English Language Teaching MA

About the course

This course is aimed at language specialists worldwide, be they native or non-native speakers of English.

It is ideal for those who have some previous experience of ELT research and/or English Language Teaching. The course explores contemporary research issues and a variety of teaching methodologies in ELT, and gives you the opportunity to broaden your understanding of the theoretical and practical issues that ELT teachers and learners face in the classroom. Whilst focusing on research trends and issues, this MA is, first and foremost, practical, offering the opportunity to engage with teaching practice sessions if selected. There are compulsory modules on Applied Linguistics, Research Methods, Trends and Issues in ELT and the Teaching of Receptive and Productive Skills. Four optional modules: Syllabus and Course Design. Phonetics and Phonology, Teaching Practice and Using New Technologies in Language Teaching and you choose two of these modules.

This MA is therefore uniquely relevant to the practical and theoretical considerations of ELT today. It is designed primarily to enhance your potential and future career prospects in English language teaching and further ELT research.

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Key facts

UKPASS code: X14272

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time

Location: Clephan Building

Start date: September 2013

Entry and admission criteria

You should have the equivalent of a UK bachelor’s degree (2:1 minimum) in a relevant subject such as English or Education. We welcome applications from a wide sector and all non-standard applications will be carefully considered.

Applicants whose first language is not English should also have gained an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.

Teaching and assessment

Taught modules will require some preparatory reading and weekly attendance over two terms. Formal classroom contact will normally be one two-hour session per week, per module, and will take the form of a workshop and may require attendance at the university for up to three days a week. The term ‘workshop’ is used rather than lecture or seminar to indicate that the session will be used flexibly by the tutor to include student presentations, small group exercises, screening of film clips, interactive short lectures, plenary discussion or a formal lecture/seminar split.

These sessions may be supported by individual or small group tutorials.

The workshop structure places a clear emphasis on student participation and contribution, and you are expected to undertake extensive preparation for each session – usually taking the form of required reading and secondary research.

As well as the usual essays, you will be required to submit work in the form of lesson plans and rationales, microteaching to peers, presentations as well as leading seminar discussions.

The dissertation (15,000 words) depends much more on one-to-one tutorial contact. Here the emphasis is placed on independent study, and the tutor acts as facilitator to guide and monitor your progress.

Course modules

This course is designed to improve opportunities for teaching English language in a variety of different situations, both in the UK and abroad.

It differs from many other master’s degrees in that it includes a mix of practical and theoretical subjects that will be useful for English language teachers. The modules include Trends and Issues in ELT Methodology, Training of Receptive and Productive Skills, Teaching Phonetics and Phonology (optional choice), Syllabus and Course Design (optional choice), Applied Linguistics and Using New Technologies in Language Teaching (optional choice) and Teaching Practice (optional choice). These modules focus on the application of theoretical knowledge to real life classroom situations.

In consulatation with your tutors, you will be able to choose a dissertation topic, in consultation with the course leader, which speaks to your own interests and allows you to pursue a particular period, genre, author or critical issue in greater depth.

It will also encourage reflection on where ELT is going in the 21st century and make sure you are aware of major theoretical developments in this and related areas. Research training at the appropriate level is provided in the form of the compulsory Research Methods module. The course makes full use of the range of academic expertise within the department, with modules designed to speak to the research interests of staff as well as offering you variety and intellectual challenge.

Academic expertise

All members of the English language department are highly qualified and experienced and bring a truly international dimension to their teaching. Most have lived and taught extensively abroad, in countries such as Japan, China, Germany, Russia, Italy and France.

Research interests include English for business purposes, IT and multimedia in EFL, English for academic purposes, Chinese-English interference. The status of non-native English speaking teachers, and the status of ELT in developing countries. Staff have been guest speakers at conferences throughout the world and deliver on teacher training courses.

The Centre for English Language Learning is accredited by the British Council and is an institutional member of the British Association For Lecturers of Academic English (BALEAP) and the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL). It also has British Council accreditation. David Boydon, Head of Centre, is also a full member of the Institute of Learning and Teaching and external examiner for The University of Swansea. Susan Barwick, module leader, has an MA in TEFL from Reading University and specialises in phonetics and phonology and psycholinguistics. Mary Archer has an MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester and specialises in Sociolinguistics. Jan Martin, programme leader, is a BEC examiner, and a CELTA Teacher Trainer and Module Leader for Trends and Issues. Larry Brown holds a Dip TEFLA and has a particular interest in designing materials and website construction. Dr Keith Scott holds a PhD in French and Steven Bower is a DELTA teacher trainer.

Industry links and professional accreditation

Graduate careers

“Worldwide, there are more English teaching jobs than there are native-speaking teachers to fill them.” teachenglishworldwide.com

There has never been a better time to enhance your career prospects as an ELT expert. This course can provide a gateway to prestigious careers as a teacher at internationally-recognised English language institutions. In addition this is the type of qualification that most universities or other tertiary organisations now require for lecturers of English for academic purposes.

The English Language Teaching MA is unique as it is predominantly practical and will assure prospective employers not only of your theoretical awareness of ELT-related issues and trends but also of your ability and acumen as a teacher of ELT at the highest level.

Other career prospects include:

• Director of studies
• Web-based teacher and designer
• ESP trainer for multinational companies
• Materials and resource designer
• One-to-one tutor
• Course management

Fees and funding

Fees and funding options for 2013/14 entry are still under review and are subject to change.

Full-time UK/EU Postgraduate courses fees £4,200 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* £5,000 International
Postgraduate courses fees £11,700 Part-time Postgraduate courses fees (per year) £2150 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* (per year)
£2500 Continuation UK/EU Fee** £150 Continuation International Fee** £5000

For more information please take a look at our Funding|| section.

* ELQ Student definition - If you are a Home or EU status student and you already have a qualification at or above the level of the programme you wish to study from any country you will be considered as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. In 2008 the UK Government decided to stop funding universities for student in this situation and therefore the following fees will apply £5,000. Students from outside the EU are not affected by the policy.

** A fee that is charged on a periodic basis where Postgraduate or Research students need to extend their registration to complete the course.

Scholarships

Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|

Facilities

The Clephan Building, home to humanities courses, houses generous teaching accommodation equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment, the Student Advice Centre, Academic Guidance Centre and resources rooms with specialist facilities needed to excel. Our dedicated computer centre includes a state-of-the-art media lab with Apple Intel Mac Pro computers, cinema screens and all the latest creative software applications with full technical support. There are computing classrooms and an additional suite of computer workstations which can be pre-booked. Our computer centre reflects both our commitment to providing access to information technology and our determination to develop innovative teaching methods and web-based learning resources.