MA / Diploma / TESOL

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

This programme is designed for practising English language teachers who wish to upgrade their professional qualifications to Diploma and/or MA level. Since the programme began in the 1980's, many teachers from all over the world have successfully obtained their MA and are now working as teachers, trainers, managers and academics in Britain and overseas.

The programme is aimed at teachers with a first degree, a good level of English, and teaching experience.

"Coming here has changed my whole idea of teaching English!'" José, Ecuador

Why should you choose this course?

This Diploma / MA is distinctive in these ways:

  • It has a clear and continued focus on classroom practice, which means that theory is drawn from and related to actual classroom teaching
  • It offers a number of practical modules which include a full-time four week teaching practice, and other practical modules designed to improve your abilities to observe classes, prepare materials, teach different language skills and aspects of grammar and vocabulary.
  • It also equips you to take up professional roles in teacher training, management, course design, testing, ICT, and language education research - all are covered in different modules.
  • It has a lively international atmosphere. Recent students have come from Britain, Japan, Greece, Taiwan, Korea, Germany, Spain, Libya, Hong Kong, Argentina, Mexico, Italy and other countries.
  • It allows very flexible modes of study, including part-time and full-time.

When you finish, you should have a solid theoretical and practical grounding in all aspects of principle and practice of English Language Teaching.

Programme Description

The Postgraduate Diploma / MA TESOL programme consists of eight modules, divided normally into three stages

Stage 1:

Comprises the following 2 modules:

  • 1. ELT Methodology and Classroom Research
  • 2. Language Systems and Appropriate Pedagogy

Modules 1 and 2 form a core of knowledge about language and language teaching methodology which underpin the following modules.

Stage 2:

Comprises the following modules:

  • 3. Second language learning and research
  • 4. Language in Use
  • 5. One Elective half module, chosen from these following (which are offered if enough students choose them):

Cultural Issues in Language Learning and TeachingInformation and Communications Technology in ELT

Young Learners

Teacher Education

Materials and Task Design and Evaluation

Language and Literature

Language in School Curriculum Contexts

Advanced Language System

Teaching the Language System

Individual Study

  • 6. Course Design and Testing (half module)

  • 7. Teaching Practice/ Practical Project

  • 8. Dissertation

Stage 3: MA in TESOL

Comprises one additional module: a 12,000-word dissertation.

Programme Timetable

The TESOL programme may be studied either Full-time or Part-time. In the full-time mode, the programme can be completed in a minimum of twelve months in the following way:

 

Stage 1: The Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL

  • 1. ELT  Methodology and Classroom Research
  • 2. Language Systems and Appropriate Pedagogy

Term 1: Sept. 22nd to December, 2010.

Stage 2: The Postgraduate Diploma in TESOL

  • 3. Second language learning and research

  • 4. Language in Use

Term 2: January to April

  • 5. Elective half module
  • 6. Course Design and Testing (half module)
  • Teaching practice or Practical project

Term 3: April to June

Stage 3: MA TESOL

Minimum 3 months and maximum of 6 months, begun within 3 years of completing the Diploma

Dissertation of 12000 words



Part-time programme

In the Part-time mode, Stages 1 and 2 are completed over 6 terms (21 months). The MA stage can then completed in the student's own time up to a limit of 18 months. The part-time mode is organised so that the students can join with the full-time students on Wednesday afternoons.

The Part-time programme normally runs on Wednesday afternoons and evenings (from 2.00 to 7.30) each week throughout term time.

Assessment

The TESOL programme is examined through a system of continuous assessment whereby each module is assessed separately on the basis of written assignments, oral presentations or practical work. The most common form of assignment is a 2000-word piece of written work.

Teaching Practice and Practical Project

For Teaching practice, students can often be attached to a local language school for a four-week teaching placement. Alternatively, for part-time students who are locally employed as TEFL teachers, Teaching Practice may be done at their normal place of work at a time convenient to all parties. For practical reasons it is not always possible to assign overseas students to Teaching Practice in a language school, as many language schools will only take on native speakers of English. Such students, as well as those students who choose not to do Teaching Practice, the Practical Project module is taken instead.

Electives

The Elective module will normally be offered from the list above. An Elective module may also take the form of a 5000-word supervised non-taught studies in an area of interest.

For more details, please contact: Programme Director: Dr. Pam| Aboshiha

OR
The International Office,
Canterbury Christ Church University,
Canterbury CT1 1QU
England.
Tel ++ 1227 458459
Fax ++ 1227 781558