10Feb
PostgraduateCourse summary
The MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics offers excellent opportunities to develop your career in English language teaching whether you’re an inexperienced teacher, starting out in the field or a more experienced teacher looking to take your skills to a new level. Guided by our English language specialists, you can build a skillset that you can take into primary, secondary and higher education institutions as well as specialist language schools and adult education settings. This flexible MA opens the door to a wider range of career pathways, whether you’re interested in teaching non-native speakers in the UK, applying your learning to curriculum development or teaching English overseas. The course offers a core of theory and practice which is informed by contemporary developments in the TESOL field. It combines innovative classroom practices in areas such as syllabus design and assessment with an understanding of issues such as language structure and research methodology. This approach provides opportunities to test your knowledge of contemporary TESOL theory in a classroom setting and refine your skills as you progress. Optional modules covering a wide range of areas relevant to English language teaching are divided into two pathways, a TESOL pathway and an Applied Linguistics pathway with some shared modules. This allows you to build the course around your interests and career goals. The course culminates in the MA dissertation in which you plan, research and write an independent research project on a related area of interest. Core modules: Language for Teaching examines the phonological, lexical, grammatical and discoursal features of spoken and written language. You will learn to identify the key features, understand concepts, use linguistic terminology and critically evaluate language. You will also develop a deeper understanding of the differences between written and spoken text, and how to predict, identify and explain linguistic errors. Classroom Methods teaches the core theories and methodologies from the field of applied linguistics that underpin the teaching of both skills and language knowledge in second-language classrooms. You will learn to consider the most appropriate approach to use in different teaching contexts and provide a rationale for your decisions. Research Methods supports you in developing an understanding of key research approaches and methods in the fields of TESOL and Applied Linguistics. You will learn to apply and critically evaluate the approaches and methods in your own research. Fundamentals of English Language Teaching introduces core ideas and issues relevant to second language acquisition, syllabus design and methodology. You will learn to critically discuss key issues in English language teaching and to evaluate the merits of various language syllabuses. The Dissertation is an in-depth independent study focusing on an area of language description, pedagogy, acquisition or related area of TESOL and Applied Linguistics studies. The 15,000-word dissertation is the culmination of the MA, bringing together elements of learning from across the course. You then choose four further modules from a wide range of options.
Modules
The optional modules are divided into two pathways, TESOL and Applied Linguistics and have previously included: TESOL pathway: Evaluation and Assessment; Practice of English Language Teaching; ELT Management; ELT Materials Development and Evaluation; English for Specific Purposes; ELT Methodology; Teaching Young Learners; Technology-enhanced Language Learning. Applied Linguistics pathway: Sociolinguistics; Intercultural Communication and Education; Global Englishes; Pragmatics and the Language Classroom; ELT Methodology; ELT Management.
Assessment method
The MA TESOL and Applied Linguistics is delivered via a combination of lectures, seminars, practical sessions and micro-teaching sessions, giving you a solid grounding in both the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. During the first two terms there will be around 12 hours of teaching per week, with delivery methods varying depending on the module. Some modules are more suited to a lecture/seminar approach, with others being more practical in nature. Structured learning sessions are supported by independent learning based around reading, class preparation and assignments. Student engagement is an important element of the course, and you are expected to participate in presentations and micro-teaching sessions throughout the course. Core modules make up one third of the MA, with a further third made up of optional modules. The MA dissertation makes up the final third of the course. This significant piece of independent research brings together the theoretical and practical elements of the course. While this is an independent piece of work, you will attend dissertation sessions (typically 2 hours per fortnight) culminating in a poster conference in the third term and you will be assigned a dissertation supervisor, who you will meet with three or four times during the final term and the summer. The majority of core and optional modules are assessed via written assignments ranging from essays and teaching plans to assessment designs, reflections on teaching practice and presentations. The 15,000-word dissertation makes up one-third of your credits. In comparison to undergraduate study, you will find that a Master’s degree requires an increased level of independent learning.
How to apply
International applicants
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Entry requirements
A good first degree (normally a UK 2:1 or equivalent).
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £6600 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £6600 | Year 1 |
| EU | £13200 | Year 1 |
| International | £13200 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £13200 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Sponsorship information
For further information see the course listing.
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE