MA in TESOL

There is a demand throughout the world for graduates with qualifications and expertise in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Our MA in TESOL is designed for students who are intending to have a career in English teaching. It will also be of interest to those who are already teachers of English and would like to increase their professional expertise by advancing their analytical knowledge of English and up-to-date teaching methods.

You will gain in-depth knowledge of the structure of language at different levels of analysis and the relationship between language and use. You will develop a critical understanding of how English is learnt, taught and tested so that you can make informed decisions with regard to policy and practice in your TESOL career.

You will explore also the theories of learning a second language and look critically at the nature of discourse as the central feature of human interaction. You will also gain a solid foundation in approaches such as conversation analysis and pragmatics; narrative analysis; critical discourse analysis and genre analysis.

We offer pathways for students with various levels of experience and qualification:

• If you are quite new to TESOL, you will take Practice in TESOL, which focuses on key-teaching skills and carefully guided peer-teaching practice.
• If you have CELTA or equivalent and a relevant teaching position or voluntary placement, you can take the Portfolio in TESOL module, which supports the development of teaching practice in your professional context.
• If you have DELTA or equivalent, you will be exempted from 60 credits, allowing you to strengthen your knowledge of learning, teaching and testing while completing the MA in one year of part-time study.

You will also be trained in a wide range of research methods and undertake a dissertation in an area that is of particular interest to you and helps you to further your career goals. This element of the course also provides you with a strong foundation for further doctoral-level study. You will become a member of the Centre for Research in English Language and Linguistics (CRELL), a thriving forum for researchers with a wide range of interests in linguistics, applied linguistics and sociolinguistics.