English Language Teaching

Programme Description

This full-time MA in ELT has been designed specifically with the aim of providing initial teacher education for those wishing to become teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) or English as a second language (ESL).

The programme allows teachers to develop and reflect upon their understanding of the various theoretical and practical issues that impact upon the field of language teaching. It places particular emphasis on the notion of informed and critical teaching and the need for teachers to mediate between theory and practice in constructing pedagogies according to specific teaching-learning contexts.

In line with the most recent approaches in the field, language technology, and particularly corpus-based approaches to the study of language, feature strongly in our modules. A balance is maintained throughout the course between linguistic content, pedagogic content, and teaching-related research.

Objectives

* To equip graduates with a professional qualification in the area of ELT.
* To enable students to acquire the knowledge, range of capabilities, experiences and qualities that are required for the teaching profession.
* To develop students' understanding of the language-learning process and a critical awareness of associated pedagogies.
* To provide students with the necessary skills to carry out research in the area of ELT.
* To afford the opportunity to develop skills in areas of pedagogic practice relevant in contemporary educational systems internationally, for example, new technologies and materials development.

Careers

Students graduating from this course have followed a number of career paths in the past. These include: teaching at various levels (including university), school management, publishing, materials' development, technical writing, adult education and support, further study to PhD level.