English Public Speaking:
Course Design & Teaching Plan
Fudan University Wan Jiangbo
2013-05-25
Highlights
• Nature of the Course
• Teaching Objectives
• Main Content
• Teaching Approach
Nature of the Course
• An EFL course which “builds upon and extends
other courses in the EFL curriculum” (Lucas,
2009: 18)
• A skills course, rather than a lecture course
(Lucas, 2013)
PS vs EPS: Goal
PS in America
To help cultivate
the whole person
EPS in China
Plus,
to prepare our
students for their
future international
exchange and
communication in
English
PS vs EPS: Location
PS in America
as a compulsory
course in most
universities offered
by department of
communications,
rhetoric, performing
arts, etc
EPS in China
mostly as an elective
course offered only in
some universities by
the department of
foreign languages
PS vs EPS: Related disciplines
PS
EPS
communications,
rhetoric,
psychology,
sociology,
linguistics,
logic, etc
TESOL studies,
SLA, pedagogy,
comparative
studies, etc
Teaching Objectives
• To build your self-confidence and develop your
interest in English public speaking;
• To raise your awareness of ethical speechmaking;
• To develop your ability to write effective English
public speeches;
• To develop your ability to effectively deliver
English public speeches;
• To develop your critical thinking skills;
• To develop your research skills;
• To develop your listening skills.
Main Content
• Textbook:
Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking
(10th edition). Beijing: FLTRP. 2010.
• Teaching Plan
Teaching Approach
• Guiding principle:
Integrating assessment into skills development
(Assessment for Learning, see “Wan, 2013”)
• Success criteria & Rubrics
• Features:
1) Smaller size (max. 25)
2) Multiple assessors;
3) Video-based self-assessment & teacher assessment;
4) Both quantitative and qualitative assessments.
Tasks and grading
Tasks
Grading
Informative Speech
20
Persuasive Speech
20
Script Writing
10
Recitation of Model Speeches
10
Class Activities
(Peer Work, Group Work, Class Discussion,
etc)
10
Final Examination
(Speech of Introduction & Persuasive
Speech)
30
Integrating Assessment into
Skills Development
• Directions for Assignments
• Assessment tools
• Teaching Schedule
Ice-Breaker
• My New Best Friend.
• Interview your partner based on the following
keywords and then introduce her/him to the
class.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
hometown
travel
hobbies
athletic endeavors
major
job
favorite food
favorite movie
favorite music
favorite TV show
life philosophy
15
Students’ Feedback (Wan, 2013: 41-51)
• Questionnaire (conducted in December 2012)
• 17 Respondents
1) The course is helpful for them to develop their
English public speaking skills. (16)
2) Teacher’s model of critiquing and analyzing
speeches is helpful for them to grasp the assessing
criteria. (15)
3) Teacher’s assessing feedback is helpful for
them to reflect upon their own speeches. (16)
4) They could grasp well the assessment criteria
when assessing their peers. (15)
5) Peer assessment enhances their understanding
of ideal English public speaking. (14)
6) Peer assessment is helpful for them to reflect
upon their own speeches. (16)
7) Video-based self-assessment enhances their
English public speaking skills. (17)
Bibliography
• Lucas, S. E. The Role of Public Speaking in China’s English
Language Curriculum. In L. Wang, & P. Li (Eds.), English Public
Speaking in Global Context: Challenges and Innovations (pp. 324). Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
2009.
• Lucas, S. E. The Art of Public Speaking (10th edition). Beijing:
FLTRP. 2010.
• Lucas, S. E. Lectures at the Workshop on Teaching Public
Speaking to College Students (in May 2013 in Beijing, held by
FLTRP). 2013.
• Wan, J. Course Design and Teaching Methodology of the
English Public Speaking Course in Tertiary Education. National
College English Teaching Workshop (Keynote speech, at
Nanchang, Jiangxi Province of China on July 25). 2011.
• Wan, J. On establishing English public speaking as a course for
non-English majors. Foreign Language Education in China
(Quarterly). Vol. 2 No. 3. 2009.
• Wan, J. Localization of the English Public Speaking Course in
China’s EFL Curriculum. Asian Social Science, Vol. 9, No. 1.
2012.
• Wan, J. The application of AfL to the English Public Speaking
classroom. Foreign Language Education in China (Quarterly).
Vol. 6, No. 2. 2013.
Thank you!