Second Language Teaching Methodology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at analyzing the processes involved in the teaching of a second/foreign language, and in particular the main teaching methods according to a linguistic, humanistic, and a communicative approach, and the practical aspects related to the planning and implementation of a teaching sequence (needs analysis, syllabus design, task implementation, testing and evaluation).
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will demonstrate a clear understanding of the constructs related to: - second language pedagogy (method, approach, procedure according to a linguistic, humanistic, and a communicative approach); description of an L2 and the communication processes involved (language ability, communicative competence, communicative language activity, context of language use); the planning and implementation of an L2 teaching sequence (needs analysis, language aims, language levels, learning outcomes, approach, method, syllabus, procedure, technique, task, testing, assessment).
By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze (with the support of questions): - L2 learning contexts, language teaching materials according to the implementation of linguistic, humanistic and communicative methods, tools for the identification of L2 language needs, second language tasks and techniques, types and formats of L2 tests and evaluation methods.
By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze (with the support of questions): - L2 learning contexts, language teaching materials according to the implementation of linguistic, humanistic and communicative methods, tools for the identification of L2 language needs, second language tasks and techniques, types and formats of L2 tests and evaluation methods.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
SYLLABUS
1. Language pedagogy (method, approach, procedure)
2. Linguistic-oriented methods (grammar translation, situational oral, audio-lingual)
3. Humanistic-oriented methods (Total Physical Response, Natural Approach)
4. Description of an L2 and communicative processes (language skills, communicative/ functional/ intercultural competence, communicative activities, language context)
5. Communicative-oriented methods (notional-functional, lexical approach, task-based, content-based)
6. The planning of an L2 course: learners' factors and needs
7. The planning of an L2 course: learning aims and outcomes, syllabus
8. The planning and implementation of an L2 course: tasks, techniques, materials
9. L2 testing and assessment: test types, assessment criteria and methods.
1. Language pedagogy (method, approach, procedure)
2. Linguistic-oriented methods (grammar translation, situational oral, audio-lingual)
3. Humanistic-oriented methods (Total Physical Response, Natural Approach)
4. Description of an L2 and communicative processes (language skills, communicative/ functional/ intercultural competence, communicative activities, language context)
5. Communicative-oriented methods (notional-functional, lexical approach, task-based, content-based)
6. The planning of an L2 course: learners' factors and needs
7. The planning of an L2 course: learning aims and outcomes, syllabus
8. The planning and implementation of an L2 course: tasks, techniques, materials
9. L2 testing and assessment: test types, assessment criteria and methods.
Prerequisites for admission
The course can be introductory and complementary to the courses of Teaching English/ French/ German/ Spanish as a foreign language. International students are expected to have a B2 level of proficiency in Italian. Some reading materials are in English and require a B2-C1 level.
Teaching methods
TEACHING METHODS
The course aims to combine theory and practice. Different methods will be used: short lectures by the teacher and hands-on tasks for the analysis of teaching materials and planning and assessment tools. A number of lessons will be taught online (Platform Teams).
Lesson slides and handouts will be available on the course website (Ariel Platform).
On the Ariel course website, a forum will be opened to provide students with the opportunity to discuss the topics covered in the course, share their analysis of teaching materials, answer example questions in preparation for the exam, etc.
During the course, students will have the opportunity to use an online historical archive of materials for the teaching of English, the Italy ELT Archive https://italy-elt-archive.unimi.it/, for the analysis of examples of textbooks and grammars published in Italy in the 20th century.
The course aims to combine theory and practice. Different methods will be used: short lectures by the teacher and hands-on tasks for the analysis of teaching materials and planning and assessment tools. A number of lessons will be taught online (Platform Teams).
Lesson slides and handouts will be available on the course website (Ariel Platform).
On the Ariel course website, a forum will be opened to provide students with the opportunity to discuss the topics covered in the course, share their analysis of teaching materials, answer example questions in preparation for the exam, etc.
During the course, students will have the opportunity to use an online historical archive of materials for the teaching of English, the Italy ELT Archive https://italy-elt-archive.unimi.it/, for the analysis of examples of textbooks and grammars published in Italy in the 20th century.
Teaching Resources
READING LIST
All reading materials are compulsory and available in the online University library resources https://sba.unimi.it/
Part A "Metodi per l'insegnamento di una L2"/ Approaches and methods in second language teaching
- Richards, J.C. and T.S. Rodgers. 2014. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Part I, Chapters1-4; Part II, Chapters 5-6, 9, 11; Part III, Chapters 14-15)
- Materiali relativi alle lezioni (diapositive, materiali per le attività), disponibili sul sito Ariel del corso.
- Cacchione, A. 2021. C'era una volta il metodo: vent'anni dopo. Italiano LinguaDue, 13 (1), pp. 33-52
- Hunter, D. and R. Smith. 2012. Unpackaging the past: 'CLT' through ELTJ keywords. ELT Journal, Volume 66, Issue 4, 1, pp. 430-439.
- Ur, P. 2013. Language-teaching method revisited. ELT Journal, Volume 67, Issue 4, pp. 468-474.
Part B "La programmazione di un corso di L2"/ Syllabus design for second language teaching
- Quadro Comune Europeo Di Riferimento Per Le Lingue: Apprendimento, Insegnamento, Valutazione. Volume Complementare (2020), Language Policy Programme. Education Policy Division. Education Department. Council of Europe. https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/promoitals/qcer
- Richards, J.C. and T.S. Rodgers. 2014. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Part IV, Chapters 19-21).
- Materiali relativi alle lezioni (diapositive, materiali per le attività), disponibili sul sito Ariel del corso.
- Bosc, F. e F. Minuz. 2013. La lezione. Italiano LinguaDue, 4 (2), pp. 94-130.
- Pedrazzini, L. 2022. Mediazione e processi di apprendimento e uso di una lingua seconda in un'attività di scrittura: l'esempio del Dictogloss, in Prada, M. (a cura di) La didattica delle lingue e il Companion Volume. Il testo, i descrittori, gli ambienti digitali telematici, le pratiche e le esperienze. Sezione monografica di Italiano LinguaDue, 14 (2), pp. 129-149.
Part C "Analisi e valutazione di materiali per l'insegnamento di una L2"/Analysis and evaluation of second language teaching materials
- Cortés Velásquez D., S. Faone & E. Nuzzo. 2017. Analizzare i manuali per l'insegnamento delle lingue: strumenti per una glottodidattica applicata, Italiano LinguaDue, 9 (2), pp.
- Jordan, G. & H. Gray. 2019. We need to talk about coursebooks. ELT Journal, Volume 73, Issue 4, pp. 438-446.
- Pedrazzini, L., Nava, A., & Tenca, E. 2025. The Italy ELT Archive: Implications for Second Language Awareness Research And Teacher Education. Italiano LinguaDue, 17 (1), pp. 405-436.
The students who are unable to attend classes regularly are required to supplement this reading list with five articles to be chosen from a list provided on the course website (Ariel Platform).
All reading materials are compulsory and available in the online University library resources https://sba.unimi.it/
Part A "Metodi per l'insegnamento di una L2"/ Approaches and methods in second language teaching
- Richards, J.C. and T.S. Rodgers. 2014. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Part I, Chapters1-4; Part II, Chapters 5-6, 9, 11; Part III, Chapters 14-15)
- Materiali relativi alle lezioni (diapositive, materiali per le attività), disponibili sul sito Ariel del corso.
- Cacchione, A. 2021. C'era una volta il metodo: vent'anni dopo. Italiano LinguaDue, 13 (1), pp. 33-52
- Hunter, D. and R. Smith. 2012. Unpackaging the past: 'CLT' through ELTJ keywords. ELT Journal, Volume 66, Issue 4, 1, pp. 430-439.
- Ur, P. 2013. Language-teaching method revisited. ELT Journal, Volume 67, Issue 4, pp. 468-474.
Part B "La programmazione di un corso di L2"/ Syllabus design for second language teaching
- Quadro Comune Europeo Di Riferimento Per Le Lingue: Apprendimento, Insegnamento, Valutazione. Volume Complementare (2020), Language Policy Programme. Education Policy Division. Education Department. Council of Europe. https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/promoitals/qcer
- Richards, J.C. and T.S. Rodgers. 2014. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Part IV, Chapters 19-21).
- Materiali relativi alle lezioni (diapositive, materiali per le attività), disponibili sul sito Ariel del corso.
- Bosc, F. e F. Minuz. 2013. La lezione. Italiano LinguaDue, 4 (2), pp. 94-130.
- Pedrazzini, L. 2022. Mediazione e processi di apprendimento e uso di una lingua seconda in un'attività di scrittura: l'esempio del Dictogloss, in Prada, M. (a cura di) La didattica delle lingue e il Companion Volume. Il testo, i descrittori, gli ambienti digitali telematici, le pratiche e le esperienze. Sezione monografica di Italiano LinguaDue, 14 (2), pp. 129-149.
Part C "Analisi e valutazione di materiali per l'insegnamento di una L2"/Analysis and evaluation of second language teaching materials
- Cortés Velásquez D., S. Faone & E. Nuzzo. 2017. Analizzare i manuali per l'insegnamento delle lingue: strumenti per una glottodidattica applicata, Italiano LinguaDue, 9 (2), pp.
- Jordan, G. & H. Gray. 2019. We need to talk about coursebooks. ELT Journal, Volume 73, Issue 4, pp. 438-446.
- Pedrazzini, L., Nava, A., & Tenca, E. 2025. The Italy ELT Archive: Implications for Second Language Awareness Research And Teacher Education. Italiano LinguaDue, 17 (1), pp. 405-436.
The students who are unable to attend classes regularly are required to supplement this reading list with five articles to be chosen from a list provided on the course website (Ariel Platform).
Assessment methods and Criteria
ASSESSMENT
Parts A e B, 6 credits (compulsory)
The exam consists of two written papers, each on the syllabus and reading list for modules A and B respectively. Each paper has two open-ended questions on these possible topics: extended definition of a key construct/concept; description of a process/ a tool/a technique/a strategy; material/task evaluation/ implementation. The exam is in Italian and lasts two hours.
Each exam paper is assessed with a mark out of 30. The final grade of the written exam is given by the average of the marks that students get in each paper. The pass grade is 18/30.
Part C, 3 credits
Submission of a written paper (5-6 pages) consisting of a critical analysis of two textbooks for the teaching of a second language (L2), highlighting their strengths and potential difficulties of use. The textbooks can be chosen by the students but they must have been published in different periods and represent the application of different methods; they can also be selected from the ITALY ELT Archive (https://italy-elt-archive.unimi.it/). The written paper is assessed with a mark out of 30. The final grade for students who choose to earn 9 credits is is determined by the average of their grades in Parts A, B, and C.
The students who cannot attend classes regularly are also requested to take an oral exam on the additional reading list assigned. The final grade of their exam is given by the average of the marks they get in the written and oral exams.
Parts A e B, 6 credits (compulsory)
The exam consists of two written papers, each on the syllabus and reading list for modules A and B respectively. Each paper has two open-ended questions on these possible topics: extended definition of a key construct/concept; description of a process/ a tool/a technique/a strategy; material/task evaluation/ implementation. The exam is in Italian and lasts two hours.
Each exam paper is assessed with a mark out of 30. The final grade of the written exam is given by the average of the marks that students get in each paper. The pass grade is 18/30.
Part C, 3 credits
Submission of a written paper (5-6 pages) consisting of a critical analysis of two textbooks for the teaching of a second language (L2), highlighting their strengths and potential difficulties of use. The textbooks can be chosen by the students but they must have been published in different periods and represent the application of different methods; they can also be selected from the ITALY ELT Archive (https://italy-elt-archive.unimi.it/). The written paper is assessed with a mark out of 30. The final grade for students who choose to earn 9 credits is is determined by the average of their grades in Parts A, B, and C.
The students who cannot attend classes regularly are also requested to take an oral exam on the additional reading list assigned. The final grade of their exam is given by the average of the marks they get in the written and oral exams.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/02 - EDUCATIONAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-LIN/02 - EDUCATIONAL LINGUISTICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)