MA TESOL

Language Teaching Methodology (MALTM)

This module will familiarize you with recent trends in language teaching methodology and their historical antecedents. You will develop an understanding of the main factors which influence language learning, and the implications of these factors for teaching and learning. You will carry out small-scale investigations into classroom practices and write language awareness materials for your own learners. Overall, you will develop a clear, practical view of language for teaching purposes and reflect constructively on your own practice.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (MACLIL)

This module will raise your practical and theoretical awareness of CLIL educational contexts. You will explore key principles in CLIL and their application to teaching practice. You will have opportunities to investigate at least one specified CLIL context, to create CLIL teaching and learning materials and design a CLIL training course with accompanying materials.

Developing Learner Autonomy (MADLA)

This module offers you a wide-ranging view of the philosophical and theoretical roots of autonomous learning, and its various practical applications in language education.

Upon completion, you will have developed your awareness of principles and practice relating to learner autonomy in language education, and will have applied these principles to your own professional context.

Management in Language Education (MAMILE)

This course will give you insights into key components, skills and competencies of effective management in language education. The module has been specifically designed to be practical and relevant for participants from a range of settings and management roles.

Materials Development for Language Education (MAMAT)

This module enables you to make your own contribution to the field of materials development. You will do this by developing your critical awareness of language acquisition and pedagogy at a theoretical and practical level and the criteria for evaluation and adaptation of language learning materials. You will investigate different aspects of materials development and work both independently and in a team to produce a variety of language learning materials, justifying their principles, objectives and procedures.

Teaching Young Learners (MATYL)

This module looks at major theories of young learners’ cognitive, social and emotional development. You will see how theories of mother tongue acquisition inform understanding of how young learners acquire foreign languages. You will look at the relationship between curriculum and classroom, develop a range of teaching, assessment and observation procedures for young learners (6 to 12-year-olds) and consider their effects on teacher/ learner relationships.

You will also look at the principles of language teaching pedagogy for children and the roles of teachers in supporting children’s overall development and understanding and use of language.

Technology Assisted Language Learning (MATALL)

This module will raise your awareness of the possibilities and challenges offered by digital technologies both now and over the next five years. The course aims to equip you with the academic, technical and practical skills to use technology to optimum benefit in your classroom.

Teaching English for Academic Purposes (MATEAP)

This module will familiarise you with principles and practice of current approaches and methods in teaching English for Academic Purposes. You will look at the development of EAP within the wider field of English for Specific Purposes. Needs analysis is a vital component of the course: understanding the range of needs that students have in studying at Higher Education and the key components that may be required in a particular context.

The key principles in EAP course design will be looked at as well as cross-cultural and intercultural issues in EAP. As part of this course you will examine the requirements of the most commonly accepted examinations for entry to tertiary level education and create tools for formative and summative progress assessment.

Testing, Evaluation and Assessment (MATEA)

This module will raise your awareness of key principles in language evaluation. You will look at the full range of formative and summative purposes of testing and assessment in language education and apply them to test design, construction and evaluation, being able to critically evaluate institutional, national and international language examinations. You will create specifically designed tests for relevant institutional contexts and familiarize yourself with new perspectives in testing and assessment. Finally, you will develop pathways into TEA research.

Trainer Development (MATD)

This module will familiarize you with the skills and qualities needed by teacher educators and raise your awareness of different models and practices in the area of Continuing Professional Development. You will evaluate and design your own materials as well as a short, in-service or pre-service training course for a specific context, and look at issues in managing INSETT. The different requirements of pre- and in-service training courses will be examined as well as good practice in classroom observation, supervision and mentoring.

Dissertation (MADISS)

You can start this module at any time. You will develop and apply principled procedures for investigating a specific area of language education and demonstrate expertise in different aspects of your investigation. You will work independently on your investigation project, which will make an original contribution to language education research.