Beyond the classroom: 3 innovative TESOL programmes for the modern English teacher

Educating the next generation of bright, impressionable young minds is no easy task — it comes with a rough terrain that requires patience, perseverance, and skill. More than that, it comes with a responsibility and duty to not only impart knowledge, but to inspire and motivate students towards reaching their goals. Because of this, teaching remains one of the most noble — and important —professions in the world.

The ability to teach English falls firmly under this category. As a language that’s spoken globally, it’s never been more crucial for students to learn the nuances of English. Not only that, but for students who wish to pursue higher education or a career overseas, mastery of the English language is essential.

It’s only natural, then, that educators who are proficient at teaching English are more in-demand than ever. However, to be eligible for a teaching position in this field, a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification is often an essential requirement.

The TESOL qualification acts as a bridge between aspiring English teachers and employers. It tells language schools that you have the basic skills necessary for teaching. This includes problem-solving skills, classroom management skills, and more. Here are some universities offering quality TESOL programmes:

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s MA TESOL programme equips students with the skills needed to teach English to a wide variety of age groups and educational needs. Source: University of Wales Trinity Saint David

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is making a name as one of the most rewarding institutions at which to pursue higher education in the UK. It’s been ranked first in the UK for Courses and Lecturers, first in Wales for Learning Community, and third for Student Satisfaction in Education programmes nationwide. This is particularly due to its unique, vocational approach to learning, allowing students across all levels to reap the benefits of a hands-on, career-tailored programme.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in its Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA) programme. Here, students are equipped with the skills needed to teach English to a wide variety of age groups and educational needs through a high-quality, personalised education for aspiring teachers keen to make the next step in their professional development.

The programme supports a wide range of interests with its integration of pedagogical, linguistic and literary approaches in taught modules, allowing for students to tailor their learning according to their specific career goals. Its broad module base covers topics in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, literature, translation and language teaching pedagogy.

The MA TESOL is designed for home or international students wishing to pursue a career in teaching English. Choose to study at home or on campus — either way, you’re guaranteed a hands-on, comprehensive, and professionally-focused education. The research skills obtained also open up avenues for students to progress into further research at doctoral level.

By the time students graduate, they’re prepared to enter the workforce with the qualifications and experience needed in a growing area of employment. Alumni of this programme are working in public and private sectors, as primary and secondary teachers and vocational/industrial trainers and instructors. More than that, their qualifications open up doors to travel around the globe to teach, allowing for an exciting and ever-changing career.

Learn more about the University of Wales Trinity Saint David here. Follow the University of Wales Trinity Saint David on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Edge Hill University

Edge Hill University offers the ideal programme for those passionate about teaching English to speakers of other languages. Source: Edge Hill University Facebook

Award-winning, top rankings, supportive, located in the North-West of England and close to Liverpool — these features describe Edge Hill University. It is named the Modern University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, included in the top 1,000 universities in the world and holds a TEF Gold award, the highest rating in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Edge Hill offers the ideal programme for those passionate about teaching English to speakers of other languages and deepening their knowledge, understanding and practical skills in language learning and education: MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). You will expand your knowledge of contemporary theory in English language teaching and enhance your professional, practical and reflective skills.

If you seek to move into a management or leadership role, the Educational Management of TESOL module will equip you with the know-how of leadership models and theories and how they can be applied to educational contexts drawing on examples from students’ TESOL experiences. The module focuses on the leadership and development of people and teams as well, covering aspects such as the development of teachers through professional development performance review, observations, mentoring and coaching.

The MA TESOL is offered full-time on-campus and from September 2022, part-time online. Generous scholarships, each worth up to 50% of tuition fees in year one, are available — more details can be found here. The Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship, valued at 3,000 pounds towards the tuition fees of a postgraduate, MBA or MRes programme, will be awarded to full-time, overseas fee-paying students based on academic merit.

Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent University delivers an enriching, inclusive education for aspiring English teachers. Source: Nottingham Trent University

Named 2018 Modern University of the Year, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) aims to “create a university of the future.” From the moment students step through its doors, NTU delivers an enriching, inclusive educational experience, collaborating with the world’s brightest minds to design top-quality programmes. Here, students are encouraged to take charge of their own learning and exposed to life outside the lecture hall — accounting for its high number of career-ready graduates.

The university offers a TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA for aspiring English language teachers. Ideal for those with no or very little prior English language teaching experience, the programme equips students with the skills and knowledge base necessary to succeed as an English language teaching professional.

Modules within this programme are designed to give students as much real-life exposure to the teaching world as possible. Students demonstrate a range of teaching methods in practical sessions, including: designing teaching materials, planning lessons and tests, practising teaching in a peer group, and analysing real lessons through DVD observations. At the end of the programme, students can accumulate their developed teaching materials into a portfolio for job applications.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International