Curriculum Approaches in Language Teaching: Forward, Central, and Backward Design

1. Curriculum Approaches in Language
Teaching: Forward, Central, and Backward
Design
Jack C. Richards(2013)
By : Mobin Bozorgi
mobinbozorgi@yahoo.com

2. • Input refers to the linguistic content of a course.
• Process(Methodology) refers to how teaching is carried
out, it includes activities, procedures and techniques that are
employed by teachers.
• Output refers to learning outcomes, that is, what learners are
able to do as a result of a period of instruction.
Input / Process /Output
Input: Syllabus
Process: Methodology
Output: Learning outcomes

3. FORWARD DESIGN:

4. CENTRAL DESIGN:
 curriculum development starts with the selection of teaching
activities, techniques and methods rather than with the elaboration
of a detailed language syllabus or specification of learning
outcomes.
 Bruner and Stenhouse argue that curriculum development should
start by identifying the processes of inquiry and deliberation that
drive teaching and learning – processes such as :

5. Process
• learner-
focused
• learning-
oriented
Syllabus
• dynamic
• not
sequential
Evaluation
• improves
teaching
• learning
In Central Design