BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
University of Essex
Key Information
Campus location
Colchester, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
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Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Introduction
BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
What do you need to know about the English language to teach it? How do you teach English in a variety of different contexts? Do you want to understand more about the types of contexts English Language teachers work in? Do you want to graduate with a professional qualification as well as a degree? Are you interested in starting a career in TEFL and in English Language Teaching in the UK as well as in international contexts?
You explore a broad range of topics that give you a thorough grounding in English language, teaching methodologies as well as practical training in TEFL. You study topics including:
- Second language learning
- Foundations of TEFL
- Language in Society
- Practical training in TEFL methods linguistics and sociolinguistics
- The structure of the English language
In each year it is possible to take a modern foreign language option, if you wish, instead of an English language option.
In your second year, you take three practical TEFL modules where you learn about teaching methodology, receive guided preparation sessions, and engage in teaching practice. Taken together, these modules are worth 60 credits and provide the content required for a TEFL-initiate qualification. On successful completion, you're awarded a stand-alone certificate in TEFL which will help you start your teaching career.
We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021).
If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in an established department, welcome to Essex.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available, please visit the university website for more information.
Curriculum
Year 1
- Sounds
- Understanding Data in Linguistics
- Theory and Practice in English Language Teaching
- Words and Sentences
- Foundations of Sociolinguistics
- Introduction to TEFL Methodology
- Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics
Year 2
- Initial Teaching Practice
- Research methods for language and linguistics
- Language Teaching in Different Contexts
- Multilingualism
- Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics
Final Year
- Project: Linguistics
- Literature and Language Teaching
- Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Studying language and linguistics allows you to develop your research and IT skills by collecting and analysing linguistic data using state-of-the-art technology, and a combination of team-work and independent projects enhances your communication, problem-solving, and management skills.
Graduates of our department have gone on to have careers in a wide variety of fields, including teaching (in the UK and abroad), journalism, branding, advertising, marketing, travel, communications, publishing, speech and occupational therapy, interpreting, translating and media.
For example, one of our department'srecent graduatesis now an Assistant Editor at Scholastic, whilst another teaches English in South Korea. Other graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:
- The British Council
- English in Action
- Cambridge University Press
- Macmillan Publishers
- Cambridge University Press
- Decisive Media Ltd
We also work with the University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
Program delivery
BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL): 3 years
BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) (Including Year Abroad): 4 years
BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)(Including Placement Year): 4 years
- Teaching is arranged to allow freedom in how you organise your learning experience
- Examples of practical work include digitally recording dialect speakers in a small traditional fishing community, or scouring digitised child language databanks
- Other teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations and learning by teaching others