The MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) degree is intended for English to Speakers of Other Languages teachers or those pursuing a TESOL profession. It teaches students how to apply TESOL theory, evaluate their teaching practices, and organize lessons and courses. If students lack at least three months of full-time teaching experience, an additional module is available. In Year 2, students apply their knowledge through an 8-10 month work placement or professional experience program. Graduates of this degree have the required communication and intercultural skills to operate as competent TESOL practitioners.
University of Portsmouth
MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience)
Entry Requirements
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent.
- Initial teacher training and a minimum of three months full-time, relevant, teaching experience.
- If you do not have relevant teaching experience, you can still apply for our campus programme, and you will study an additional non-credit bearing module The Classroom Practice of TESOL at no additional cost.Â
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.5.
Career Prospects
English is a global language, and second language learners outnumber native speakers. To offer high-quality instruction, teachers must have expert training in both theoretical and classroom elements. This Master's program provides an internationally recognized qualification, 8-10 months of professional experience, and linguistics and teaching theory to give you a competitive advantage. Graduates can advance to positions such as Director of Studies, Senior Teacher, and Senior Lecturer of English as a Foreign Language. The course also includes career planning, professional coaching, and ongoing assistance for up to five years after graduation. Students can benefit from networking events, CV and cover letter advice, interview preparation, workshops, recruitment events, and business assistance.
Course Details
This Master's degree program is designed for international students, who may be juggling work or family responsibilities. The program consists of two years, one year at the university and 8-10 months of professional experience. In the first year, students will participate in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, and workshops for 9 hours a week. The rest of the time will be dedicated to independent study, such as research, reading, coursework, and project work.
During the second year, students will work on their professional experience module, which will involve 35-40 hours a week, 7 hours of seminars/tutorials, and work on their assessment. Teaching methods include seminars, workshops, one-to-one and group tutorials, and academic skills development workshops. Assessments will be conducted through written assessments and dissertations, with students having the opportunity to test their skills and knowledge informally before submitting them for final marks. Feedback on practice and formal assessments will be provided to help students improve in the future.
Modules (Year 1)
Core modules
Second Language Acquisition - 30 credits
Theory and Practice of TESOL - 30 credits
Optional modules
Dissertation Project - 60 credits
Analysing Discourse - 30 credits
Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching - 30 credits
World Englishes - 30 credits
The English Language Teaching Project - 30 credits
Analysing, Evaluating and Writing Materials - 30 credits
Professional Portfolio - 30 credits
Using Language Corpora for Teaching and Research - 30 credits
Modules (Year 2)
Professional Experience - 120 credits
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