• Programme aims
• Programme content
• Entry requirements
• Fees

Programme aims

The MA Education in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), offers a unique opportunity to study for a qualification which links teaching English to wider issues of school based Education.

The School of Education at The University of Birmingham has a long tradition of offering quality postgraduate programmes to International Students. It has a top research rating and a strong worldwide reputation.

The programme aims to provide students with knowledge and skills relating to current debates in the teaching and learning of English in foreign and second language learning contexts.

It aims to:

• Engage with theory and practice of communicative approaches to the learning and teaching of language
• Understand the interrelationship between language and culture that underpins the communicative approach
• Understand the pivotal role language plays in human social organisation and in education in particular
• Examine the relevance of major language learning theories for teaching
• Encourage students to critically evaluate their own learning and teaching experiences in the light of theoretical perspectives

Programme content

Students on the MA Education TEFL programme take core modules in Communicative Language Teaching, Second Language Learning and Language, Discourse and Society. These are complemented by three Education modules (see overleaf). The programme is designed to give students a unique opportunity to develop teaching and research skills and increase understanding of educational and applied linguistics theory. Graduates have reported on the long-term positive benefits of the programme.

The core modules for MA Education TEFL are:

Communicative Language Teaching, Syllabus Design and Assessment

This module encourages you to:

• Critically engage with the theory and practice of communicative approaches to the learning and teaching of language
• Evaluate CLT possibilities in a variety of cultures and teaching and learning contexts
• Critically evaluate different syllabus documents, teaching materials and activities and consider issues of assessment and evaluation
• Understand the role of teacher reflection and action research in the development of appropriate language teaching methodology

Language Discourse and Society

This module will help you to:

• Understand the pivotal role language plays in human social organisation
• Be able to identify key areas in the interaction between language and society
• Develop a knowledge about and an ability to apply sociolinguistic research methods
• Understand potential applications of sociolinguistic knowledge in education

Second Language Learning

This module will help you to

• To introduce and discuss the basic terminology of second language acquisition theory
• To examine a wide range of data from case-studies, language classrooms, and experimental studies to lead students toward making inductions
• To examine the relevance of major language learning theories for teaching
• To encourage students to critically evaluate their own learning and teaching experiences in the light of theoretical perspectives.

Two Education additional modules are compulsory:

School Observation, Evaluation and Supervision

This module will help you to:

• Develop a knowledge and understanding of the English education system
• Increase knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of effective teaching and of approaches to the observation and evaluation of teaching and learning
• Develop knowledge and understanding of school development planning and approaches to school improvement

Practitioner Inquiry in Education

This module will help you to:

• Plan and carry out your Master’s dissertation
• Identify a suitable dissertation topic and appropriate research methodology
• Develop a knowledge about data collection and analysis in an educational context

In addition, you will choose one Education module from a wide range of choices and write a 15,000 word dissertation in an area of TEFL.

Programme entry requirements

For an overview of the entry requirements, please refer to the "Admission requirements" page.

Many of the students who join our programme have a number of years of teaching experience whilst others have recently graduated from university. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to study this programme. Successful applicants usually have a good first degree. For overseas students, we require IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 580.

Fees*

1st Year

* Fees correct as of 23rd November 2007

** Full-time: one semester

Fees for full-time and part-time programmes of study for students commencing in 2008-09. Fees for subsequent years of study are likely to increase. An additional cost may be incurred for transferring between levels of study. These are indicative fees, to be confirmed. Students should confirm their fees upon being offered a place.

2nd Year

* Fees correct as of 23rd November 2007

Fees for part-time programmes of study for students commencing in 2008-09. An additional cost may be incurred for transferring between levels of study. These are indicative fees, to be confirmed. Students should confirm their fees upon re-registering for their 2nd year.