VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HO CHI MINH CITY
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS & LITERATURE
REFLECTION PAPER
COURSE: Materials Development for Language Teaching
1ST SEMESTER - ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025
Student’s full name Huỳnh Nhật Huy
Student ID 2257010255 No.: 2
Class Code 2420NVA101.1L04 CT:CTC
Instructor Mr. Bui Manh Bao (M.A.)
Total Score Examiners
(100%) (signature and full name)
In figures In words
Other comments and suggestions:
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(Content)
Upon finishing the course Materials Development for Language Teaching, I gained a
wealth of knowledge concerning the about developing teaching material, as well as the
many areas where I need to develop in the hope of becoming a better teacher. In the brief
reflective piece ahead, I will discuss the most significant things I've learned, the personal
skills that I need to work on further, and a suggestion that would make the course even
better for students in the future.
To begin with, the course brought to light the basics of good material. I learned that a
lesson text has to be interesting, relevant, and related to the life of the learners. We went
over simple assessment check-lists and practiced in evaluating a well-established course
book unit. Apart from that, I carried out some minor adaptation tasks—like adding a
warm-up picture, rearranging the exercises, or removing a confusing grammar box—
while the feedback from the teacher surprised me with the big difference minor changes
can make.
From these sessions and from my presentations, I recognized some skills that I need to
work on. First, I need to become more creative in selecting texts: I remain in my comfort
zone and select safe topics so that my material becomes predictable at times. Second, I
need to more carefully inspect authenticity. Third, I would like to improve in providing
more direct instructions, as long and vague sentences confuse B1 students and waste
valuable class time.
Although the course is already beneficial in its current form, if we included a short in-
class assignment, then the course would be even more beneficial. If we also went to a
local language center to sit in on one real lesson and then reproduce part of the lesson, we
would see how the principles work with real students and real time constraints. We would
also be forced to work in small groups and receive feedback from the real practicing
instructors themselves, not fellow students.
Materials development has given me a good footing: principles of good lesson plans
design, adaptation , and steps in the path of an English teacher . I will go on to read
sample units, experiment with authentic texts, and become better at every day.
