Language Curriculum Development

Abstract

Language curriculum development, like other areas of curriculum activity, is concerned with principles and procedures for the planning, management, and assessment of learning. But whereas in general educational practice, curriculum development has spawned a major educational industry, what is understood by curriculum development in language teaching has often been rather narrowly conceived. The focus has primarily been on language syllabuses rather than on the broader processes of curriculum development. Consequently there has been a relatively sparse literature on language curriculum development until recently. Such discussion that appears in the language teaching journals of the 1940s, 50s and early 60's, is primarily concerned with procedures for selecting the linguistic content of language courses. In this paper we will review issues and practices in language curriculum development and attempt to provide a framework for the discussion of current curriculum questions in language teaching.