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While most individuals see language as a means of communication, Roshini Niluka Kumari Nawarathne sees it as a bridge to opportunity, empowerment, and change. As a teacher educator at Sri Lanka’s Regional English Language Support Centre in Anuradhapura, she plays a key role in shaping tomorrow’s English teachers.
Such tasks demand the right knowledge and exposure. Through the University of Canberra’s (UC) Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) & Foreign Language Teaching (FLT), that’s precisely what Nawarathne obtained. “It was an obvious choice when I was awarded the AUS AID scholarship by the Australian government,” she says.
It’s little wonder why. This graduate programme revolves around mastering the art and science of language education through a rigorous, research-backed curriculum that has been evolving for over 25 years.
Striking a good balance between theory and practice, the curriculum not only comprises an understanding of language as a system, current language teaching methodologies, theories of language acquisition, and principles for language curriculum design, but also develops pedagogical skills through lesson design, curriculum planning, and assessment across a range of adult and school foreign/second language settings. Integral to student development is a strong practical experience in different English as a second language settings with mentoring support from experienced language educators.
“The course extended my knowledge on teaching English as a second language in both theoretical and practical aspects,” Nawarathne confirms. “It especially developed my skills in designing, planning and analysing language lessons.”
She specifically credits courses in Curriculum Designing, Language Teaching Methodology, Language testing and Assessment, Approaches to Grammar and Discourse Analysis for preparing her for her current role. “The lecturers were very clear in their delivery and appealing,” says Nawarathne. “I highly appreciate one-to-one interaction in tutorial classes.”
That’s what a UC education is all about. Courses here are developed by renowned scholars and educators with careers spanning Asia, Europe, and the US. Professor Eleni Petraki, Professor Deborah Hill, and Professor Jeremy Jones were transformative figures in Nawarathne’s academic journey. Their depth of knowledge, clarity in teaching, and humility left a lasting impression.
“Professor Deborah Hill, in particular, understood my strengths and weaknesses and guided me in my independent study,” shares the graduate. “Her approach as a supervisor inspired me immensely as a novice researcher.”
The Master of TESOL & FLT can be studied either full-time in 2 years or part-time in 4 years. Source: University of Canberra
Armed with a Level 9 qualification from UC, Nawarathne returned to her home country ready to advance from her previous position as language teacher to teacher trainer. Her work now involves analysing national challenges in language learning, identifying weaknesses in existing programmes, and implementing evidence-based solutions. From creating remedial activities for struggling students to introducing progressive methodologies for teachers, her approach is deeply rooted in the research-driven, practice-oriented training she received at UC.
As Nawarathne’s journey shows, the Master of TESOL & FLT inspires graduates to make a difference — at home and abroad. Nawarathne is contributing to national curriculum and language teacher training in her home country.
Another graduate, Waliyadin Nuridin, initially returned to Indonesia to teach at the University of Jakarta where he applied many of the foundational principles he learned at UC. His strong research skills development at UC helped him secure a competitive scholarship to complete his PhD in Australia. Given the support Nuridin received during his master’s degree, and the research expertise of UC academics, it only made sense for him to choose UC again for his PhD.
Marty Le, on the other hand, used her integrated teaching experience to secure a job at an Australian language institution, teaching English to international students and specifically migrant and refugee programs.
Indeed, graduating with a Master of TESOL & FLT from UC means joining a field with strong career prospects, both in Australia and globally. With the rising demand for qualified language teachers, UC graduates find opportunities in public and private schools, universities, adult education programmes, and community language initiatives. Others go on to become curriculum specialists, education consultants, corporate trainers, or even language education entrepreneurs.
Wherever you’re headed, you’ll arrive immediately ready to add value — especially since UC believes the best way to learn how to teach is to teach. That’s why the Master of TESOL & FLT offers hands-on, authentic teaching experience through supervised practicums and work-integrated learning (WIL) placements.
This opportunity will see you stepping into real classrooms and practising teaching under expert guidance, working with diverse learners in primary, secondary, and tertiary education settings, developing innovative language curricula tailored to real-world needs, and growing an enduring network of educators and industry professionals.
On campus, you’ll join a vibrant, multicultural community, learning alongside peers from diverse backgrounds, each offering unique insights into language education. With no prior teaching experience required, the Master of TESOL & FLT attracts a dynamic mix of students, enriching discussions and broadening perspectives.
“Meeting and spending time with peers from different cultures and countries and being able to gain exposure to new learning cultures were definitely some of the most enriching aspects of learning at UC,” says Nawarathne. “It was an amazing experience for me.”
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