Course overview

Deadline for submission of applications

All applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to secure a place, but full applications should be submitted by:

• 1 August 2012 for September 2012 intake
• 10 December 2012 for February 2013 intake

Any application, full or incomplete, received after these dates will be considered for the following intake.

The MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL by distance learning is a programme offered by the School of Languages and Area Studies, based on the successful classroom-based programme, which has been running for 20 years. The course shares the same philosophy, units of study and teachers as the MA Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), but has been designed as a flexible programme (a part time, distance learning course), to enable you to study at a pace that suits you.

The programme is designed for teachers who teach or intend to teach English as a foreign language and who wish to enhance their understanding of the theory and practice of English as a foreign language. The course has a strong interdisciplinary orientation, particularly emphasising the integration of theoretical and practical studies.

For detailed information, please consult the Pathway Guide.

Special features

• Units of study are delivered at three points in the year: September, February and June, thereby enabling students to progress at their own pace AND to use the summer months beneficially for study purposes.
• The programme is divided into core and optional units. Students with appropriate qualifications and experience may apply for accreditation of prior learning.
• The course team includes expertise in teaching training, in new methodologies such as corpus analysis, the use of technology in language teaching and learning, and new research area such as World Englishes.
• The programme enables you, the student, to pursue particular interests and expertise, not only in the Dissertation but also in the (optional) Independent Learning unit where you will work with a tutor on a subject of your choice.
• The programme is supported online, thereby enabling you to exchange information with other students in your group and your tutor. Where possible, the programme will be further supported by staff visits to appropriate locations abroad, subject to the geographical disposition of students.
• Research methodology has been incorporated into the core units to enable the acquisition of appropriate research methods and methodologies in a progressive way.

The majority of the course team are members of the Language and Linguistics Research Group, which is affiliated to the Centre for European and International Research (CEISR). In the last RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) in 2008 CEISR was rated top in the UK for research in European Studies.

Course content

You will study a combination of core and optional units. Each unit has a credit rating of 15 credits, with the exception of the dissertation, which has a credit rating of 60 credits. The credit system creates a flexible framework in which you can graduate with the following awards depending on the number of credits gained.

MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL

180 credits to include a dissertation, Research Management, all four core units and three optional units.

Diploma in Applied Linguistics and TESOL

120 credits to include four core units

Certificate in Applied Linguistics and TESOL

60 credits to include two core units

Core units include

Principles of applied linguistics

This unit provides an opportunity for familiarisation with Halliday’s functional of semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics to the teaching of English. The focus is on applying the models and linguistic theories to the classroom.

Second language learning

Focusing on features of language learner development, such as variability in language performance and ultimate attainment, this unit investigates the influence of different learning environments, e.g. age, individual learner differences, language input and the learner’s first language. It includes coverage of inter-language pragmatics, language attrition and the relearning of a forgotten language.

Theory and practice of TESOL

Designed to give you an up-to-date understanding of the principles that underpin practice in TESOL, this unit will introduce you to the theories upon which contemporary language learning and teaching practice in TESOL is based, as well as practical teaching ideas for the communicative classroom context. We examine the EFL learner and learner differences and equip you with some basic skills for classroom-focused research.

ELT curriculum design and assessment

This unit focuses on the relationship between curriculum, syllabus, courses and assessment. You will examine curriculum development and change, so developing the skills and knowledge practitioners require for the adoption or development of new syllabuses, courses and assessments, and you will understand the ways of evaluating these. You will also consider ways in which qualitative research underpins studies in these areas.

Research management

An innovative feature of the course is the integration of key aspects of research management into the core units, thereby ensuring that the focus of appropriate methods is on application and that you are acquainted with appropriate research skills progressively.

Dissertation

The dissertation theme is chosen by you and supported by a dissertation tutor or tutors according to the topic area. We will encourage you to start thinking early about possible dissertation topics (initial dissertation proposal) so that when the time comes to focus on the selected topic, you are in a position to take forward the dissertation dynamically (dissertation proposal and dissertation).

Optional units

Language in use

Starting with a discussion of key features of discourse and pragmatics we go on to examine the extent to which language teaching materials develop learner awareness of the issues raised. The teaching of grammar, vocabulary, phonology and the four skills are scrutinised from this perspective, and relevant literature in each area is critically assessed.

World Englishes

The shape of English is changing all the time. The term ‘World Englishes’ has been coined to account for the many new varieties of English which have emerged outside the Anglo-Saxon world during the last century. In this unit you will learn about the development of these Englishes and, in particular, examine their implications for English language teaching and learning worldwide.

Independent learning

In this unit you will be encouraged to analyse, discuss and evaluate in depth an area of Applied Linguistics or English Language Teaching which interests you and which is not otherwise explored or explored in such depth in the cores or options. You will be allocated an appropriate supervisor who will guide you through the planning process and continue to advise you throughout the unit.

Materials development

This unit is aimed at helping students apply theoretical principles of second language acquisition and current research findings to the development of materials for learning and teaching. The unit will be practical in its focus. Students will develop skills to evaluate and adapt existing classroom materials to maximise learner engagement and will produce their own principled materials in a supportive environment.

Technology in language teaching and learning

The Technology in Language Learning unit allows its participants the opportunity to experience the use of technology first hand. It aims to make available both the theoretical knowledge of ICT( information communication technology) and its pedagogical application so that teachers are better placed to make the necessary changes to their teaching in order to exploit the potential ICT offers the language learning classroom.

Please note. All optional units are subject to staff availability and student demand.

Teaching and assessment

You will be provided with course booklets for each unit of the course in hard copy and/or CD format. Learning will be supported by online student discussion boards with tutor input, complemented by individual email discussion with course tutors. Where you are grouped in a particular geographical region, then additional support in the form of intensive face-to-face teaching in situ will be facilitated.

You are required to have access to and to be competent in the operation of the following:

• a computer (PC) and word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Office/Word)
• a web browser (Internet Explorer)
• an internet connection (broadband if possible)

Additional learning materials will be provided in the case of certain units, such as key textbooks or databases (e.g. the British National Corpus). In addition, you will be entitled to open an Athens account with the University Library, which will enable access to electronic books and journals.

Career prospects

Graduates will be able to progress to jobs in higher education in their own country or elsewhere, or continue on to undertake doctoral research in teaching and related fields. Possession of a Master's qualification is often viewed as a requirement for promotion to a more responsible position in either the private or public sectors or to diversify a career into areas such as educational management, materials evaluation and production, teacher education or external assessment.

Facilities and features

Course materials are available online only in the majority of cases. You will be recommended to purchase key texts, but other sources, including books and journals, are  available electronically. There is also a variety of support mechanisms to help you access electronic books and journals. These range from written documents to video  materials, and include support from University library staff. However, we do recommend that you have access to library facilities in your area, where possible.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (DL) are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Languages and Area Studies (SLAS)
Tel: +44(0)23 9284 8299
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk