Teaching sociolinguistics

[Dannyplooy]

Hi, my name is Danny Plooy, and I am looking for some advice on how to teach sociolinguistics in a general secondary education classroom.
If you have any experience with teaching sociolinguistics, or incorporating it into general basic speaking lessons (A2 CEFR-level) then please let me know. Any and all input is welcome and will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[jutfrank]

You teach sociolinguistics at secondary school level over there in Holland? To A2 level kids? Wow.

What exactly is it that you want them to learn? Don't you have a syllabus?

[Tdol]

Do you want to look at the cultural norms, etc, of English, or your students' society?

[Dannyplooy]

We don't actually use a syllabus, it is mostly based on exam reform. The students will be tested on their ability to use the correct language for different situations. They need to be made aware of their language use when speaking to a superior (a boss or department head) and a colleague. But also when dealing with customers for instance.

[Piscean]

It seems to me that you are making them aware of register rather than teaching a course in sociolinguistics.

[jutfrank]

The students will be tested on their ability to use the correct language for different situations.

Yes, good. That should be par for any language course.

They need to be made aware of their language use when speaking to a superior (a boss or department head) and a colleague. But also when dealing with customers for instance.

Yes, absolutely. This is all quite normal.

Your aim then isn't to teach them sociolinguistics, but to teach them English. Feel free to ask us for any specific advice about that.

We don't actually use a syllabus, it is mostly based on exam reform.

I don't know what that means. Do you mean that the aim of the course is to help the students pass a certain exam?

[Tdol]

Which exam and which reform?