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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 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.

Watch our webinar to find out more about what you'll be learning, your year at KCL and why you should choose King's to study english Language Teaching.


Key benefits
  • Expand your knowledge of current theoretical and practical aspects of language teaching, with lectures provided by research-active tutors.
  • Develop professional expertise relevant to your career development.
  • Engage with cutting edge theory and research into the intersection between the language, culture and society as this relates to pedagogy, policy and practice.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two years PT. Fast track only available PT. September to September

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Course intake No set number

Course leaders

Dr Martin Dewy
Dr Chris Tang

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office
tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7000
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department School of Education, Communication & Society

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Course detail

Description

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 language acquisition and use (sociolinguistics, and aspects of second language learning) and research methods. We also place emphasis on the view of informed teaching and the need for teachers to mediate between theory and practice in constructing pedagogies according to specific teaching-learning situations.

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 ESOL Delta or Trinity House 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. 

Course purpose

For experienced language teachers who want to reflect upon and further develop their understanding of the various theoretical and practical issues that impact on the field of language learning and teaching.

Course format and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. 

ModuleLectures, 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).
Each 30-credit taught module has 260 hours of self-guided learning time (130 hours for a 15 credit taught module). Each 30-credit taught module has 260 hours of self-guided learning time (130 hours for a 15 credit taught module).  574 hours.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

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

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 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 this course page for updates.

Required Modules
You are required to take the following modules:
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.

If you are following the two-year part-time course, you will usually take the modules in the following order:

Year 1

  • Linguistic Analysis for Language Teaching (30 credits)

  • Sociolinguistics (15 credits) or Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits)

  • Part-time students divide their 30 optional credits equally across the two years

Year 2

  • Principles & Practices in Second/Foreign Languate Teaching (30 credits)

  • Sociolinguistics (15 credits) or Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits) – whichever of these you did not take in Year 1

  • Part-time students divide their 30-45 optional credits more of less equally across the two years

  • Research Methods & Dissertation in Applied Linguistics/Language Learning & Teaching (60 credits)

If you are taking the part-time, fast-track course, you will usually take the modules in the following order:

Year 1

  • Sociolinguistics (15 credits) or Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits)

  • Linguistic Analysis for Language Teaching (30 credits)

  • Fast-track students divide their 45 optional credits equally across the two years

Year 2

  • Sociolinguistics (15 credits) or Second/Additional Language Acquisition (15 credits) - whichever of these you did not take in Year 1

  • Fast-track students divide their 30-45 optional credits more or less equally across the two years

  • Research Methods & Dissertation in Applied Linguistics/Language Learning and Teaching (60 credits)

Entry requirements & how to apply

Applied Linguistics and EL Entry requirements
Minimum UK requirements   2:1

A 2:1 class honours degree is usually required in a relevant subject (including, but not limited to, a modern foreign language, English, Education, Linguistics, etc.). If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements    Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.
Professional requirements   All applicants should also have experience equivalent to three years full-time in language teaching or a related post. 

Note:  if, in addition to the above, you also have the Cambridge ESOL Delta or Trinity House Diploma in ELT, then you may be eligible for the part time "fast track" version of this programme. The "fast track" gives you exemption from Principles & Practice in ELT, and one of the option courses.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies. Applications should include one professional and one academic reference as well as details of teaching experience. All applications are considered by the Admissions Tutor and one other member of staff. Home students may be invited for interview and both home and international students may be asked to complete a short academic writing task. We endeavour to process all applications within four weeks of receipt in the department.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). The personal statement should describe your teaching experience so far and discuss how you feel this MA will build on your experience, as well as how it might contribute to your future career plans.
Previous Academic Study  Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application

 

Application closing date

 

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

 

Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

 

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £8,880 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £17,900 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: £4,440 per year (2020/21); £3,665 per year (fast-track 2020/21)
  • Part time overseas fees: £8,950 per year (2020/21); £7,460 per year (fast-track 2020/21)

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

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/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer before 1 June 2020, payment is due by 30 June 2020.

  • If you receive an offer between 1 June 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.

  • If you receive an offer in late August, payment is due within 2 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.

Additional costs/expenses

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

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Course packs, which are a vital part of your learning at King's and normally contain extracts from books and other useful documents that will inform your study 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Costs for travel around London and between campuses 
  • Graduation costs

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

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Many of our graduates from the Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching MA course choose to remain in further education and go on to follow MPhil/PhD pathways.

Testimonials

Elder Kelsey

Elder Kelsey

"The teaching and tutorial support far exceeded my expectations, and I relished being part of such a diverse and intellectually engaged cohort. A year later I began teaching at a university, where I have continued to grow professionally and reflect on the ideas we explored on the MA."

Dr Nick Andon

Dr Nick Andon

"Our programme provides a thorough introduction to theory and research in the field, as well as a range of professional option modules in practical areas. A balance of theory and its practical application allows teachers to develop their careers in a number of different directions."

Ching Ching

Ching Ching

King's teaches all aspects of English language teaching from a variety of angles. Both academic staff and my fellow classmates are comfortable dispensing their practical teaching experience in the UK and the location of the school itself is prime considering how close it is to the heart of London. It has been very easy making friends and settling into life here.

Jennifer

Jennifer

“Studying on the MA programme allowed me to critically analyze my own beliefs about teaching and learning. One of the most amazing things about the programme is having the opportunity to explore teaching philosophies with fellow international students from all over the world.”

Dr Martin Dewey

Dr Martin Dewey

"I have previously taught English as a second language in Italy, Mexico and the UK, and have trained teachers on pre-service and in-service programmes of teacher education, including the CELTA and DELTA schemes, as well as projects on continued professional development in language teaching."

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