MA English Language Teaching (Distance Learning)

Program Overview

This Master's programme is the only one in London with an exclusive focus on 'teaching' encompassing the areas of TESOL and TEFL - as opposed to applied linguistics and is aimed at practising teachers as a form of continuing professional development.

Please note that the course is not a teaching qualification but an academic award which not only enhances job opportunities but also enables graduates to pursue further studies at a doctoral level. However, if you do not have enough classroom experience and want to become a qualified teacher of English as you study the MA, we offer a module (Teaching Practicum) leading to CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). At UEL, the certificate can be obtained in only 12 weeks.*

Upon completion, our graduates normally apart from following a PhD route, also become teacher trainers, consultants and advisors in the areas of English Language teaching and education, publishers, and school managers, among other high-stake posts.

Speaking our native language comes naturally. Acquiring a second language is a much more complex undertaking that a skilled teacher can make easier. This fascinating course will give you a deeper understanding of the field of English language teaching in the UK and in a global context. It addresses the language systems of English, as well as reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. You will also examine second-language acquisition theories and the impact that these have on English language teaching pedagogy.

You will explore the implications of the global spread of English, the rise of 'new Englishes' around the world and the political and cultural dimensions of teaching English as an international language.

Ultimately, the course will open up exciting and stimulating career opportunities, both nationally and internationally, as a teacher of English or as someone who will shape the future of English language teaching.

Program Outline

The course consists of four modules and a dissertation, which includes research methods training.

It is informed by a variety of areas within the field of applied linguistics, ranging from a description of English to an examination of how a language is acquired.

For instance, in the Second Language Acquisition module, you will learn about the developmental stages of language acquisition and how learning a second language when the brain has matured differs from learning your first language during the various stages of childhood.

In the ELT and its Contexts module, emphasis is placed on the sensitivity to local culture and beliefs and how they inform your teaching.

For example, how do you avoid coming across as patronising? And how can you incorporate an inter-language stage such as Indian English or Malaysian English into the teaching process so that your learners do not feel alienated by a language that belongs to a different culture and tradition?

Through study and active data collection, you will also become familiar with the principles and practice of action research.

Teaching on the course is carried out exclusively by distance learning, supported by online group discussion and independent study.

There will be an introductory tutorial on the uses of WebCT two weeks before the course begins and you will receive an introduction to distance learning.

Because we want you to develop a sense of community with your fellow students on the course, we have devised a series of online ice-breaker activities to help you become familiar with each other as well as the nature of online research.

You will study one module per term. Each module consists of reading material and a series of self-check and interactive tasks in which you discuss the issues raised in the light of your own teaching context and educational background.

As a distance learning student, you are required to study between 12 and 15 hours a week. You will be in communication with and supported by the module tutors through email, Skype or Moodle (our virtual learning environment), which you will also use to submit your coursework.

Additionally, you will be able to access our state-of-the-art library and online resources to support your learning and professional development, just as if you were studying on campus.

Due to the practical nature of the course, there are no examinations. Assessment is by a 14,000-word dissertation and written assignments for each module (either one of 5,000 words or two of 2,500 words each). Assignments vary in form and may include essays, book or article reviews, the creation and evaluation of pedagogic materials and small-scale action research projects. Research methods training is an integral part of the dissertation and forms part of the overall assessment.