51ÊÓƵ

Course description

The Masters in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a rigorous qualification for experienced teachers of English which will build upon your professional knowledge and expertise. The programme has been developed with the professional in mind and offers you many opportunities for career enhancement.

All our Applied Linguistics and TESOL tutors have been professional language teachers with many years of accumulated pedagogic and academic experience around the world. Distance learning students will have the opportunity to join an interactive web-based community of fellow students around the world. The course provides you with the opportunity to undertake research into your particular area of interest, allowing you to develop a particular area of expertise. You will be able to develop your knowledge and skills and will also have the chance to apply these directly to your professional workplace. Most of our distance learning students continue to teach while they study on the programme. Continued contact with your learners during this time offers real advantages, as you can put your knowledge straight into practice.

The programme is based on content-rich online module materials, supported by multimedia and moderated discussion forums enabling you to study wherever or whenever you want. The MA also includes e-tivities (collaborative online activities) which allow you to discuss ideas and issues with peers from a range of backgrounds. Learning with others offers a rich resource which enables you to develop an understanding of educational systems other than your own. It also reduces the potential isolation of studying as a distance learning student.

The MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL provides professional development and training, including:

• A critical understanding of key issues and debates in many areas of applied linguistics and of how these relate to English Language Teaching.
• A body of knowledge that will enhance your ability to undertake language teaching at a range of levels and cultural and institutional contexts.
• The ability to reflect, analyse and critically evaluate language teaching and learning concepts and theories, and to understand and examine the assumptions underlying different classroom practices.
• The ability to analyse language in use from different perspectives relevant to language teaching and learning.
• The skills to undertake effective practitioner research in your specific area of interest.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered online using a range of media, including downloadable resources and interactive forums. Your modules will be assessed through written assignments that are submitted at the end of each module. You will also participate in formative online ‘e-tivities’ throughout each module. Your dissertation will be between 15,000-20,000 words in length.

Careers and employability

Our degrees are highly valued by educational employers and our MA qualifications will help you to raise your profile when seeking to advance your career as a language teaching professional. The field of English Language Teaching is increasingly competitive and many organisations see a Master's level qualification as an essential requirement. An MA from the University of Leicester indicates to employers that you have up-to-date knowledge and have developed critical and transferable skills that will equip you to take on a more senior role in the language teaching programme of any educational institution. Indeed, many of our past MA students have gone on to gain promotion or move into new demanding jobs on completion of the programme.