TESOL
The School of Education TESOL team is one of the largest groups of its kind in the UK and our established MA programmes are constantly evolving thanks to our thriving research community and the many different interests and specialisms of our staff.
All our staff have worked abroad and have experience of many different countries and contexts, which helps us to provide exceptional academic and pastoral support for our many international students. We are also experienced in research into the teaching and learning of Adult ESOL in the UK. Members of the team have been involved in numerous ESOL-related projects, and we supervise a growing number of PhD students working in this area.
A course in TESOL is an excellent opportunity for professional development. Many participants find it revitalizes their careers, either by inspiring positive change in their current role or by opening up new and exciting opportunities.
We offer a range of TESOL courses;
- MA TESOL
- MA TESOL Studies
- MA TESOL and ICT
- MA TESOL for Young Learners
- MA TESOL Teacher Education
- EdD or PhD in TESOL
All our MA programmes are available full- or part-time, and as a Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma or MEd (subject to individual circumstances). We also offer the following TESOL programmes abroad;
Short Courses
The TESOL group at the School of Education are also able to offer the following short courses;
- Developing Practice in Teaching English to Young Learners
- Issues and Methods in the Study of Language Teacher Cognition
- Bringing TESOL Curriculum Change into the Classroom
- Teachers Becoming Teachers of Teachers
- Researching Language Teaching
- Better Ways to Teach the Listening Skill in L2 Classrooms
- Motivating Language Learners; The Best of Contemporary Theory and Practice
The courses are available to groups of various sizes - please contact Elizabeth Lister for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does TESOL mean? Is it different from ELT or TEFL?
A. There are many different acronyms associated with English Language Teaching (ELT), for example TEFL and TESL, which are the two most commonly used. TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) usually refers to the teaching of English to people in non-English-speaking countries, and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) to the teaching of English to non-native speakers in English-speaking countries. The reason we use the term TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is because our courses are designed for students wishing to develop their knowledge and skills in both EFL and ESL contexts.
Q. I don't have any teaching experience but want to learn more about TESOL - is there a course for me?
A. Yes - the MA TESOL Studies is open to people with little or no teaching experience. However it is not a formal teaching qualification - in order to go into teaching you would have to qualify separately, for example by taking the PGCE.
Q. I've already done an MA but am interested in doing a TESOL course here. Is there a course for me?
A. Yes. You can do any of our MA courses as an MEd (Masters of Education). The only difference between an MA and an MEd lies in the Critical Study - to achieve an MEd you would have to focus specifically on an educational topic.
Last updated by Carolyn Garlick on 9th May 2007