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King's College London
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Postgraduate degree

Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching MA

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The Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA is a Master's programme devised specifically for experienced language teachers (with a minimum of three years full-time teaching experience) who wish to engage with current research and theory in language education and linguistics from the perspective of pedagogy, policy and practice in the ELT profession and beyond. The course offers you an excellent opportunity to enhance your understanding of applied linguistics research and explore the potential career pathways this can open up for language teaching practitioners. You will be able to select from a wide range of specialist subject areas, including both practice-oriented modules (including EAP, Teacher Education, Language Assessment, Materials Development) and more theory-oriented modules (Multilingualism, Migration & Diversity, Language and Power) designed to promote a critical and nuanced understanding of current issues in language and language pedagogy. (If you do not have minimum three years' experience as a language teacher, please see our MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Key benefits

  • Expand your knowledge of current theoretical and practical aspects of language teaching, with lectures provided by research-active tutors.
  • Opportunities to develop professional expertise relevant to your career development in areas such as EAP, Materials Development, Language Testing and Assessment, Pragmatics and Teacher Education
  • Engage with cutting edge theory and research into the intersection between the language, culture and society as this relates to pedagogy, policy and practice.
  • Exchange ideas with other experienced language teaching professionals from many diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.
  • Excellent tutorial support and extensive programme-specific training in research methods and academic writing.
  • The Centre for Language, Discourse & Communication, with which you will automatically be affiliated during your time as a student, forms part of the King's Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Centre, supported by the Economic and Social Research Council.

The Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA course offers you opportunities to explore current research and specialist areas such as teacher education, materials development, teaching English for academic purposes, management and evaluation in ELT and intercultural studies. You will study required modules covering language-teaching methodology and curriculum design, linguistic analysis for language teaching, issues in second language development and language in use (sociolinguistics, and aspects of second language learning) as well as research methods. We also place emphasis on the notion of informed teaching. To do so we examine the value for teachers to mediate between theory and practice in constructing personal pedagogies. If you are studying full-time, you will complete the 180 credit course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your course will take two years to complete. If you have the Cambridge Delta or Trinity Diploma in ELT, you may be eligible for the ‘fast track’ version of the course which will give you exemption from Principles and Practices in Second/Foreign Language Teaching. The fast track option can only be studied part-time. As students on this pathway are exempt from a module, they will not take any taught modules in one of the terms (normally Term 1 of Year 2). They may, however, be working on their dissertation during this time. 

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

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Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Self-Study

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Module Lectures, seminars and feedback Self-study
Per 30-credit module The total contact time for each 30-credit taught module is typically 40 hours (20 hours per 15 credit module). These sessions will include lectures, teacher-led and student-led group discussions based on the main areas of study, in addition to other practical, technical and analytical activities. Each 30-credit taught module has 260 hours of self-guided learning time (130 hours for a 15 credit taught module).

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

  • Essays
  • Language analysis tasks
  • Exams
  • Oral Presentations
  • Dissertation

You will be assessed through a combination of essays, language analysis tasks, exams and oral presentations. Most optional modules are assessed by a 3,500-word essay. The dissertation will be assessed by one 15,000-word extended piece of writing.

The format of your optional module assessment will depend on the options chosen.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits. You are required to take the following modules:

Linguistic Analysis for Language Teaching (30 credits)
Principles and Practices in Second/Foreign Language Teaching (30 credits) [fast track students exempt from this module]
Research Methods and Dissertation in Applied Linguistics/Language Learning and Teaching (60 credits)
Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits)
Sociolinguistics (15 credits)

Optional modules

You will take an additional 30 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include modules from the list below, and may include a maximum of 30 credits from language/linguistics-related modules from other programmes at King's College London, at the discretion of the Programme Director.

English for Academic Purposes (15 credits)
Language Assessment (15 credits)
Materials Development in English Language Teaching (15 credits)
Multilingualism, Migration & Diversity (15 credits)
Teacher Education (15 credits)
Teaching and Learning Pragmatics (15 credits)
The Digital ELT Classroom (15 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Many of our graduates from the Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching MA course choose to remain in higher education and go on to follow MPhil/PhD pathways. Many of our graduates also go on to pursue careers in many related fields, including publishing, language planning and policy, educational management and teacher education.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £4,935 per year (2022/23); £4,323 per year (fast-track 2022/23)

International:

Full time: £19,740 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £9,870 per year (2022/23); £8,226 per year (fast-track 2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

The Applied Linguistics & English Language Teaching MA course offers you opportunities to explore current research and specialist areas such as teacher education, materials development, teaching English for academic purposes, management and evaluation in ELT and intercultural studies. You will study required modules covering language-teaching methodology and curriculum design, linguistic analysis for language teaching, issues in second language development and language in use (sociolinguistics, and aspects of second language learning) as well as research methods. We also place emphasis on the notion of informed teaching. To do so we examine the value for teachers to mediate between theory and practice in constructing personal pedagogies. If you are studying full-time, you will complete the 180 credit course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your course will take two years to complete. If you have the Cambridge Delta or Trinity Diploma in ELT, you may be eligible for the ‘fast track’ version of the course which will give you exemption from Principles and Practices in Second/Foreign Language Teaching. The fast track option can only be studied part-time. As students on this pathway are exempt from a module, they will not take any taught modules in one of the terms (normally Term 1 of Year 2). They may, however, be working on their dissertation during this time. 

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Loading...

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Self-Study

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Module Lectures, seminars and feedback Self-study
Per 30-credit module The total contact time for each 30-credit taught module is typically 40 hours (20 hours per 15 credit module). These sessions will include lectures, teacher-led and student-led group discussions based on the main areas of study, in addition to other practical, technical and analytical activities. Each 30-credit taught module has 260 hours of self-guided learning time (130 hours for a 15 credit taught module).

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

  • Essays
  • Language analysis tasks
  • Exams
  • Oral Presentations
  • Dissertation

You will be assessed through a combination of essays, language analysis tasks, exams and oral presentations. Most optional modules are assessed by a 3,500-word essay. The dissertation will be assessed by one 15,000-word extended piece of writing.

The format of your optional module assessment will depend on the options chosen.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits. You are required to take the following modules:

Linguistic Analysis for Language Teaching (30 credits)
Principles and Practices in Second/Foreign Language Teaching (30 credits) [fast track students exempt from this module]
Research Methods and Dissertation in Applied Linguistics/Language Learning and Teaching (60 credits)
Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits)
Sociolinguistics (15 credits)

Optional modules

You will take an additional 30 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include modules from the list below, and may include a maximum of 30 credits from language/linguistics-related modules from other programmes at King's College London, at the discretion of the Programme Director.

English for Academic Purposes (15 credits)
Language Assessment (15 credits)
Materials Development in English Language Teaching (15 credits)
Multilingualism, Migration & Diversity (15 credits)
Teacher Education (15 credits)
Teaching and Learning Pragmatics (15 credits)
The Digital ELT Classroom (15 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Many of our graduates from the Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching MA course choose to remain in higher education and go on to follow MPhil/PhD pathways. Many of our graduates also go on to pursue careers in many related fields, including publishing, language planning and policy, educational management and teacher education.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £4,935 per year (2022/23); £4,323 per year (fast-track 2022/23)

International:

Full time: £19,740 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £9,870 per year (2022/23); £8,226 per year (fast-track 2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

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