There is an increasing demand for teachers of English worldwide, and the sector is no longer dominated by native English speaking teachers. The MA in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching programme is aimed at students with little or no teaching experience, who want to improve their understanding of linguistics as applied to English Language teaching.
This programme will enable you to join the English language teaching community around the world in higher education, in private language schools and colleges, and, with an appropriate teaching qualification (dependent upon the regulations of the country in which you wish to teach), you may also be able teach in state schools.
On this MA programme, you will learn the basic methods and theories of language teaching and language learning, which will provide a base from which you can then specialise in a number of areas according to your interests: optional modules allow you to specialise in curriculum design and materials evaluation, to focus on educational technologies and software, to explore the teaching of English in professional and academic contexts, or, for those with a non-language undergraduate degree, to work on some of the fundamentals of English language, grammar and vocabulary.
- You will be encouraged to reflect on language learning strategies, in a real context, by becoming a learner yourself: as part of the programme, you are required to learn a foreign language for one semester.
- You will be provided with opportunities to observe experienced English language teachers teaching in real classroom situations, and to reflect on best practice.
- You will receive a thorough grounding in the theoretical aspects of language teaching and learning.
- You will have opportunities to apply these theories by micro-teaching in a peer based environment.
You will have many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular events both in the College and in London; this includes a series of guest lectures from English Language Teaching professionals, the Language Centre Reading Group, and participation in BALEAP (the Global forum for professionals involved in English for Academic Purposes).
- You will obtain a University of London degree from a prestigious Russell Group institution, recognised internationally as a guarantee of quality.
- All your lecturers in this programme are also practitioner teachers and therefore you will benefit from the most up-to-date expertise in English language teaching.
- You will profit from London's international English-speaking environment to perfect your own language skills and to interact with students and staff in an exciting multicultural environment.
Multimedia Language Resource Centre
You will have access to the Language Learning Centre, which has three computerised multimedia language learning laboratories. Each is equipped with Televic AVIDA net Tenjin systems, satellite TV at every workstation and Smart board interactive whiteboards. The Centre also has two mini labs equipped with similar systems, which are ideal for small group tutorial work and intensive practice. This hi-tech teaching facility is here to support you in your language teaching and learning and also provides a multimedia self access centre where you can pursue your own learning goals.
Students have free access to the superb collections of the University of London Library at Senate House. The many other specialist libraries of the institution, such as the libraries of the British Film Institute, the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes or the social sciences library at the LSE, provide additional breadth. The vast resources of the British Library are close at hand, while London's cultural resources facilitate research in our specialist fields.
Graduate students can also attend interdisciplinary training workshops offered throughout the year by the Faculty, on such topics as writing journal articles, research ethics, preparing for an academic career, enterprise skills, and knowledge transfer.
Approaches and Methods in English Language Teaching
Second Language Acquisition
MA Dissertation
Curriculum Design and Materials Evaluation
Description of Language
Technology in Language Education: Theory and Practice
Teaching English in Professional and Academic Settings (TEPAS)
Students choose two optional modules and may also be offered a number of carefully chosen MA Linguistics options.
Students who graduate with this degree will be able to join the community of English language teachers around the world in higher education, in private language schools and colleges, and, with an appropriate teaching qualification (dependent upon the regulations of the country in which you wish to teach), you may also be able teach in state schools. In addition to teaching, students will also be able to develop more specialist careers in syllabus design, education technology, and consultancy.
This degree also prepares students to continue to doctoral study if they so wish.
Upon completing this programme, graduates can choose to pursue a wide variety of research in the broad areas of:
- Second language acquisition
- English Language Teaching
- Second language teaching methodology
- Teaching English for special purposes (academic, business, law, aviation, etc)
- Curriculum design
- Syllabus development and planning
- Educational technology
We provide academic and professional development for English language practitioners looking to advance their careers in teaching.
You will gain practical classroom experience on the course through teaching in Leeds, teaching in your own workplace and/or through lesson observations. You will develop your ability to creative multimedia resources and teaching materials through hands-on activities. There will be the opportunity to pursue a specialism, such as English as a second or other language, teaching English for Academic Purposes, teaching English to young learners, teacher training or English language teaching management.
We currently offer two routes of study:
Route One (Delta route) This route is designed for experienced English language teachers with a high level of English, this route provides professional training and development with the option to enter for the widely recognised Cambridge Delta qualification. If you already have the Delta or an equivalent qualification, you will be able to top-up to a masters by starting in semester two.
Route two Designed for the less experienced English language teacher who wants to gain a prestigious academic qualification in order to further their career, this route will enable you to gain insights into best practice through observing lessons either in person or on video, and you will reflect on your observations to develop an awareness of the principles and practice related to English language teaching.
Learning will take place through seminars, small group and individual tutorials, as well as independent learning. The course will include practical classroom experience and hands-on development of multi-media resources for English language teaching.
Assessment
The assessments on the course aim to reflect real-life tasks for English language teaching professionals and include practical assignments such as developing resources, writing journal articles, giving conference presentations, reflecting on practice and analysing texts or language. The dissertation module involves a practical or research project related to English language teaching with a report or rationale. Route 1/Delta students will also complete the Cambridge ESOL assessments for Delta modules 1-3.
Research Excellence Framework 2014
Research Excellence Framework 2014: twice as many of our staff - 220 - were entered into the research assessment for 2014 compared to the number entered in 2008.
You will have the skills and experience to be a more effective English language teacher, gain a promotion to a managerial position or enter a range of teaching-related careers, such as the writing and publishing of teaching materials and resources. You could also choose to further your studies and obtain a PhD in a related area.
The Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA is for experienced teachers wanting to learn more about current ELT/ESL research, theory, pedagogy and practice.
The study course offers you an excellent opportunity to further your career in TEFL/TESOL and develop expertise in specialist fields such as language assessment and testing, materials development, teaching EAP, management and evaluation and ESOL.
Please note that we also offer an alternative version of the Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA, in conjunction with International House London. That route involves a slightly different programme of study and leads to the award of the Cambridge DELTA, as well as the MA itself
The Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA course offers you opportunities to explore current research and specialist areas such as teacher education, materials development, teaching English for academic purposes, management and evaluation in ELT and intercultural studies.
You will study required modules covering language-teaching methodology and curriculum design, linguistic analysis for language teaching, issues in language acquisition and use (sociolinguistics, social and psychological aspects of second language learning) and research methods. We also place emphasis on the view of informed teaching and the need for teachers to mediate between theory and practice in constructing pedagogies according to specific teaching-learning situations.
If you are studying full-time, you will complete the 180-195 credit course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your course will take two years to complete. If you have the Cambridge ESOL DELTA or Trinity House Diploma in ELT, you may be eligible for the ‘fast track’ version of the course which will give you exemption from Principles and Practices in Second/Foreign Language Teaching. The fast track option can only be studied part-time. As students on this pathway are exempt from a module, they will not take any taught modules in one of the terms (normally Term 1 of Year 2). They may, however, be working on their dissertation during this time.
For experienced language teachers who want to reflect upon and further develop their understanding of the various theoretical and practical issues that impact on the field of language learning and teaching.
Teaching
You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. The total contact time for each 30-credit taught module is typically 40 hours (20 hours per 15 credit module). These sessions will include lectures, teacher-led and student-led group discussions based on the main areas of study, in addition to other practical, technical and analytical activities. Each 30-credit taught module has 260 hours of self-guided learning time (130 hours for a 15 credit taught module). Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
For the dissertation module, you will receive six hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision. Lectures involving research methods will involve an additional 20 hours of contact time, to complement the 574 hours of self-study.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of essays, language analysis tasks, exams and oral presentations. Most optional modules are assessed by a 3,500-word essay. The dissertation will be assessed by one 15,000-word extended piece of writing. The format of your optional module assessment will depend on the options chosen.
Many of our graduates from the Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching MA course choose to remain in further education and go on to follow MPhil/PhD pathways.
This unique programme bridges the gap between linguistic theory and language teaching practice to enable you to develop a career in language teaching or research.
Whether you’re already a teacher or you plan to become one, this degree offers you a deeper understanding of how language is structured, used and interpreted and how this can inform language teaching. Core modules will introduce you to key topics in linguistics such as syntax, phonetics and phonology, as well as teaching methodologies and how they are applied. You’ll also improve your knowledge of research methods in language sciences.
To enhance your knowledge, you’ll choose from optional modules to suit your career plans or interests, on topics such as language acquisition or sociolinguistics. With support from expert tutors within the Language at Leeds research network, you’ll gain valuable skills and a sound knowledge base to prepare you for further research or to inform your teaching practice.
Specialist resources
Leeds is a fantastic place to study linguistics and phonetics. Our tutors and research students are active members of the wider Language at Leeds network which brings together researchers from across the University. You’ll be able to enhance your learning with an array of research events throughout the year.
Postgraduates also have access to our extensive facilities, including the Human Communications Suite complete with a recording studio and lab space for psycholinguistics experiments. You can make use of our phonetics lab and the Language Zone, a state-of-the-art space where you can use a range of language-based teaching materials whenever you want.
This is an academic programme which approaches English language teaching from the perspective of linguistics, and it is therefore not intended for those who are seeking vocational teacher training or classroom experience.
This programme is also available to study part-time over 24 months.
Core modules in your first semester will give you a good grounding in key topics and approaches in linguistics, introducing you to syntax, phonetics, phonology and language acquisition. You’ll also develop the skills you need to study linguistics effectively.
In the following semester you’ll build on this foundation, improving your linguistic research skills while learning about language teaching methodologies and practices. You’ll also choose from optional modules to focus on topics that interest you, such as pragmatics and language development.
Throughout this programme you’ll develop sophisticated research and analytical skills, as well as a wealth of subject knowledge and teaching techniques. You’ll demonstrate this in your dissertation, where you’ll independently research a topic of your choice and submit the finished product by the end of the programme in September.
If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
We use diverse teaching and learning methods to help you benefit from our tutors’ expertise. They include seminars, lectures, online learning, tutorials and practicals. Independent study is also a vital element of the course. You’re also encouraged to sit in on classes in modules that you’re not taking, which gives you a great opportunity to gain a broad base of knowledge in linguistics and phonetics.
Depending on the modules you choose, assessment methods will vary. However, they usually include coursework , essays and practicals, while core linguistics modules also include exams.
This programme will equip you with a deeper understanding of human communication and how language is taught and learned. It will also give you high-level research and analysis skills that are valued in all kinds of industries and organisations.
Graduates have pursued a wide range of careers in fields such as language teaching, preparing language teaching materials, lexicography, editing work, the media, marketing and journalism. Many others have pursued PhD level study in fields such as applied linguistics and education.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
We provide academic and professional development for experienced English language teachers who are looking to advance their careers within the profession. Successful completion offers automatic entry on to semester two of our MA English Language Teaching (MA ELT).
You will refine your expertise with feedback from experienced tutors following lesson observations, and you will enhance your understanding of language and methodology by taking part in workshops, through reading and research, and by planning and teaching lessons and courses.
Taught by highly qualified and experienced teacher trainers, this prestigious qualification for English language teachers also confers TEFL-Qualified status as defined by the British Council accreditation scheme.
1. Observed teaching practice with feedback from tutors.
2. High level input to advance your knowledge and understanding of aspects such as language, methodology, language acquisition.
3. An extended project focused on a specialist area such as ESOL, English for Academic Purposes, Teaching English to Young Learners or Content and Language Integrated Learning.
4. The opportunity to be entered for the Cambridge Delta qualification and gain TEFL-Qualified status.
Learning will take place through seminars, small group and individual tutorials, as well as independent learning. The course will include an assessed teaching practice component.
Assessment
The assessments on the course are developmental tasks for English language teaching professionals and include a portfolio of tasks, an oral presentation, teaching practice and a reflective journal. Students who are entered for the Delta qualification will also take additional parallel assessments.
Research Excellence Framework 2014
Research Excellence Framework 2014: twice as many of our staff - 220 - were entered into the research assessment for 2014 compared to the number entered in 2008.
On successful completion of this course, you will be well-placed to secure a promotion to a managerial or senior teacher role. You could also pursue a career writing teaching materials or seek out opportunities as a teacher trainer.
The MLitt in English Language Teaching is designed to be useful to both experienced English language teachers as well as those considering a career in English language teaching.
In the first semester, the foundations of applied linguistics, language acquisition theory and English language teaching in current global contexts are studied and then developed through teaching-specific modules and applied to classroom observations and practice during the second semester.
You will take seven taught modules over the first two semesters of the programme. Classes are delivered through a mixture of lectures and seminars.
You will spend the summer months focusing on researching and writing a final dissertation of no more than 15,000 words.
Further particulars regarding curriculum development.
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2017–2018 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2018 entry.
Teachers from all over the world can take this part-time (two and half years duration), five semester Masters degree programme, which is studied entirely online. Developed and delivered collaboratively by the University of Southampton and the British Council, it offers postgraduate level study in key areas of current theory and practice in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching.
Enhance your teaching capabilities as an excellent teacher of the English Language with the MA English Language Teaching: Online degree, delivered by the University of Southampton. This online masters degree offers key modules through online learning, allowing you to develop your skills with a range of interactive media such as podcasts and video clips. Over the course of 2 and a half years, this part-time masters course can teach you all the teaching aspects needed such as language analysis to become an inspiring English Language teacher.
It provides you with postgraduate level study in a number of important areas of current theory and practice in applied linguistics and language teaching and provides a focused route for English language teaching professionals who wish to develop advanced knowledge and skills in English language curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. It will give you the opportunity to reflect on your professional experience and update your theoretical and pedagogical knowledge in a flexible and well-supported learning environment.
Watch a presentation introducing and demonstrating the online MA in ELT
Listen to a successful graduate talking about his experience on the online MA in ELT
Get a taste of what studying this MA would be like with our free online course 'Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching'.
If you would like to try out some of the learning activities from two of the modules go to the 'Learning and Assessment' section of this webpage.
View the programme specification document for this course
The MA English Language Teaching (ELT) is a post experience programme which provides English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from the UK and overseas with the opportunity to reflect on their professional experience, develop a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of English language teaching and gain the skills and competences required for leadership roles in ELT.
Provide people all over the world with the ability to speak and communicate fluently in English and start building the foundation towards a rewarding and exciting career with a Masters course in English Language Teaching (ELT) at the University of Southampton. This MA degree provided by the University of Southampton can give you the tools needed to teach English effectively, through current issues in language teaching methodology to the critical appraisal of language teaching.
The programme is offered by the Centre for Applied Language Research. Staff contributing to the programme are involved in the direct teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and other languages, research and development work in applied linguistics and language learning, as well as sociolinguistics and cultural studies. This blend of theoretical expertise and ongoing practical experience is one of the distinguishing features of our programme.
View the programme specification document for this course
The MA TESOL is suitable for all with a bachelor degree who wish to pursue TESOL as a new career or enhance their current prospects in the field of English language teaching, or working in a related profession.
The MA TESOL will develop your critical understanding of recent developments in TESOL theory and practice. It also prepares 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 (ELT), a major branch of applied linguistics, who have international reputations in their own area of research, and who are committed to providing the best quality study experience. The course is co-taught with highly experienced colleagues in the Centre for English Language Education, one of the largest English language teaching operations in the world.
Advantages of studying the MA TESOL at the University of Nottingham
The programme will help you:
Core Modules
*Core Modules are compulsory for all taking the 12-month full-time or 24-month part-time courses
Elective Modules
*There are Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma exit points.
Each 20-credit module is assessed by a written assignment of 4,000 words (or equivalent). To complete the Masters programme successfully, a pass of 50 must be achieved on each assignment. For award of the MA, you must also complete a 60-credit dissertation (12,000-15,000 words) on an approved topic.
Graduates may pursue TESOL as a new career or enhance their current prospects in the field of English language teaching. In China, a postgraduate qualification in TESOL is increasingly sought- after by educational institutions. The programme will also equip those interested in pursuing an academic career in the field of English language teaching and applied linguistics by preparing them to conduct research at EdD and PhD level.
Our Careers Development Service will work with you to explore your options, invite you to attend recruitment events where you can meet potential employers, as well as suggesting further development opportunities, such as relevant work experience placements and skills workshops.
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