Overview
| This course is also available as an Extended Master's that helps International students adjust to studying in the UK. |
English teachers are in high demand across the globe. Our MA TESOL is a great choice whether you are a practising professional keen to take your English teaching to a higher level or a graduate looking to begin an exciting career that opens a world of possibilities.
The course is directed towards professional practice. While relevant theories will be presented and discussed, they are there to support you and enable you to make informed decisions in your professional practice. We place great emphasis on what we do as teachers, assessors, teacher trainers, writers, managers or researchers. Whatever your path in TESOL, this course will help you progress.
A strength of our course is its diversity and flexibility. This MA is open to both experienced teachers (the ‘Professional’ route) and to those who are interested in embarking on a career in TESOL (the ‘Fundamentals’ route).
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a profession that could potentially take you around the globe. It can present opportunities for employment either as a member of a team of language teachers in an institution or it can offer the flexibility of being independent and freelance. An MA TESOL demonstrates knowledge and understanding of English language teaching, a familiarity with a range of relevant literature and an ability to research and to present informed discussions and ideas on related subjects.
You will:
- Develop a sophisticated and systematic breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of linguistics in terms of language system and language use and its applications in TESOL.
- Gain a systematic and critical understanding of the relevant applied linguistics knowledge and theory in terms of language acquisition, communication and the social-cultural dimensions of language, as well as their applications in TESOL.
- Demonstrate ability to apply a range of relevant knowledge and theory in applied linguistics to a classroom setting in terms of professional practice where this can offer an insight to language learning and teaching issues.
Evaluate, apply and critique a range of appropriate and ethically-considered methodologies for TESOL research, evaluation and evidence-based practice, demonstrating ability to argue for alternative and creative approaches.
- Carry out a sustained piece of ethical empirical research which successfully applies linguistics knowledge and theory relevant to TESOL, data collection and analysis, which in so doing develops you as a researcher.
- Become autonomous, independent and innovative in scholarship, demonstrating ability to deploy a range of learning resources for research and self-critical writing, take responsibility for personal professional development and engage in academic and professional communication with others.
The teaching staff are very enthusiastic and supportive. Being on the course increased my sense of identity as a professional and allowed me to explore theoretical issues in depth with other practitioners.
Roseanne
Entry requirements
Applicants are expected to have a relevant Honours degree at 2:2 or above.
For the Professional route you will need at least one year's full-time classroom teaching experience.
If English is not your first language you require a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in all other bands or equivalent – or, if your English is not quite at this level, our Pre-sessional programme is available to bring your English up to the level you need. There are some exceptions and if the IELTS requirement differs it will be specified on the course page.
2:2
Honours Degree
Module information
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
The course is for everyone who loves language and is interested in teaching. Much of what you learn about teaching English to speakers of other languages can be applied to teaching other languages. This is particularly useful for those who wish to explore different professional contexts to make a better-informed decision regarding their future career. It is invaluable for those who are already in the profession and wish to further their theoretical and practical knowledge of language teaching and learning and it is also a good starting point for those seeking to enter the profession.
Finally, the course is a stepping-stone for anyone who wants to pursue an academic career, as the work done on this course often serves as a springboard for future research projects.
To gain the MA award you will study a total of six modules and write a dissertation.
This course is available on a full-time basis over one year or a part-time basis over two years.
Full-time:
You study three modules in Trimesters 1 and 2 and write a dissertation in Trimester 3
Part-time
- Year 1: You study two modules in Trimesters 1 and 2 and one module in Trimester 3
- Year 2: You study one module in Trimester 1 and write your dissertation in Trimesters 2 and 3
Modules you study may include
- Investigating Language Systems
- Exploring ELT: Past, Present and Future
- Language Acquisition
- Contemporary Issues in Applied Linguistics
- Research Methods
- Teaching Practice or Practical Project
Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, groupwork, practical work related to teaching, and guided independent study. Input sessions are generally organised to make the most of the variety of backgrounds and learning and teaching contexts that students bring to the programme, and all are encouraged to share experience and insights.
Teaching staff are all widely experienced professionals in the world of ELT, with backgrounds in teaching, teacher training, course design, assessment and ELT management, and a variety of published work and specialist areas of research and interest.
The MA TESOL is a course designed for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). We are lucky that our participants are from all parts of the world. This diversity, not just geographical but also in teaching contexts, experience and expertise, is one of the assets of the course. We all learn from each other, tutors and students alike - and we look forward to your thoughts and contributions as participants.
Diana FreemanCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
Assessment is by coursework: essays, reports, portfolios, oral presentations, supervised teaching practice and the final 15,000-word Dissertation on a topic of your choice in the field of TESOL, with the support and guidance of an individual supervisor.
Your future career
With an MA TESOL, your career prospects are enhanced, with paths into:
- primary, secondary or tertiary school management abroad
- senior, advisory, management and leadership positions, e.g. as Directors of Studies or Academic Directors in local and national English language schools
- work with Departments of Ministries of Education, such as curriculum and syllabus design, materials writing and assessment
- ELT publishing
- teacher training
- testing and writing for examination boards
- academic research
The MA TESOL will strengthen your English language teaching CV. It will boost your pedagogical skills and enhance paths into senior, management & leadership and teacher-training positions.
Diana FreemanCourse Director
Fees
Government loans are available for some postgraduate Master’s courses. Loans are subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.
The rules around course eligibility mean that in some cases it may depend on how you are studying (full-time or part-time) as to whether you can apply for a postgraduate loan. To check whether your course is eligible, you can email the Student Fees Team or call 01227 923 456.
Tuition fees for this course
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time | £9,545 | £15,500 |
| Full-time with Extended Masters | N/A | £15,500 + £3,500 |
20% Alumni Discount
We offer alumni discounts on CCCU Postgraduate Taught, PGCE Primary and Secondary, and Masters by Research courses for eligible students.
Find out if you're eligible for the discount.
Important Information on Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for all courses which last more than one academic year are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
There will be an annual inflationary increase in tuition fees for this course where the course lasts more than one academic year. For further information read the Tuition fee statements and continuing fee information.
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Postgraduate student links
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