Quiz on Current Trends and Issues in Materials Development

Questions and Answers

What primarily drives materials development in language learning according to Tomlinson?

Research advancements in linguistics

Economic constraints (correct)

Innovative teaching methods

The need for learner-centered approaches

What effect does the preference for successful coursebooks have on teachers and curriculum developers?

They innovate with new material types.

They focus more on individual learner needs.

They disregard commercial success altogether.

They imitate best-selling coursebook approaches. (correct)

What are some peripheral developments in materials for language learning mentioned in the content?

Multicolored textbooks

Student-created materials

Online resources

Task-based approaches (correct)

Which type of coursebook do publishers tend to favor according to Tomlinson?

Middle-of-the-road global coursebooks Signup and view all the answers

What tends to happen to non-profit-making supplementary materials as a result of current trends?

They are cut down or reduced in availability. Signup and view all the answers

What has become a trend regarding the types of coursebooks being produced?

Cloning features of best-selling coursebooks Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the relationship between textbook publishing costs and coursebook innovation?

Economic constraints discourage innovation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a trend in materials development?

Increased integration of technology in resources Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary criticism of current coursebooks regarding discovery learning?

They require learners to find predetermined answers. Signup and view all the answers

Which trend has been observed in the development of extensive readers?

Promotion of intensive reading through comprehension questions. Signup and view all the answers

What negative trend is noted about language curriculum focus?

A return to the central place of grammar. Signup and view all the answers

What has been observed about the use of literature in language coursebooks?

Literature is often neglected or misused despite its potential. Signup and view all the answers

How has the role of corpus data in materials development changed?

More materials utilize corpus data reflecting actual language use. Signup and view all the answers

What trend contradicts findings from second language acquisition research?

The emphasis on grammar in language learning. Signup and view all the answers

What assumption is frequently made about learners' attention spans?

Learners have short attention spans and prefer brief texts. Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a positive trend in personalizing learning?

Encouraging learners to relate topics to their own lives. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Outcomes

Understanding current trends in language learning materials development.
Drawing implications on materials development issues for language teaching.
Ability to create a report on trends and issues in the field.

Current Trends in Materials Development

Economic constraints heavily influence materials development, leading to safer coursebook choices by publishers.
Majority of best-selling coursebooks mimic each other, often neglecting innovative approaches in material creation.
Non-commercial materials suffer as educators replicate popular coursebook structures, based on marketing effectiveness rather than educational needs.

Positive Trends in Materials Development

Learner-invested materials encourage personal language discovery, though many coursebooks only guide predetermined answers.
Increased use of corpus data in materials reflects authentic language use; however, many materials still ignore corpora completely.
Growing production of extensive reader series with fewer constraints, but recent additions of comprehension questions promote intensive reading.
Personalized learning experiences are on the rise, connecting material to learners’ lives and feelings.
Enhanced affective engagement through tasks focusing on emotional expression, despite a decline in stimulating texts.
Utilization of internet resources for current, relevant reading materials is becoming more common.
Shift from rote grammar practice to exposure of spoken grammar in real-life contexts.
Growing trend among ministries and institutions globally to develop locally relevant teaching materials.

Negative Trends in Materials Development

A marked resurgence of grammar's centrality in curricula contradicts insights from second language acquisition research.
Coursebooks disproportionately emphasize listening and speaking skills over reading and writing.
The perception that learners have short attention spans leads to reliance on brief texts and activities.
Underestimation of learners' capacity for intellectually stimulating challenges in language acquisition.
Insufficient representation of literature in coursebooks, overlooking its potential as engaging and enriching material.
Continued neglect of robust content that could support deeper language learning.

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Description

Explore the trends and issues surrounding the development of language learning materials in ELT3. This quiz will help you demonstrate understanding and implications regarding these trends and their relevance in teaching. Create a report based on your findings to further solidify your learnings.