English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics MA

at Coventry University

Why you should study this course
 

• This course has obtained a very high satisfaction rating on the national Postgraduate Teaching Experience Survey (PTES), receiving 100% in 2020-21.
   

• Past students have valued the outstanding level of academic and pastoral care offered by staff, the variety of assessment tasks on the course, the research-informed teaching and the introduction of the TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test) into the degree1. Students have also found the many extracurricular opportunities offered to them while on the course very appealing.
   

• We aim to recruit staff that are experts in their field, publish regularly, are external examiners in other universities and have a national and international profile. Staff encourage students to engage with them in scholarly activities and become part of the academic communities of practice in the School of Humanities: books and refereed journal articles have been published by staff in collaboration with students, often based on students’ dissertations. This has included research on how to integrate informal online learning platforms into the ELT curriculum and innovative language learning applications (apps) design.
   

• This course offers a unique mix of theory and practice and encourages students, who are often from a diverse range of countries, to share good and innovative practice and reflect on their own learning and teaching context in an active way.
   

• This MA course has led to internal job opportunities within the Coventry University Group, too and has had a very positive impact on its students’ employability prospects. For example, many students and graduates have been hired to teach or manage on the CU Services pre-sessional provision.

What you'll study
 

According to our External Examiners, employers, alumni and our current students, the distinctive features of this course are:
 

• The links between theory and practice;
   

• The emphasis on the integration of new technologies in language learning and teaching;
   

• Its task-based/problem-based approach to language learning and teaching;
   

• Its varied and innovative assessment tasks;
   

• The quality of both the pastoral and academic support offered to students;
   

• Its innovative approach to the internationalisation of the curriculum through Online International Learning.
   

Massive Open Online Courses and ELT study trips, both national and international;
 

• The opportunity to obtain job placements (this is selective);
   

• The possibility of obtaining the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) vocational qualification.
   

Students who have DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults) will be given Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) for up to 30 credits of the programme.

Modules

• Theories and Methods of Language Learning and Teaching - 15 credits
   

  The aim of the module is to give you an in-depth understanding of the theories of second language acquisition and illustrate their links to approaches and methods of language teaching which they inform. The theories examined will look at second language acquisition and learning from linguistic, psychological and sociological perspectives. The approach will be largely thematic when examining language learning theories, and both historical and thematic when examining teaching methodologies. Links will be drawn between the two parts, with a view to analysing whether and to what extent the learners’ particular background, situation and circumstances should or do influence the teaching approaches adopted. Innovative approaches will be explored and students will engage with blended and online learning and design tasks based on artefacts viewed during a visit to a museum.
   

• Developing Language Teaching Materials - 15 credits
   

  This module aims to enable you to evaluate and develop in an informed way materials used for English language teaching. You will be taken through the materials development process and introduced to different teaching and learning approaches and learner needs. The module provides an overview of factors which impact on the development of materials (both in hard copy and online). The module also considers language assessment and independent learning materials. You will have the opportunity to discuss issues relating to materials development, recommend solutions to problems, and practise developing your own materials.
   

• Grammar and Phonology for the English Language Teacher - 15 credits
   

  The aim of this module is to give you a pedagogical understanding of the grammar and phonology of English and the issues that non-native speakers of English have in acquiring a working knowledge ofi these systems. The module will give you the metalanguage required to describe these systems and the ability to compare and contrast the systems in English with another language. This will enable you to analyse non-native texts produced by students of English from a variety of teaching contexts for errors and non-native aspects with a view to suggesting appropriate pedagogic interventions. Some consideration will be given to what aspects of grammar and phonology can be taught and what cannot, in addition to how this teaching can be realised. The approach will draw on several traditions of grammatical and phonological analysis including use of the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet).
   

• Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL): Theory and Practice - 15 credits
   

  This module aims to introduce you to the theory and practice of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) with particular reference to CALL for English Language Teaching (ELT). You will develop a critical awareness of current developments into new and emerging technologies - e.g. social networking software and Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) - and in doing so develop your digital fluency.
   

  As part of the assessment, you will design a digital artefact. You will reflect on its design and discuss the affordances of the available technology applied to specific teaching and learning contexts, including your own, if applicable.
   

• English Language Teaching in Practice - 15 credits
   

  This practical module aims to introduce you to the teaching, learning and assessment of English in a variety of settings. You will engage in peer reviews/observations of teaching and microteaching sessions. You will reflect on the principles underpinning pedagogic planning, practise session-plan design, deliver your teaching plan and evaluate it after your taught session. You will learn how to support students both face-to-face and online and to give effective and consistent feedback. You will practise evaluating and writing marking schemes/criteria and marking real scripts for assessed tasks for English in Higher Education.
   

• Business English - 15 credits
   

  The aim of this module is to examine and evaluate the links between research and practice in the teaching of Business English. You will have the opportunity to analyse written and spoken business discourse in order to investigate the intrinsic features of Business English. Other key aspects of business communication will be discussed including intercultural competence. There will also be opportunities to critically evaluate current Business English teaching materials and to consider how research can inform Business English materials development.
   

• Teaching English through Literature - 15 credits
   

  This module aims to examine how literature can support the teaching of the English language. It provides suggestions for fostering language development and communicative competence by integrating literature into the English language classroom. You will discuss the existing body of theoretical research as well as analyse concepts and issues related to the teaching of literature and to the teaching of language through literature.
   

• Research Methods - 15 credits
   

  This module provides a sound basis to support you in the undertaking of a substantial research project appropriate to Master’s level, in terms of the identification of a topic and the development of an appropriate research strategy for its completion. You will learn how to retrieve, annotate and discuss appropriate sources and how to collect, classify and analyse primary and secondary data. The module will also cover how to adhere to academic writing standards and ethics requirements and how to avoid plagiarism. As well as researching, discussing and critically analysing methodological approaches in applied linguistics, you will also practise research and data collection techniques with dedicated research tools (e.g. corpus analysis tools) and tailor-made resources.
   

• Dissertation - 50 credits
   

  This module supports you in the undertaking of a substantial research project appropriate to Master’s level, in terms of the identification of a topic, the development of an appropriate research strategy for its development and completion and its final writing up as a dissertation. In the first part of the module, you will learn how to retrieve, annotate and discuss sources from the e-library and how to collect, classify and analyse primary and secondary data. The module will also cover how to adhere to academic writing standards and ethics requirements and how to avoid plagiarism.
   

  As well as discussing and critically analysing research methodological approaches in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, you will have the opportunity to practise research and data collection techniques with dedicated research tools.
   

  In the second part of the module, you will be required to develop skills of independent learning and time management and demonstrate the ability to engage critically with your chosen dissertation topic. You will be expected to produce an original piece of extended writing with the support of your allocated supervisor.
   

• Professional Enhancement: Managing the Teaching and Learning Process - 10 credits
   

  The aim of this module1 is to discuss the key principles underlying managing the teaching and learning process, including language classroom management and language course management. You will study issues relating to learner language and teacher language and investigate how the language used by a teacher can affect learners’ behaviour. The module will also help you to understand how to manage an ELT classroom in various contexts and with learners of different abilities. It will provide you with class management tips and techniques and support your professional development as an ELT teacher. The module can also enable you to obtain a professional qualification: the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) in Managing the Learning Process, awarded by the University of Cambridge1. The TKT is a highly respected qualification recognised in over 60 countries as proof of teaching knowledge

How you'll learn
 

Teaching methods include:
 

• Lectures
   

• Seminars
   

• Tutorials
   

• Presentations
   

• Group projects
   

• Workshops
   

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.
 

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
 

The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

UK
 

The course is open to both experienced teachers and to students who have recently graduated. It is suitable for overseas applicants and UK nationals. Graduates from any subject who have an interest in teaching English as a Foreign Language can apply for this course.
 

This course requirements a minimum grade of 2:2 or above.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 6 in writing.

UK

£10,600 per year

International Fees

£16,950 per year

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship

You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.

Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.

The scholarship application deadline is:

September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to:
 

• Critically appraise theoretical approaches to language learning and teaching and reflect on how to apply them in your teaching practice .
   

• Discuss and develop research-informed innovative materials for English Language Teaching that are appropriate for your learning and teaching contexts.
   

• Discuss and propose pedagogical interventions for the purpose of teaching grammar and/or phonology in specific contexts.
   

• Develop research-informed teaching sessions.
   

• Critically reflect on observed teaching practice.
   

• Engage in research-informed reflections on the teaching of English through literature and/or business across contexts.
   

According to the British Council, there were around 1.5 billion people learning and using English worldwide in 2018, forecast to rise to 2 billion by 2020. As a result, there is a high demand for teachers of English in language schools, private schools, state schools, universities and colleges throughout the world.
 

In addition to enabling you to learn more about classroom, blended and online teaching and learning, this course will provide you with the chance to develop skills to perform roles such as materials developer, resource manager and examiner. It can also lead to a variety of careers associated with teaching English or the use of English Language, including education management, academic consultancy, journalism, information management and human resources, among others.
 

Recognised the world over as evidence of advanced skills and knowledge, a Master's degree can assist you to secure professional advancement.

Where our graduates work
 

Graduates from this course have gone on to establish either teaching or education management careers both in the UK (e.g. Lecturer at Coventry University; Pre-sessional Associate Director for CU Services Ltd ) and overseas (e.g. Lecturer in universities in Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Jordan, India, Bahrain, Pakistan and China; Academic Coordinator for IvyPrep Education in Vietnam). You may also wish to continue your studies at PhD level (subject to meeting the relevant entry criteria such as obtaining a merit mark and having the appropriate IELTS score for PhD studies).