(Full time) 2023 start
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA
Overview
Designed for TESOL professionals, this programme will deepen your understanding of the foundations of TESOL while advancing your knowledge of key areas.
Led by academics who are experts in this field of study, you’ll explore how languages are learnt and how the English language is most effectively taught. You’ll consider how to analyse and describe the English language and examine different approaches to teaching the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. You’ll also consider the principles behind analysing a learner’s language proficiency and tracking their development.
Developing specialisms in TESOL
This programme allows you to specialise in particular areas of TESOL, depending on your own interests and career aspirations. By selecting from a range of optional modules, you can choose to focus on TESOL specialisms such as:
- the use of ICT in TESOL
- teacher education in TESOL
- TESOL for young learners.
If you’re an experienced TESOL professional looking to apply a more practical, rather than theoretical, approach to your Masters study, you may also be interested in our MEd Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages programme.
If you are not yet a TESOL professional with two years of experience, please see our MA TESOL Studies programme.
Course content
MA TESOL is a comprehensive programme that allows you to develop both academically and professionally.
In semester one, you’ll deepen your understanding of the foundations of TESOL, focusing on how people learn languages, how to describe and explain language to learners, and the various approaches to teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
In semester two, you will expand your knowledge of more specialist areas. You choose from a range of optional modules to suit your own interests and professional contexts, such as developing TESOL materials, teaching young learners or assessing language learning. Alternatively, you could choose modules from other areas of the School’s provision: for example, digital learning, international educational management, or theories of childhood and youth.
In the final part of the year, you will use your newly-acquired knowledge and skills to independently research and write your dissertation. This can be related to your own interests within the field of education. To support your work on your dissertation, you will take a non-assessed research methods module. Help with your academic writing is also available throughout the year.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Learning and Teaching in TESOL 30 credits
- Research Methods and Dissertation in MA TESOL programmes and MA TESOL Studies 60 credits
- Analysing Language 15 credits
- Language Development for TESOL 15 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You will study 30 or 60 credits from the below modules:
- Creative Inquiry, Communication and Learning 30 credits
- Education, Language and Society 30 credits
- Directed Study in Education 1 15 credits
- Advanced Readings in Language Education 1 15 credits
- Advanced Readings in Language Education 2 15 credits
- Technology Enhanced Language Learning 30 credits
- Learning and Teaching Vocabulary 15 credits
- Introducing a Task-Based Curriculum in Classrooms and Systems 15 credits
- Grammar, Learning and Teaching 15 credits
- Teaching Academic English 15 credits
- Corpus Linguistics in the Classroom 15 credits
- Tasks and Materials for TESOL 15 credits
- Current Issues in Second Language Teacher Education 30 credits
- Assessing Language Learning 15 credits
- English Medium Instruction (EMI) 15 credits
- Teaching Languages to Young Learners 30 credits
- Students not studying 60 credits from the above will also study 30 credits from the below modules:
- Directed Study in Education 1 30 credits
- Developmental Disorders II: Attention Deficit Disorder and Autistic Spectrum Disorder 30 credits
Learning and teaching
The Language Education team in the School of Education is nationally and internationally recognised for its range of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and consultancy work in TESOL, ELT, EFL, ESOL, EAL, Modern Foreign Languages, and Applied Linguistics.
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, and online learning.
Independent study is an important aspect of this programme, either alone or in a group, as it allows you to develop key research, analysis and communication skills and develop your own ideas.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We assess most of our modules through written assignments; you will be able to choose from a range of assignment topics. To help you prepare, you’ll be able to submit a draft to your tutor for comment beforehand.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree (hons) with a 2:1 or non-UK equivalent plus two years of relevant experience after graduation. We will consider applicants with alternative qualifications or experience on an individual basis.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Education (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Education (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. You could study a part-time online course starting in January, or a full-time course in summer. Find out more about online pre-sessionals.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
International – Thursday 29 June 2023
UK – Friday 18 August 2023
If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.
This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information we will need include:
Original or certified copies of your transcripts
Original or certified copies of your degree certificate
Original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language)
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2023
Fees
- UK: £10,750 (total)
- International: £22,250 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
The School of Education usually offers a number of scholarships each year. Find out more on the School's scholarships page.
Career opportunities
Our students frequently find that new career opportunities open up for them, either in their home countries or in new international settings. Students who return to their original classrooms often find they have fresh perspectives and their work becomes more rewarding and effective.
Some of our recent graduates have gone on to work in teaching, materials creation, curriculum design, language translation for commercial organisations, and outreach language support for charities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Our graduates have also gone on to start their own private language teaching business or move from school to university teaching.
We encourage students who do particularly well on the programme to consider doctoral level study with a view to an academic career.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.