M.A. (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages, TESOL)

Course Overview

This course is suitable if you are currently or looking to teach English to speakers of other languages, keen to build on your existing knowledge and experience, seeking to improve your career prospects or interested in researching your own teaching practices/context.

It will prepare you to conduct independent research into teaching and learning and provides a pathway to doctoral study. You will meet expert tutors in the field of English language teaching, a major branch of applied linguistics, who have many years' experience teaching at this level and who are committed to providing the best quality study experience.

Our teaching is informed by leading research and we offer optional modules which reflect the latest in applied linguistics and language teacher education. You will learn in a modern, high-tech learning environment with a lively, multi-cultural social experience.

We offer a range of support including interactive, collaborative teaching methods, individual tutorials, opportunities to pursue your professional and research interests, access to extensive study materials and free support for developing proficiency in academic English.

Course structure

The taught element of this course is made up of four 30-credit modules, plus a 60-credit dissertation.

To be awarded a MA TESOL, you need to complete and pass four modules (two core and two elective) plus a dissertation. 

Assessment

Each 30-credit module is assessed by a 6,000-word written assignment. To complete the masters, you must achieve a pass of 50 on each assignment.

The 15,000-word dissertation is an original piece of work and should be related to one of the selected modules on an approved topic.

Curriculum

Core modules

Language Teaching: Methodology and Curriculum

The module focuses on topics which have been the subject of recent discussion and research in the field of foreign and second language teaching. These include:

• a historical review of language teaching methods and approaches
• content vs process syllabus design in language teaching
• humanism in language teaching
• Communicative Language Teaching and Task Based Learning
• areas of applied linguistics particularly relevant to teaching of productive skills, especially sociolinguistics and pragmatics
• areas of applied linguistics particularly relevant to the teaching of receptive skills, especially psycholinguistics

You will be expected to read, understand and engage critically with the research presented on these topics.

Understanding Language Learning and the Language Learner

The module focuses on key areas in Applied Linguistics relating to Second Language Acquisition (SLA), and explores them from the perspective of both language learners and teachers. These include:

• 'the good language learner'
• a historical overview of theories of SLA (key insights from applied linguistic research)
• recent applied linguistic developments in the theorisation of SLA as a dynamic complex system and social process
• implications of first language acquisition for SLA
• variability and individual differences in SLA (gender, age, aptitude, motivation, attitudes and beliefs, cognitive styles, strategies, autonomy and self-regulation)
• the role of grammar, vocabulary and phonology instruction in second language learning
• trends in applied linguistic research into SLA including the broadening of the field, greater exploitation of computerised samples of language, the growing stature of classroom-based investigation

You will be expected to read, understand and engage critically with the research presented on these topics. 

Elective modules

MA students are to complete TWO elective modules.

• One compulsory elective module: Practice-based Inquiry
• One elective module: Assessment in Language Education OR Material and Technology in Language Education 

Practice-based Inquiry

Refer to the module description offered by MA Educational Leadership and Management.  


Assessment in Language Education 

This module will look at:

• purposes of assessment
• types of assessment
• communicative assessment
• assessing the '4 Skills'
• case studies of key international exams
• current issues in language assessment 

Material and Technology in Language Education

This module will look at:

• the role of learning/teaching materials and resources
• types and models of evaluation of materials and resources
• the relationship between methodology and materials/resources
• models of Technology Enhanced Langue Learning
• mobile langue learning
• computer mediated communication
• the implications of materials and technology for teacher education 

Meet the tutor

Programme coordinator: Professor Ganakumaran Subramaniam  

You can view the 2020 course timetable and note this is subject to change.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements

A relevant second class honours degree (or international equivalent). Relevant experience may be required for some of the programmes.

Non-UK qualifications will be assessed against this standard.

Malaysians applying as a matured student without the standard entry requirements but with substantial and relevant work experience (and have successfully passed APEL’s assessment through Malaysian Qualifications Agency) may be considered for an entry at the Postgraduate Certificate Level. Admission is at the discretion of the School.

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element)

TOEFL (iBT): 87 (minimum 20 in Speaking and 19 in all other elements)

PTE (Academic): 62 (with no less than 55 in each element)

MUET: Band 4

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old and all IELTS must be the academic version of the test. MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results.