Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) University of Portsmouth

Overview

If you're a teacher of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL, ELT, EFL, EAP), or looking to begin a TESOL career, this two-year MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) degree will enable you to enhance your skills and employability with real workplace experience.  

During your first year, you'll be taught by our linguistics experts at the University, learning to apply the latest TESOL theory to classroom situations and critically evaluate your own approaches to teaching in a global context. You'll also work on lesson and course planning and design, and learn how to conduct and analyse research into teaching techniques.

If you've completed initial ELT, TESOL or TEFL teacher training but you don't yet have a minimum of three months full-time teaching experience, you'll also do an extra module to build up your practical teaching skills.

In Year two, you'll apply your learning on an 8-10 month work placement tailored to your career goals.

You'll graduate with the communication and intercultural skills and expertise to work as a more effective and well-rounded TESOL practitioner, in the UK or overseas. You could also go on to roles in areas such as educational management or leadership, curriculum development, editing, publishing or advertising.

Prefer to study without a work placement?

You can also study for this Applied Linguistics and TESOL Master's in just one year without spending time building professional experience.

Course highlights

• Gain first-hand experience on an 8-10 month work placement related to your chosen career, such as in an English language school, allowing you to apply theory to practice and build a solid professional network
• Enhance your abilities to teach English to speakers of other languages in the UK and around the world
• Expand your knowledge of the theories and methods used in linguistics, and conduct and analyse research into teaching techniques
• Reflect on your classroom practice in order to improve the way you teach
• Learn to plan and design lessons and courses that create an effective and engaging learning experience for students

Career development

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

English is a global language. It's taught and learned all around the world – so much so that people who have learned it as a second language now outnumber native English speakers (ThoughtCo).

Those who teach English to speakers of other languages need expert training in the field, both theoretical and in the classroom, in order to provide the highest standards of teaching.

This Master's course will give you an internationally recognised qualification, 8-10 months of professional experience, and the linguistics and teaching theory to gain a competitive advantage and deliver the best possible TESOL training.

Graduates of this course have gone onto areas such as:

• teaching English as a second/foreign language
• teaching ESOL in the UK
• teaching other languages, applying skills learning on this course
• educational management and/or leadership
• teacher training
• materials writing
• curriculum development
• editing
• publishing
• advertising

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

• Director of Studies (DoS)
• Senior Teacher
• Senior Lecturer of English as a Foreign Language

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Entry requirements for this course

Contact University of Portsmouth to find course entry requirements.

View foundation and pathway programmes to help you meet academic and language entry requirements.