TESOL and Materials Development MA

• Materials and Course DesignYou will explore the factors involved in the design of language courses and teaching materials, reflecting on one possible process of course design. You will start with an analysis of the context in which the course will take place, the needs of the learners, and current theories of language and language learning. You will move on to consider how course content can be selected and ordered in a principled way, how assessment relates to course design, and how and when courses should be evaluated. Finally, you will consider the evaluation, adaptation and creation of course materials. The face-to-face seminars will be a combination of teacher input, student input and discussion, both in groups and whole class. Students taking part in distance delivery will work in a small group with support from the tutor by means of the Virtual Learning Environment, with progress monitored through formative tasks. The assessment will be in the form of a portfolio and will give you the opportunity to consider what particular syllabus might be relevant to your own current or future teaching context. The elements of the portfolio will relate to particular units of the module, and the portfolio can therefore be progressively built up as the course proceeds.
• Selection and Evaluation of Instructional MaterialsThis module will provide you with a systematic approach to the selection and evaluation processes of instructional materials. You will analyse and discuss various criteria in materials selection and principles in materials evaluation. All these theoretical aspects will be supported with a generous collection of tasks, worksheets and checklists from different teaching contexts. The practical component of this module seeks to first combine theory, research and classroom practice, and second to encourage you as a future teacher and materials developer to actively and critically promote materials selection and evaluation. You will also learn how the successful implementation of the two processes greatly contributes to effective teaching and learning in the classroom. You will be assessed through an oral presentation and a 4,000 word report.
• Classroom Theory and PracticeYou will examine current research on modern classroom operations, exploring key concepts and issues through relevant professional and academic literature. A more practical element will be realised through live and filmed observation of teachers in practice. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your teaching and learning experience, and analyse and discuss your beliefs and attitudes towards learning and teaching. You will be taught through weekly seminars, offered in the early evenings to accommodate those who are in part- or full-time employment. The seminars will be staff-led, but you will be expected to participate by preparing material for presentation and discussion in class. Outside of the seminar, you will also observe teachers in practice. If you are a taking the distant learning delivery, you will work in a small group via the Virtual Learning Environment with support from the tutor and your progress will be monitored through formative tasks. Your assessment will take the form of an extended written assignment and a report to be submitted at the end of the module.
• The Process of Materials WritingYou will familiarise yourself with the theoretical and practical aspects of the process of materials writing. This will enable you to make principled and creative decisions, and ensure that the instructional materials you develop reflect upon what research reveals about the development of communicative competence. You will engage in the creative process of designing original instructional materials for different teaching contexts, applying various principled approaches to materials writing for ESP, EAP, EYL and the like. To complete this module, you will submit a portfolio of 6,000 words, in which you will include original material designed for a specific course and teaching context. Creativity will be expected and highly valued in your materials.
• Major ProjectThis module will support you in the preparation and submission of a Masters dissertation, allowing you to explore in-depth a particular topic that reflects your academic interest.

You’ll show your progress through a combination of essays, presentations, observation reports, projects and portfolios. For the Major Project at the end of the course, you’ll produce a critical review of relevant literature, a collection of original teaching materials and a reflection on your professional practice/development.