too much to read, take in and retain. I need to be more selective. There is plenty of time to cover other references after the course. Indeed my expectation is that I will continue to pore over, peruse and dip into texts such as those I am currently reading long after the course is finished. My interest in the topic has been well and truly reignited! Whilst a piece of paper at the end of all this would be nice, my longer term interest and desire to learn more are surely a true sign of the success of the course.
Hopefully I'll still feel as motivated as this next time I write!
To be fair, I knew I would need to do a lot of work as part of the preparation for the DELTA Module 1 exam. I knew I could be a lot stronger on theories behind how and why people learn and acquire languages. I also realised that my understanding and use of language terminology and concepts needed to be significantly improved.
A key reason for starting the course was to start to fill in these gaps in my knowledge which, in turn, would make me be better at what I do in the classroom. Before the course started, I knew there would be a lot of reading to be done. I was correct. I don't think I've ever read as much as I have done over the last month. Thankfully (and encouragingly!), I have found it easy to stay interested and motivated!
My reading has bounced around between language learning terminology, information about language acquisition and different techniques to analyse texts. Along the way I've taken numerous detours into areas such as phonology, testing, error correction and lexis. All this has improved my knowledge and understanding hugely. It's also helped me do the assignments to a reasonable standard. I just need it to stay in my head!
My main challenge now is to know where and when to stop reading. I seem to have chosen wisely with the books I bought in advance of the course but those, together with all the on line information available might be too much to read, take in and retain. I need to be more selective. There is plenty of time to cover other references after the course. Indeed my expectation is that I will continue to pore over, peruse and dip into texts such as those I am currently reading long after the course is finished. My interest in the topic has been well and truly reignited! Whilst a piece of paper at the end of all this would be nice, my longer term interest and desire to learn more are surely a true sign of the success of the course.
Hopefully I'll still feel as motivated as this next time I write!