This programme for professionals already involved in, or interested in learning about TESOL teacher education, introduces you to current thinking about what language teachers need to know and how they can be helped to learn it.
You’ll explore how people learn languages and discover the strategies language teachers use to develop the key skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. You’ll build on this foundation through specialist modules, and examine the goals and processes of teacher education and how to support TESOL teachers’ learning.
You’ll also choose from a wide range of optional modules such as the use of technology in language learning, materials development and issues surrounding assessment.
Taught by leading researchers and experienced practitioners in TESOL, you’ll benefit from a wide range of resources and support. You’ll gain valuable skills to support and empower TESOL professionals in their own practice.
Research insight
The Language Education team in the School of Education is one of the largest such teams in the UK.
Our members have experience of teaching, teacher education and consultancy work in TESOL, ELT, EFL, ESOL, EAL, Modern Foreign Languages, and Applied Linguistics in many contexts in the UK and around the world, and are nationally and internationally recognised as researchers.
You’ll deepen your understanding of TESOL in semester one. You’ll focus on how people learn languages, how to describe and explain language to learners and the approaches you can take to teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
You’ll then focus on aspects of teacher education in semester two. You will consider the goals and processes of teacher education, ideas about training, development and mentoring, the role of the teacher as a researcher, and the principles underpinning the design and implementation of training programmes for TESOL teachers.
In addition, you’ll choose from a range of optional modules on topics such as the use of technology in language learning, grammar and vocabulary teaching, and issues surrounding the assessment of language learning.
You’ll use the knowledge and skills you develop to carry out a small-scale piece of research related to your own interests within teacher education. To help you develop the necessary research skills for this module, you’ll also take the module Research Methods for TESOL, but this will not be assessed as part of the course.
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
You’ll generally have around eight to ten hours of classes per week including seminars, tutorials and lectures. However, independent study is an important aspect of this programme, either alone or in a group, as it allows you to develop key research, analysis and communication skills and develop your own ideas.
Most of our modules are assessed through written assignments, from which you’ll often be able to choose from a range of topics. To help you prepare, you’ll be able to submit a draft to your tutor for comment beforehand.
MA TESOL Teacher Education graduates have gone on to take up positions as pre and in-service English language teacher educators within universities or local educational administrations in various parts of the world.
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.
This dynamic and exciting programme offers a fantastic opportunity to enhance your critical thinking an analytical skills whilst developing an enquiring, reflective and innovative approach to contemporary educational and professional practice.
It is suitable for a wide range of individuals from health and social care settings who wish to gain qualified teacher status.
The programme will enable you to pass on to your students the values required in modern healthcare, and within the NHS Constitution, including: compassion, kindness, empathy, advocacy, good communication and teamwork skills, and respect for patients’ privacy, dignity and individuality.
All students are initially registered for five years. The programme is part-time. On successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate Education for Professional Practice programme NMC registered practitioners may apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for recognition of their Qualified Teacher Status and be recorded on their Registration record.
The programme is in line with the NMC Standards for Learning and Teaching in Practice (2008).
Example module listing
This pathway is open to individuals from health care environments who wish to extend their knowledge, skills and develop their understanding through critical thinking and analysis.
For nurses and midwives, this forms part of the NMC standards for Supporting Learning and Assessing in Practice (Stage 4 - Teacher).
On completion of the three core modules, plus the requisite 360 teaching hours, the nurse or midwife can record this study as meeting the standards for the qualified teacher and therefore register the qualification with the NMC.
The ethos of the programme is based on an individual’s developmental learning journey and, as such, commences at the initial applicant enquiry.
It is at this stage that an informal discussion will take place possibly with the administrator, module leader and/or the Director of Studies (DOS) to offer information regarding the modules/programmes whether it is Mentorship, Practice Teacher or Qualified Teacher.
Through this enquiry, a general discussion takes place that will assist the individual to make an informed decision as to the right journey of learning based on their learning needs, taking into account previous study and the requirements for their professional role in learning and teaching.
A nurse or midwife could apply for AP(E)L for up to 100 per cent against the Mentorship programme and the Practice Teacher qualification if appropriate study has been successfully completed.
This process takes place rarely but the mechanism is still in place. Each application for AP(E)L is considered on an individual basis by the AP(E)L committee using the University’s standard AP(E)L procedures.
The Mentorship module can be accessed by a variety of health care professionals who have a responsibility to support learning in practice and forms part of the NMC standards for Supporting Learning and Assessment in Practice (Mentor).
A nurse or midwife wishing to undertake this module will be required to have one year’s post-qualification experience prior to attending. In preparation for this module, you would be encouraged to engage in the Associate Mentor preparation provision, which will be offered within NHS Trusts, led by Trust personnel with educational responsibilities.
The Mentorship module is a generic module (offered at FHEQ Level 6 and FHEQ Level 7) and forms part of the NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice (stage 2 – Mentor).
It assists participants to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills through exploration, enquiry and reflexivity, aiming to develop and enhance effective assessment and facilitation skills.
Students will have an opportunity to explore learning and teaching strategies relevant to practice; assessment and evaluation in the context of giving feedback, measuring achievements, competence and quality.
The exciting challenge is to contextualise these areas for each student to ensure that the learning experience is meaningful.
Those who show an aptitude for learning, teaching and supporting learners or a keen interest in this area will be actively encouraged to progress on to further study.
The Practice Teacher NMC qualification can be accessed by individuals on the NMC register. This pathway includes Supporting Education in Practice, and the Practice Module for the Practice Teacher.
Both modules are offered at FHEQ level 7. Pre-requisite study for this qualification is Mentorship FHEQ Level 6 or FHEQ Level 7.
This qualification forms part of the NMC standards for Supporting Learning and Assessment in Practice (Stage 3 – Practice Teacher), which offers preparation for Primary Care nurses who are supporting learners undertaking Specialist Community Public Health nursing qualifications and Specialist Practice qualifications.
Throughout the Practice Teacher programme, Practice Teacher students are supported by a qualified Practice Teacher to assist in developing skills associated with supporting specialist practice students.
Undertaking the Supporting Education in Practice module gives the opportunity for the student Practice Teachers to consider and critically evaluate links between theory and practice, and to explore strategies relevant for the facilitation and support of learning within the workplace.
The Practice Module for the Practice Teacher is an effective strategy to test and extend your skills in supporting specialist practice students throughout their specialist practice programme.
Opportunities are given to actively be involved in formative and summative assessments whilst being supported by a qualified Practice Teacher.
On successful completion of the Supporting Education in Practice module and the Practice Module for the Practice Teacher, the nurse can record this study as meeting the NMC standards for the Practice Teacher Qualification and be annotated on the local register of Practice Teachers which is held and maintained within their Trust.
Education Leads within the Trusts are sent information as to who has been successful in achieving this qualification.
Once the Practice Teacher qualification has been completed individuals are actively encouraged to continue with their postgraduate studies by undertaking the remaining modules associated with the Postgraduate Certificate.
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