MA in Applied Linguistics (TESOL)

Issues In Second Language Acquisitions

This unit provides you with an opportunity to deepen your understanding of issues in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and English Language Teaching (TESOL) and to link your understanding of the practice of TESOL with theoretical issues in second language acquisition research. The unit also acts as preparation for your dissertation research.

Materials Development For Language Teaching And Learning

This unit provides the opportunity to put into practice more theoretical issues related to language teaching and learning covered in other units.

This unit aims to enable you to:

• enhance your in depth-knowledge and develop your experience in evaluating, adapting, and creating L2 Materials for various purposes (e.g. language teaching and learning development, classroom practice, research);
• develop your experience and employability as an ELT language teacher or manager, an L2 materials developer as well as a researcher in applied linguistics;
• develop your insight into theoretical and practical issues related to ELT through the process of Materials development;
• gain a better, critical understanding of language teaching and learning issues through the development of different stages in L2 materials;
• enhance your professional experience through self-reflection on achievement and staff development needs;
• apply your understanding of theoretical issues and research to the practice of materials development and through reflection on your progress.

The Language System And Language Teaching

This unit helps language teachers to develop a strong understanding of the language systems, i.e. phonology, grammar, and lexis, and their application to language teaching and learning, hence the fact that such systems operate within a context.

Language teachers are aware of the influence context and situation exert on the ways language is used, therefore they need to develop ways of presenting the sounds, words, and grammar that make up these language systems in meaningful contexts using a range of methodologies and teaching materials.

More specifically this unit aims to enable you to:

• develop your understanding of the phonology, morphology, and grammar of English, and demonstrate how these ‘language systems’ might be taught and assessed in the classroom;
• develop a critical understanding of what makes for effective classroom materials;
• develop a critical understanding of the uses of needs and error analysis, and obtain substantial experience carrying out a needs and error analysis of a particular teaching and learning context;
• develop a critical understanding of the production and delivery of a lesson plan, stating objectives, and evaluating its potential effectiveness in a localized, context-driven approach

Teaching Practice

The MA in Applied Linguistics (TESOL) is designed to develop both an understanding of the theoretical issues relating to language teaching and the practical skills needed by the language teacher. This unit, therefore, aims primarily at developing your experience of the language teaching and learning process and language classroom practice.

This unit represents an excellent opportunity to enrich your language teaching experience, prepare lesson materials for classroom use, teach and observe classes, and reflect on the practical aspects of ESOL/ELT work. This unit is, in this sense, essential to provide an element of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to your curriculum.

The intention is that the development of teaching skills in this unit will facilitate an understanding of the more theoretical parts of the course, just as the theory informs the practical skill development.

Exploring Research: Concepts And Methods

This unit acts as a foundation for postgraduate study as it deals with methodological issues relating to ethical research in the social sciences.

This unit provides the background knowledge and skills needed for students to design a small-scale research project; analyze different types of data; and write up the findings. It refers particularly to issues surrounding data collection within the fields of international business, intercultural communication, international relations, linguistics, and language teaching.

The teaching team is made up of very experienced lecturers and researchers whose expertise lies in the areas of ELT and language teaching and learning in general.

The unit aims are:

• To introduce students to different research strategies and methods;
• To enable students to plan and conduct a small research project effectively;
• To demonstrate the importance of certain generic, vocational skills such as good time management, meeting time deadlines, and communicating clearly;
• To introduce you to important issues related to conducting research in the social sciences and certain ethical issues in research;
• To gain in-depth knowledge and a critical, deeper understanding of ways of collecting and analyzing original and secondary data.

The Methodology Of Language Teaching

This unit is a core element of the course as it relates to more practical issues related to English Language Teaching.
This unit aims to enable you to:

• develop your knowledge and insight into the principles, theories, and practice of different language teaching and learning methodologies;
• enhance your critical understanding and appreciation of a wide range of language teaching methods, approaches, and techniques for Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research;
• develop your experience of the process of reviewing language teaching and learning materials to demonstrate your knowledge of language teaching methodology principles and their possible practical applications;
• develop your creativity, innovative ideas, and personal initiative in language teaching.

Dissertation In Applied Linguistics And Elt

A vital aim of your postgraduate course is to enable students to successfully carry out a major piece of research by using their knowledge and skills independently. The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to do this and represents the culmination of their studies.

The main task is to carry out a significant piece of original research related to your area of study and interests about Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching and Learning.

Dissertation supervision is assigned by the course coordinator, taking into account your chosen area of research. This is done according to the various areas of expertise and research of the teaching team and other members of the academic staff.

How will you be assessed?

The purpose of assessment is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge and skills at a given point. The outcomes are as important to the provider as it is to the student. To provide accurate global readings therefore the course takes an incremental and varied approach to the assessment of the course content culminating in the dissertation. This is a substantial piece of original research on an aspect of Applied Linguistics TESOL but whose precise focus is determined by each student and according to their anticipated career plans. Here the ability to plan execute and evaluate independent research is assessed and represents the apex of a student's postgraduate studies. To complement and lead up to the dissertation there are different types of assessment on the course each designed to relate to the content and the cumulative body of knowledge upon which the research plans of the dissertation are based. The types of assessment include essays and reports in-class tests conducted under examination conditions practical tasks (eg questionnaire design test item construction) case studies assignments and presentations. The assessment methods have been selected to support the pedagogical development of research skills and subject knowledge and to satisfy individual unit and global course learning outcomes. The details of each assignment task are provided in the unit handbooks and individual Unit Information Forms. The overall assessment map is available in the course handbook. Each point of assessment provides opportunities for valuable feedback from teachers but also from peers to enable students to review and improve their work.

1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the Language systems of English: Phonology, Grammar, and Lexis
2. Critically evaluate and develop materials for specific language teaching and learning contexts
3. Demonstrate critical and in-depth understanding of the language teaching and learning contexts and the approaches and methods involved also in relation to different specific language aspects
4. Demonstrate enhanced lesson planning and teaching skills, particularly in designing, justifying, delivering, and critically evaluating your lesson plans for language teaching and learning purposes
5. Demonstrate insight and critical understanding of research literature, analyzing data from a variety of sources for research management purposes about a specific area relevant to your studies
6. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate aspects of research design
7. Demonstrate an ability to conduct original research in at least one area relevant to language teaching and learning and Applied Linguistics in general

On successful completion you achieve Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Q status meeting British Council standards and meaning you are qualified to teach EFL in the UK and internationally.

The course could also be a route to progression for developers of educational materials; assessment and examination/test paper writers; and researchers in applied linguistics.

A considerable number of our graduates have gone on to follow a PhD project with our staff and with the Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA) and some are currently employed by the University as visiting lecturers in EFL.

Graduates of this course have shown themselves to be highly competent and professional in whatever they have gone on to do.