MA TESOL / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

MA TESOL is designed to help experienced teachers of English to speakers of other languages further their professional knowledge and practice. Interested applicants may wish to follow a specialised pathway in one of the following (which can be applied to as separate courses, rather than as MA TESOL alone):

  • Educational Technology;
  • Intercultural Education;
  • Materials and Course Design;
  • Teacher Education.

The course enables experienced TESOL practitioners to further their careers through obtaining positions of seniority, undertaking new areas of professional activity or contributing to the professional development of other teachers.

Aims

  • Engage in language teacher professional development to further your teaching career.
  • Explore and critically understand your own teaching practice through engagement in theories of language teaching and learning and relate these to appropriate, context-sensitive methodology.
  • Collaborate with experienced teachers from around the world to reflect on your teaching and learning.
  • Develop your knowledge of TESOL-related research and develop your competence in becoming a researcher.
  • Develop advanced professional skills in evaluating and designing language materials and courses; teacher training and development; technology-facilitated learning.

Special features

  • Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
  • Our students come from all over the globe, and our qualifications are recognised across the world.
  • The experience our teachers bring to the MA creates a rich ground for collaborative, professional development.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught by lecturers who themselves have been language teachers (TESOL and other languages) with experience of working in Britain and overseas.

Formal lectures are rare, and instead classes tend to mix sections of input with group-work, computer and video activities, simulations and problem-based learning.

We encourage both individual and co-operative learning and research and hope to foster an ethos of lifelong learning.

We aim to build on the expertise of our students, all of whom are experienced teachers, and who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and practical experience from a wide range of different countries.

Explore more about  teaching and learning at master's level  at The University of Manchester.

Coursework and assessment

All assignments allow you to address an area of contextual relevance and professional interest related to the course you are studying. You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of relevant theory, to use that understanding to reflect on your professional practice, and to demonstrate technical, academic, and professional skills as you develop action. All assignments will be followed by both formative and summative feedback.    

Your dissertation work is conducted after the end of the taught course units in Semester 2. You can choose between an empirical, conceptual or a practical dissertation.

Empirical dissertations report on a research project, conceptual dissertations discuss or develop a conceptual understanding or framework of relevance to your professional development; practical dissertations display your ability to develop a course or materials for a particular professional setting based on needs analysis processes. 

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Beyond Approaches, Methods and Techniques EDUC70021 15 Mandatory
Developing Researcher Competence EDUC70102 30 Mandatory
Language Awareness for TESOL EDUC70151 15 Mandatory
Intro to Educational Video Production EDUC61632 15 Optional
Digital Media and Information Literacy EDUC61712 15 Optional
Blended Learning in a Digital Age EDUC70032 15 Optional
Language Education as Intercultural Practice EDUC70041 15 Optional
Teaching and Learning Online EDUC70050 15 Optional
Principled Materials and Course Design for TESOL EDUC70052 15 Optional
Language Learning and Technology EDUC70061 15 Optional
Psychology of Language Learning EDUC70091 15 Optional
The Education of Language Teachers EDUC70132 15 Optional
Contemporary Issues in Education Leadership EDUC70331 15 Optional
Multimedia Design and Development EDUC70511 15 Optional
Introduction to Sustainability Education EDUC70661 15 Optional
International Development and Education EDUC70891 15 Optional
Intercultural Engagement at Work and in Communities EDUC71232 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 17 course units

Facilities

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which has its own Student Hub. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.

MIE is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

For more information, email  dass@manchester.ac.uk