Experiential Module

Master's Project for the MA in Foreign Language Teaching

Teaching for Proficiency Using the Backward Design Approach & Portfolio Assessment - A Self-Guided Professional Development Training

For Who?

My Experiential Module is a professional development training designed for language teachers who would like to improve their abilities to plan and teach for proficiency & engage in PD designed specifically for language teachers.

What Is It?

The training focuses on introducing participants to the Backward Design Approach, portfolio assessment, the benefits of each, and later how to implement the two together to plan and teach for proficiency while encouraging students to stay motivated and engage in self reflection. The website includes videos, visual aids, applicable examples, practice activities, and additional resources.

Why Did I Create It?

As a language teacher, the opportunity to engage with professional development trainings that are relevant and applicable is greatly appreciated and invaluable. I wanted to create an effective, practical, and accessible training for language teachers to engage in at their own pace and at their own convenience.

Further Description of Experiential Module

Throughout my time in the MAFLT Program, I became passionate about professional development designed specifically for language teachers and I wanted to use my EM as an opportunity to create that for other language teachers. My EM is a website designed to be a self-guided professional development for language teachers on how to teach for proficiency through the use of Backward Design and using portfolios as an assessment tool. Whatever materials a teacher is provided, it can be difficult to translate expectations to the classroom. One of the greatest challenges all teachers, but language teachers specifically, face is determining what to teach, how to teach it, and how to assess student growth. Using Backward Design as an approach to planning in the language classroom directs teachers to start by examining learning outcomes then moving onto how students will be assessed, what materials will be used for learning experiences, and later determining teaching methodology. Using portfolios as an assessment tool collects excellent evidence of student growth and progress towards language proficiency, encourages reflective practices, and supports motivation and engagement in the language classroom. Backward Design and portfolio assessment truly go hand in hand in the language classroom and my EM strives to help teachers to understand how to implement them together to improve the teaching and learning experience for themselves and their students.

Visit My Experiential Module Website!