Teaching and Learning English in the Degree in Infant Education: A Proposal for a Content-Enhanced Syllabus Model

Abstract

This paper presents a proposal for a content-enhanced syllabus model aimed at teaching and learning English in the Degree in Infant Education. The proposal addresses the challenge of providing meaningful learning opportunities to develop the linguistic and communicative competence of the learners. It acknowledges the limitations of the general needs approach commonly used in coursebook-driven English Language Teaching (ELT) within this specific context. Instead, the proposal considers the future professional needs of the learners. Thus, the main goals of the proposal are to develop the learners' learning-to-learn competence, focusing on learning strategies and self-directed learning resources, while fostering their language awareness, particularly in terms of pronunciation and form-meaning mappings. Additionally, the proposal incorporates a lexical, discourse-based approach that emphasizes the importance of multi-word units in language structure, second language learning, and language use. It prioritizes practices like noticing and cognitive engagement, supported by thinking routines, as well as exposure to relevant and rich input. In this way, the proposed content-enhanced syllabus translates into an instructional design based on validated principles of Second Language Acquisition. It revolves around meaning-focused language tasks, functional activities, and the utilization of authentic multimodal materials. This type of syllabus requires active participation from the learners, encouraging them to take an active role in their own learning process. By implementing this proposal, it is hoped that learners will enhance their linguistic and communicative competence, as well as their ability to learn effectively.