Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for Young Learners

In semester one you’ll deepen your understanding of the foundations of TESOL – you’ll focus on how people learn languages, how to describe and explain language to learners and the approaches you can take to teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

You’ll then expand your knowledge in Semester Two in more specialist areas. You’ll take a further core module that focuses on the theory and practice of teaching foreign languages to children aged 5-12 – including theories of children’s language learning, activities, key skills, story and theme-based courses, designing tasks and materials and appropriate ways of assessing the progress of young learners.

In addition, you’ll choose from a range of optional modules on topics like the use of technology in language learning, teacher education and learning and teaching vocabulary.

In the final part of the year, you’ll use your newly-acquired knowledge and skills to carry out a small-scale piece of research. Your critical study can be related to your own interests within the field of education. To support your work on the project, you will take a non-assessed research methods course, while help with your academic writing is available throughout the year.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation 60 credits
• Learning and Teaching in TESOL 30 credits
• Investigating Language for TESOL 30 credits
• Teaching Languages to Young Learners 30 credits

Optional modules

• Technology Enhanced Language Learning 30 credits
• The Practice of Supporting Language Teacher Learning 15 credits
• Learning and Teaching Vocabulary 15 credits
• Introducing a Task-Based Curriculum in Classrooms and Systems 15 credits
• Grammar, Learning and Teaching 15 credits
• Teaching Academic English 15 credits
• Corpus Linguistics in the Classroom 15 credits
• Teacher Education for TESOL 15 credits
• Assessing Language Learning 15 credits
• Materials Development for TESOL 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for Young Learners MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for Young Learners MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

You’ll generally have around 8-10 hours of classes per week including seminars, tutorials and lectures. However, independent study is an important aspect of this programme, either alone or in a group, since it allows you to develop key research, analysis and communication skills and develop your own ideas.

Assessment

Most of our taught modules are assessed through written assignments, which you’ll choose from a range of topics. To help you prepare, you’ll be able to submit a draft to your tutor for comment beforehand, and we offer other forms of support as well. You’ll also complete a portfolio of work such as materials and activities as part of the module Teaching Languages to Young Learners.