Using Team Teaching to Teach English for Academic Purposes in Large Classes: A Case for Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Abstract

English Language Teaching (ELT) in English medium tertiary institutions of the world today takes different dimensions and focuses. There are also numerous challenges of teaching and learning English Language in the English medium tertiary institutions. One of the challenges is large class sizes especially in the developing countries. This paper has examined the use of team teaching as a means of enhancing teaching and learning of English for academic purposes in large classes. The study has revealed that there are different models of team teaching that could be utilized to enhance teaching and learning of EAP in large classes. Team teaching is a teaching strategy that harnesses different teachers’ knowledge and teaching skills to enhance learning. The paper has suggested how to utilize team teaching models to enhance the teaching of EAP in large classes. It pointed out how differentiated split class model can be used to teach EAP in large class by splitting a class according to programme of studies which determine the needs of the learners instead of teaching General English.