ELT323 Early Foreign Language Learning
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Apr 04, 2026
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English language and literature, Teaching
Almasa Mulalić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides an overview of the basic methods, objectives and criteria of the early English language learning process. Current pedagogical achievements in regards to application of appropriate didactic tools suitable for children’s ages are also investigated within the course. Besides, this course provides a theoretical framework for making optimal curricula in the process of early English language learning, as well as guidelines for practice. Special attention is paid to the importance of education and training of teaching staff in the field of child psychology and pedagogy.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Shin, J.K. & Crandall, J. (2019). Teaching Young Learners English. From Theory to Practice. HEINLE CHANGE Learning.
Additional Literature
Lambelet, A., & Berthele, R. (2015). Age and foreign language learning in school. Springer. Lynne Cameron (2001). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Ernst Klett SprachenTeaching Methods
Lectures and class disscussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teaching English to Young Learners around the World: An Introduction | pp. 1-21 |
| 2 | Basic Principles of Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) | pp. 23- 64, |
| 3 | Contextualizing Instruction: Creating ThematicUnits and Lesson Plans | pp. 65-105 |
| 4 | Teaching Listening and Speaking | pp. 107-156 |
| 5 | Teaching Reading and Writing | pp. 157-207 |
| 6 | Storytelling | pp. 209-242 |
| 7 | Assessment | pp. 243-285 |
| 8 | Mid-term Exam, Classroom Management | pp.287-323 |
| 9 | Twenty-First-Century Skills in Teaching English | pp. 324-342 |
| 10 | Designing a Technology-Based Thematic Unit | pp. 343-355 |
| 11 | Professional Development | pp. 356-378 |
| 12 | Teacher to Teacher | pp. 379-386 |
| 13 | Issues Around Teaching Children a Foreign Language | pp.241- 246 |
| 14 | Early Foreign Language Learning - Teaching Methods and Techniques | |
| 15 | Globalized World: New Opportunities and New Challenges; Revision and summary |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELT323.1 | Course | Tuesday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.23 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.7C | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.7C | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.7C | |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.7C | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.7C |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quizes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Assignments
10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)
Active Tutorials
14 hours ⏳ (7 week × 2 h)
Home Study
22 hours ⏳ (11 week × 2 h)
In-term Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (2 week × 15 h)
Final Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Term Project/Presentation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ELT323] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Apr 04, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ELT323 | Early Foreign Language Learning | 2 | 1 | 6 | Tuesday 12:00-14:30 | |||||
| Prerequisite | ELT202 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Almasa Mulalić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-11:00 Tuesday: 9:00-11:00 Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 Thursday: 9:00-11:00 Friday: 9:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| amulalic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course provides an overview of the basic methods, objectives and criteria of the early English language learning process. Current pedagogical achievements in regards to application of appropriate didactic tools suitable for children’s ages are also investigated within the course. Besides, this course provides a theoretical framework for making optimal curricula in the process of early English language learning, as well as guidelines for practice. Special attention is paid to the importance of education and training of teaching staff in the field of child psychology and pedagogy. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Shin, J.K. & Crandall, J. (2019). Teaching Young Learners English. From Theory to Practice. HEINLE CHANGE Learning. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures and class disscussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Teaching English to Young Learners around the World: An Introduction | pp. 1-21 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Basic Principles of Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) | pp. 23- 64, | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Contextualizing Instruction: Creating ThematicUnits and Lesson Plans | pp. 65-105 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Teaching Listening and Speaking | pp. 107-156 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Teaching Reading and Writing | pp. 157-207 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Storytelling | pp. 209-242 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Assessment | pp. 243-285 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term Exam, Classroom Management | pp.287-323 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Twenty-First-Century Skills in Teaching English | pp. 324-342 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Designing a Technology-Based Thematic Unit | pp. 343-355 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Professional Development | pp. 356-378 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Teacher to Teacher | pp. 379-386 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Issues Around Teaching Children a Foreign Language | pp.241- 246 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Early Foreign Language Learning - Teaching Methods and Techniques | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Globalized World: New Opportunities and New Challenges; Revision and summary | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quizes | 1 | 15 | 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 15 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Assignments | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| Active Tutorials | 2 | 7 | 14 | Home Study | 2 | 11 | 22 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 15 | 2 | 30 | Final Exam Study | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Term Project/Presentation | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/04/2026 | |||||||||