MA in English Language Teaching (with a Specialism in English for Young Learners)

 

This specialist MA is a one year, full-time, post-experience programme of study. It consists of a taught course followed by a dissertation. Its aim is to provide an understanding of the theoretical foundations of language development and language teaching and to study the ways in which theory can be applied to the teaching of English to Young Learners (children between the ages of 5 and 12), in order to bring about improvements in practice.

The programme has been designed for qualified and experienced teachers from a variety of professional backgrounds. It is particularly suitable for ELT personnel in primary and junior schools in both the private and the public sector, teacher training colleges, universities and departments in Ministries of Education such as the inspectorate and the curriculum development centre.

Entry requirements

Successful applicants will normally have a good undergraduate degree or the equivalent in the field of English, language study and/or education. They will have a minimum of two years of full-time teaching experience. International students need to have an English language score of 6.5 on the IELTS test (normally with at least 6.5 in the Reading and Writing and components), or the equivalent on a test approved by the UK Border Agency.

For those whose scores fall very slightly below the required level when they apply, studying on our pre-sessional course in English language and study skills me be deemed satisfactory.

The programme (2010-11 onwards)

 Term One (October to December)

  • Issues and Research in English Language Teaching (15 credits)
  • Second Language Acquisition and Classroom Language Learning (15 credits)
  • Lexis and Grammar (10 credits)
  • Spoken English (10 credits)
  • Text and Discourse Analysis (10 credits)

 Term Two (January to March)

  • English for Young Learners (15 credits)
  • Professional Practice (English for Young Learners) (30 credits)
  • Research Methodology (15 credits)

 And one of the following* (15 credits each):

  • English as an International Language
  • ICT in ELT
  • Language Testing
  • Literature and Drama in ELT
  • Professional and Academic Discourse
  • Teacher Education and Development
  • The Management of Educational Institutions

* A limit may be put on numbers taking some additional modules, and their availability in any particular year may be subject to change.

Term Three (April onwards)

  • Research Methodology workshops leading to a
  • Dissertation (45 credits) on a topic related to English language teaching for young learners

 

The nature of the work

Students are encouraged to develop an understanding of underlying principles of language teaching and of ways in which these might be applied in the solution of particular problems in the field of English language teaching to young learners.

The course is taught by means of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. In addition, there is much guided reading and a number of written assignments in the form of long essays and portfolios of materials. Students are introduced to research methodology which will assist them in carrying out the research for the dissertation with the support of a supervisor.

Assessment

Assessment is by a written assignment for each module followed plus a final dissertation. The written assignments are 3,000 words in length, apart from the assignments for Grammar of English, Spoken English and Text and Discourse Analysis, which are 2,000 words each, and the assignment on the Professional Practice course, which is 6,000 words. The final dissertation is 15,000 words in length. Students must normally pass in each component, thus gaining a total of 180 credits, to be awarded the degree. The MA can be awarded with Distinction.

Modular Structure

The course is organised on a modular basis.

The whole course may be taken together within one academic year, beginning in October. Alternatively, students may complete the work in termly sections in different academic years but with a maximum of four years.

EYL Specialist Staff

Dr Annamaria Pinter is the course leader. She published a comprehensive handbook entitled Teaching Young Language Learners by Oxford University Press in 2006. Her more recent book is forthcoming (2011) entitled: Children Learning Second Languages by Palgrave Macmillan. Her recent research articles include 2007 Benefits of peer-peer interaction: 10-year-old children practising with a communication task Language Teaching Research Vol 11/2: 189-209, and 2006 Verbal evidence of task-related strategies: child versus adult interactions System Vol 34: 615-630. In addition to task based learning and research, she also has a keen interest in language learning autonomy, classroom SLA and materials design and evaluation. She has been involved in various international projects and consultancies such as the primary textbook writing project in Russia.