Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages - TESOL

Open to those with or without teaching experience, you will study the theory and practice of teaching, from classroom management to syllabus design, and gain the expertise and confidence to teach English in a variety of settings to students from across the globe.

This is the only Masters level TESOL programme in the UK which offers an ERASMUS funded overseas placement. Full-time students spend eight weeks in Hungary teaching in primary or secondary schools, whilst part-time students spend four weeks in Hungary and four weeks in Northern Ireland. This offers an authentic environment to put your learning into practice*.

You will enhance your creativity and learn to adapt your teaching style and approach in order to support a range of learners, with consideration to ethical and cultural differences. Graduates have gained work in private language schools, colleges, universities and schools in the UK, Ireland and many countries world-wide. Others have used their qualification to work for charities in developing countries.

*An alternative Northern Ireland based placement will be organised if the overseas placement cannot take place.

Work placement / Study Abroad
This exciting MA in TESOL includes a teaching practice placement. You can opt to do the placement with one of our Northern Irish partners or overseas, with one of our partner schools in Gyor, Hungary. In Northern Ireland, there are opportunities to work in primary, secondary, further education colleges, private language schools and higher education whilst in Hungary our partner schools offer placements in primary or secondary schools.

TESOL student teachers teach during semester two, normally starting in February and finishing just before the Easter holidays.

There are extra costs involved in going to Hungary, however, you can apply for TURING funding which can help with accommodation and subsistence costs. You teach in Gyor, which is a beautiful central European city located midway between Budapest and Vienna. Our students teach in primary or secondary schools and are supported by Hungarian host teachers and staff of the university who stay in Gyor for that purpose. We need at least eight students to sign up for the teaching practice placement in Hungary in order for it to run. Where students take up the overseas option, there may well be additional funding provided by the University to help towards travel.

The Northern Irish and Hungarian teaching practice modules give an authentic opportunity to teach English to non-native speakers of English.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
English Language Teaching Methodology
This module focuses on the practical tools and strategies needed for creative language teaching. It features a series of lectures and practical exercises which support a programme of peer teaching sessions in which students design and deliver lessons in small groups. Challenges to effective language teaching are explored through critical reflective practice on peer teaching sessions. Additionally, the module prepares students for EDU710, the Teaching Practice module in semester two.

Teaching Practice
This module gives an authentic opportunity to teach English to non-native speakers of English. Students teach pupils of varying English language proficiencies in a range of contexts - primary/post primary/college/university or private language school The key objective of the module is that graduates will enter the employment market fit for purpose - as competitive and competent candidates for posts as English language teachers in high quality language teaching institutions.

Language, Learning and Acquisition
The module develops students' conceptual competences, by giving them a solid theoretical underpinning regarding key English language acquisition/learning concepts. By doing so, it offers an opportunity to apply the theory to their practice and to explore research critically, either as a resource for their own teaching or for their own research. It will offer the opportunity to identify and clarify theories in relation to second language teaching.

Knowledge About Language
This module introduces the students to different theories about English grammar teaching and teaching of English pronunciation as well as diverse means of teaching grammar and pronunciation, including the application of digital technologies in transmitting knowledge about English language in classroom teaching. Students are expected to develop their skills in critically reflecting on their teaching performance and student learning, innovating new techniques in teaching grammar and pronunciation.

Research Methods for TESOL
This module introduces the students to basics of academic writing conventions, including identification and avoidance of plagiarism, appropriate referencing and citing and bibliography compiling. This module also introduces the students to the ways in which technologies are impacting on designing and conducting research. Students are expected to show conceptual and practical skills to draw up a research proposal and produce a series of feasible instrument tools.

Dissertation
This module will allow students to undertake a sustained piece of independent work. Working under supervision, students are guided to prepare a research proposal relevant to the TESOL field, to research a selected issue affecting professional life and to prepare and present a 18,000 word submission for examination.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

A second class honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; and evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

A satisfactory criminal record check from your country of residence.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Attendance

MA full-time: normally 4 days per week in semester one; 3 days per week (6 weeks) plus 8 weeks teaching practice in sem 2; followed by independent study for the dissertation during semester three (summer semester). This can be done at a distance.

MA part-time: Year 1: normally, 2 days per week in semester one, 4 weeks teaching practice semester 2. Year 2: normally, 2 days per week in semester one, and 4 weeks teaching practice in semester two. This is followed by independent study for the dissertation during semester three (summer semester) and during semester one and two of year 3. This can be done at a distance.

Year of entry: 2020/21

Postgraduate Information Session 26 March 2020
Register at: ulster.ac.uk/pg-information-events

Career options
Graduates of this programme have gained work as English language teachers in private language schools, further education colleges, universities and schools in the UK, Ireland and in many countries all over the world. Some have progressed to work in EAL related fields, others to doctoral study whilst others have got jobs as on-line English language teachers or developer of online language teaching resources. Students have gone on to work in teaching related areas: for example, developers of online English language teaching materials; whilst some of the students use their qualification to work for charities abroad in developing countries.