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TESOL
School of English,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Course description
Study theoretical approaches to TESOL in the research environment of an academic department and put these into practice in our English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC).
Through this unique combination of theory and practice, you'll develop awareness of the theoretical principles underpinning TESOL practice and be equipped with the practical skills to work in diverse international educational contexts.
This degree is ideal for:
- People with little or no English language teaching experience who are interested in pursuing a career in the field
- People with up to two years of English language teaching experience who wish to develop their careers by deepening their knowledge and skills in TESOL
- Those interested in applied linguistic and language teaching research and/or classroom-based practitioner research
You'll focus on key areas of learning and teaching second languages, including language teaching methodology, teaching skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and systems (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse), materials selection and use, classroom pedagogy and reflective practice.
As part of the course you'll have the opportunity to do either a traditional research-based dissertation or complete a professional portfolio. You can also do six hours of assessed teaching practice, leading to professional recognition in the field of English language teaching.
The MA TESOL is one of three linguistics MAs offered in the School of English.
- If you're interested in learning more about the professional and research applications of linguistic theory and are seeking to build on your experience as a language professional then you may be interested in our MA Applied Linguistics course.
- If you're seeking to deepen your knowledge of language and linguistic theory and looking for rigorous training in linguistic research applicable to a range of fields including social, historical, theoretical, and literary linguistics, then you may be interested in our MA Language and Linguistics.
Accreditation
The English Language Teaching Centre is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. The ELTC is also an accredited Cambridge English Language Assessment test centre providing students on this course with the option of taking the Teaching Knowledge Test qualification.
Modules
Core modules:
- Language Teaching Methodology
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This unit reviews the principles, thinking and history underlying contemporary language teaching practices. It explores what we know of the processes involved in language production and reception in a second language and the implications for teaching the language skills. It also reviews and assesses developments in the teaching of grammar and vocabulary of a foreign language. Among other issues explored are the role of feedback, task-based approaches and the impact of language learning theory on teaching.
15 credits - Teaching Practice 1
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This Module aims to provide you with an opportunity to develop practical TESOL skills and to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge of English Language Teaching applied in the classroom. There is an expectation that you will reflect on your current practices in TESOL, develop your range of classroom procedures and techniques, and apply existing knowledge of approaches and methods. You will have to evidence your teaching skills linked to TESOL theory. Students can gain an optional Cambridge Assessment Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) Modules 1, 2 and/or 3 qualifications.
15 credits
Module Aims
-apply skills and knowledge in real classroom situations
-plan lessons effectively and with principles
-extend learning and teaching approaches and techniques experientially
-use classroom resources with underpinning justifications
-promote the use of reflective practice
-relate Applied Linguistics theory to TESOL practice - Teaching Listening and Speaking
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This module will familiarise students with the theory and practice of how to teach listening and speaking in TESOL contexts. It is intended to equip the students with theoretical knowledge and skills concerning the techniques, models and strategies to teach listening and speaking in a second language. In addition, the module aims at developing students' ability to select the most appropriate approach to teaching listening and speaking in defined contexts and to adapt instruction according to the second language learners' needs.
15 credits - Teaching Practice 2
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This Module aims to provide you with an opportunity to develop practical TESOL skills and to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge of English Language Teaching applied in the classroom. There is an expectation that you will reflect on your current practices in TESOL, develop your range of classroom procedures and techniques, and apply existing knowledge of approaches and methods. You will have to evidence your teaching skills linked to TESOL theory. Students can gain an optional Cambridge Assessment Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) Modules 1, 2 and/or 3 qualifications.
15 credits
Module Aims
-apply skills and knowledge in real classroom situations
-plan lessons effectively and with principles
-extend learning and teaching approaches and techniques experientially use classroom resources with underpinning justifications
-promote the use of reflective practice
-relate Applied Linguistics theory to TESOL practice - Teaching Reading and Writing
-
This module will familiarise students with the theory and practice of how to teach reading and writing in TESOL contexts. Questions covered in the module may include:
15 credits
Teaching Reading:
What approaches are there to teaching second language reading in the classroom?
How can we develop learners' intensive reading abilities?
How can we develop learners' extensive reading abilities?
How can reading be assessed?
How do popular TESOL textbooks teach reading?
Teaching Writing:
What approaches are there to teaching second language writing in the classroom?
How can writing be corrected?
Does correcting writing work?
How can writing be assessed?
How do popular TESOL textbooks teach writing?
Teaching Reading and Writing:
How can we integrate reading and writing assessment?
There will be practice in designing and assessing reading activities; and practice in correcting and assessing writing. - Teaching Vocabulary, Grammar, and Discourse
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This module introduces students to some of the principal concepts and descriptive categories which are central to the teaching of English vocabulary, grammar, and discourse. Taking a predominantly functional approach to language description, students will be familiarised with some of the key ways in which the lexico-grammar functions as a resource for creating meaning in use, and the implications for teaching the language systems with a functional and communicative purpose. Working practically with authentic spoken and written language data and language teaching materials, the module will encourage students to reflect on their prior experiences as learners and, where appropriate, teachers of English.
15 credits - Materials and Course Design
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This module will familiarise you with the theory and practice of TESOL course design and language teaching We will look at different scholarly approaches to the design of language teaching curricula, materials, and tests, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, and their usefulness in various TESOL situations in diverse secondary and tertiary education contexts. The module will include practice in designing language courses and language teaching materials. The module therefore will provide you with an essential theoretical and practical foundation to design TESOL language courses and teaching materials, and to critically assess existing examples of each and their appropriateness in various learning contexts.
15 credits
Optional modules:
(EGH409) Practitioner Research and Development is a pre-requisite for (EGH413) Professional Portfolio.
(EGH411) Research dissertation practice is a pre-requisite for (EGH459) Dissertation.
- Practitioner Research and Development
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This module aims to provide you with English language teacher skills and knowledge in the areas of practitioner research methods and techniques and theories and frameworks for teacher professional development. There is an expectation that you will engage in reflective practice on your own teaching and learning experiences through engagement with current practice and literature. You will have to evidence your knowledge through critical analysis of a range of approaches to research and development skills that will aid your future teaching profession and help you plan for your educational career.
15 credits
Final research project:
- Professional Portfolio
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This module aims to consolidate and deepen the work carried out in the core modules and provide opportunities for research and practice into agreed specialist areas of TESOL.
60 credits
There is an expectation that you will complete a comprehensive professional literature review in the chosen area(s) and link this to the subsequent final teaching observations. You will have to evidence your application of your teacher research skills and development plans in your background essays and teaching practice.
Successful completion of the module (along with the prerequisite modules) will allow for professional recognition as TEFLi qualified (Certificate-level ELT qualification equivalent) from criteria from the British Council and Accreditation UK.
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
Find out what makes us special at our next online open day on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
Teaching
You’ll be taught by a dedicated and enthusiastic team of teachers. Our internationally recognised research feeds straight into our teaching, with students sometimes taking a hands-on role in our research activities.
The staff are leading figures in their fields, in many cases having written the books and papers you will be studying: Kook-Hee Gil (Second Language Acquisition), Nigel Harwood (TESOL Materials), Jane Mulderrig (Critical Discourse Analysis), Valerie Hobbs (English for Specific Purposes), Beth Melia-Leigh (Teacher Education) and Beatriz González Fernández (Vocabulary).
You’ll spend about eight hours a week in lectures, seminars and workshops, and there are chances to take part in classroom-based research projects.
Assessment
Assessment depends on the module, but includes essay assignments and classroom coursework tasks.
Your career
Our graduates develop TESOL practitioner professional skills and valuable teaching experience and go on to advanced careers in TESOL all over the world. They also work in business, publishing, translation and interpreting.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in linguistics, English language and/or literature, or a modern language.
We can also accept a related subject, such as education or psychology if you have experience of language teaching.
You should demonstrate experience of, or a strong interest in, language teaching as part of your application.
Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
english.admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0220
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.