Programme summary for MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

About the programme

This programme aims to provide suitably qualified graduates who have little or no experience of English language teaching with an opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the field of TESOL at both the theoretical and practical levels. The programme combines existing modules from the MA in English Language Teaching (ELT), thereby allowing you to work alongside more experienced teachers, with specific modules aimed at those wishing to enter the TESOL profession and which address classroom interaction, lesson planning, lesson delivery and language teaching methodology.

Programme structure

The MA TESOL consists of four modules with a strong focus on classroom practice and a dissertation module which includes an introduction to research methods.

The programme is designed to be flexible and students may opt to begin in September or February. The MA is full-time over one year, although some students may wish to study part-time – in which case modules may be spread over six years in consultation with the programme leader.

Students who have accumulated 60 credits by completing two modules may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate, and students who have accumulated 120 credits by completing four modules may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma. The MA is awarded to students who have accumulated 180 credits by completing all four modules and the dissertation.

Career opportunities

The programme will enhance the promotion prospects of professionals, either within their local teaching environment or beyond. You may also consider continuing your professional development through a PhD or professional doctorate studies.

Support

The programme leader and the ELC teachers aims to maintain close contact with MA TESOL students.

All students will be allocated a personal tutor who will provide general guidance in supporting and monitoring students’ academic progress. Students will be introduced to their personal tutor at the beginning of the programme and will be encouraged to contact their tutor thereafter as the need arises. On personal matters affecting academic performance e.g. illness, family difficulties affecting studies, etc. students will be referred to their personal tutor.

In the final semester of the programme, the dissertation supervisor will also provide further academic support.

The Student Handbook also aims to make students aware of ways in which they can help themselves and support each other e.g. by meeting informally to discuss problems they may be having. In this way it is hoped that students can help motivate and encourage one another as they progress through the programme.

Students are provided with guidance on appropriate academic conventions, bibliography, and referencing via UELPlus – the name given to UEL’s virtual learning environment. Students also have access to the Student Handbook and Module Guides. For non-academic matters they can contact the programme administrator who will advise them accordingly.

Admission

Application form and references
A first degree or equivalent in the Social Sciences or Humanities (e.g. Languages, English, Education, Psychology, etc.)

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (with no component lower than 6) (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.