This is a one year, full-time programme of study available to both pre- and post-experience students. It consists of a taught course followed by a dissertation. Its aim is to provide an understanding of the theoretical foundations of language teaching, and to explore the relationship between theory and different aspects of language teaching, multimedia resource management and materials development in order to bring about improvements in practice. Applied Linguistics staff are involved in a number of innovative multimedia projects.  

Entry requirements

Successful applicants will normally have a good honours degree or the equivalent in the field of English, language study and/or education. International students need to have an English language score of 6.5 on the IELTS test (with at least 6.0 in the Reading and Writing components), 600 on TOEFL, 250 TOEFL CBT or BBC/BCC in WELT. Some international students may attend part of the pre-sessional course in English language and study skills if their score falls slightly below the required level when they apply.   

The programme  

Term One

Theoretical Background to English Language Teaching

Core Modules

• Applied Linguistics (for students with at least two years prior experience of English language teaching) or Introduction to English Language Teaching (for students with less than two years prior experience of English language teaching)
• Spoken English

Options

Choose two

• The Grammar of English
• Psychology of Language Classroom Practices
• Text and Discourse Analysis

Term Two

Professional Practice

Core modules

• Professional Practice in English Language Teaching with Multimedia
• Research Methodology

Specialist Interest Options

Choose two

• Literature in English Language Teaching
• Phonology and the Teaching of Pronunciation (not running in 2008)
• Teaching for Intercultural Competence
• Approaches to Teaching Grammar
• Teacher Training (not for those with less than 2 years teaching experience)
• Language Testing
• Reading in a Second Language
• Management of Educational Institutions
• Teaching Writing in a Second Language

Term Three

Research Methodology leading to a Dissertation on a topic related to English Language Teaching and the use of IT and multimedia (15,000 words)   

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 use of IT amd multimedia in English language teaching and learning.

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 written assignments on modules followed (3000 words on each except for the Professional Practice module which requires 6000) and the final dissertation of 15000 words. Students must normally pass in each component 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 within a maximum of four years.

ELTAM Specialist Staff (in alphabetical order)

Dr Fei-yu Chuang has a particular interest in teaching techniques for developing web-based materials. She has developed GrammarTalk, online grammar practice materials for Warwick international students, and has also contributed to the Academic English Zone. She holds an MSc in Computer Science as well as a Warwick PhD in Applied Linguistics - her thesis involved a corpus-based study of grammatical errors produced by Chinese students of English for Academic Purposes. In 2004 she won a TESOL International Research Fund award for her research in connection with computer-based learning. Recent publications include Chuang, F-Y. & H. Nesi (2006) An analysis of formal errors in a corpus of l2 English produced by Chinese students Corpora 1 (2) 251-271.

 

Tilly Harrison has been involved with Computer Assisted Language Learning for over 15 years, mainly as a teacher but also as a software developer and researcher. She has a particular interest in wikis and WebQuests and is currently involved in developing a wiki for language learning for the Warwick E-Learning Award. She was on the committee of the Computer (now Learning Technologies) Special Interest Group of the International Association of Teaching of English as a Foreign Language for eight years (four years as the Coordinator) and has presented on and given many workshops on CALL related topics, the most recent being at the IATEFL Conference in Exeter in April 2008 where she presented on 'Feedback on Writing: How is best?'.

Tim Kelly supports the development of multimedia materials on ELTAM, particulary video materials. He is Director of Production of the ease series of CD-ROMs and of the eChina-UK CUTE 2 project at Warwick. He is winner of the British Council Innovation in Education Award for his work on the Listening to Lectures CD-ROM. He has directed a number of short films, including The Work of Art and the award-winning The Hole.

More information, for those thinking of applying to the MA in ELT(MM) programme  

Course Tutors

Tilly Harrison

Dr Fei-yu Chuang

Tim Kelly