MA Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages

Full-time students choose three modules in the Autumn semester and three in the Spring semester, with a dissertation completed over the summer months.
 

Part I - Semester One

• CH6301 A Linguistic Introduction to Chinese (10 credits)

• LC1101 English for Academic Study (10 credits) or

• CH6302 Advanced Chinese for TCSOL Teachers (10 credits)

• CH6303 Introduction to Teaching Practice (5 credits)

• CH6307 From Pedagogical Theory to Effective Classroom (5 credits)
   

Part I - Semester Two

• CH6304 Teaching Practice Internship (15 credits)

• CH6306 Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages: A Pedagogical Grammar (10 credits)

• CH6308 Postgraduate Research Skills (5 credits)
   

Part II - Semester Three

• CH6305 Dissertation in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (30 credits)
   

Part-time students take the course over two years during weekday working hours. This part-time option is open only to Irish/EU students.
 

• In Year 1 you choose 35 credits of taught modules.

• In Year 2, you choose a further 10 credits of taught modules, 15 credits of teaching practice, and 30 credits for the dissertation.

Candidates should hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in a relevant subject area such as Chinese or Asian Studies. Candidates who are native speakers of Chinese should have a degree in the following disciplines areas Chinese or Asian Studies, Linguistics, Education, Pedagogy, Foreign Languages, Literatures and Communication.
 

Candidates who hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in another relevant area may also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), following a review of their individual qualifications and experience and based on the information provided in a supplementary statement and/or interview acceptable to the Department selection committee. Prospective candidates may be called for an interview (in person or, where more feasible, online), with a view to assessing their suitability for the programme.
 

Fluency in Chinese (minimum HSK level 5 or equivalent)

Candidates whose first language is not Chinese should hold an HSK (Hànyū Shuīpíng Kāoshi/Chinese Proficiency Test) Level 5 certificate (or certified equivalent). Alternatively, they should have an approved undergraduate degree in which at least 50% of the credit weighting is in the Chinese language and Chinese Studies. Candidates without these qualifications but who have a demonstrably strong proficiency in the Chinese Language may be exceptionally considered on a case by case basis subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.
 

Fluency in English

IELTS (or equivalent): 6.5
 

Garda Vetting

Please note that as part of this programme students will require Garda Vetting as they will take part in a placement or UCC related activity where they will be working in an unsupervised capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. For more information on this process please read the UCC Student Garda Vetting Policy.

 

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
 

• Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations
  
  The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.
   

  There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.
  
  IELTS*    

   

• 6.5 Overall

• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

• TOEFL iBT    
   

• 90 Overall

• Listening 20

• Reading 19

• Speaking 21

• Writing 20

 

The EU fee for this course is €6,630; €3,380 (Year 1 part-time); €3,380 (Year 2 part-time).
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,400.

Chinese language learning among non-Chinese people is expanding all the time and it’s a truly global market. This means that an MA TCSOL from UCC can be a passport to employment as a Chinese language teaching professional not just in Ireland but anywhere in the world. For those who already have experience teaching Chinese, the MA TCSOL offers a chance to consolidate understanding and develop specific skills and expertise.
 

While at present there is no formal pathway to qualified teacher status in Irish schools for teachers of Chinese and this course will not qualify you to teach Chinese in state schools in Ireland, the MA TCSOL offers a prestigious prior qualification in this area which will open many teaching opportunities to you in Ireland and further afield.