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MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Why choose Herts?
- Teaching Excellence: You will be taught by highly respected TESOL academics who have published research within various journals and publications including The British Council, The Qualitative Report, and the International Student Experience Journal.
- Work Experience Opportunities: You will have the opportunity to teach small groups of overseas students throughout the taught part of the programme.
- Employment Prospects: TESOL graduates are currently teaching worldwide, including EAP/ESP at universities, FE level in colleges, and for the Refugee Council (UK), as well as progressing onto senior teaching positions and starting their own businesses.
Alumni Stories
Rianne Vervuurt
Meet Rianne. Rianne moved to the UK from the Netherlands and chose postgraduate study at Herts to help her gain employment.
| Current job role | Customer Experience Executive at a vegan food company |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2020 |
| Course of study | MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
Looking for a new challenge
Rianne moved to the UK from the Netherlands in 2018. Despite having a postgraduate qualification, she found it difficult to get a job in the UK. She says, ‘The postgraduate course I completed in the Netherlands was a mixture of education sciences and child psychology, and a comparable course did not exist in the UK. I think employers found it difficult to understand.
‘I got a job working as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant for a year or so and even though I enjoyed it, it was a massive change in salary compared to my previous job and I wanted more of a challenge.’
Rianne decided to do another postgraduate course in the UK and chose to enrol at Herts. She was able to commute from her home in Stevenage and Herts offered the course she wanted to do, MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She says, ‘I attended an open evening and spoke with the Programme Leader of the course. They took the time to answer all my questions and made me feel at home.’
Gaining practical experience
Rianne chose TESOL as she had always been interested in other languages and cultures, and she liked that the course included opportunities to learn about teaching practices. She says, ‘The course didn’t just focus on theory. I had the opportunity to gain practical experience by getting the chance to teach small groups, which was a great addition to my CV. I was also in a small class cohort, which meant I got to know my lecturers well. Nothing was ever too much for them, and they made me feel comfortable even when things became stressful.’
Using those transferable skills
Not long after she finished her course, Rianne was contacted by a vegan food company, and she is now working for them as a Customer Experience Executive. She says, ‘I am part of their learning and development team, where I focus on training and improving the quality of service we provide. Training and quality have a lot of overlap with teaching, and the skills I learnt on my course come in handy.’
Her main advice for current and future Herts students is to enjoy their time here, but always be prepared. She says, ‘Doing a postgraduate course isn’t easy, there is a lot of work to get done. Make sure you plan your coursework and manage your time well, and there are various resources at Herts to help you with this.’
About the course
The MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is designed for graduates in English, education, or languages, particularly those with little or no teaching experience who want practical postgraduate training in English language teaching. You can study full-time over one year or part-time over two, giving you flexibility to fit your studies around other commitments.
A key feature of the programme is its hands-on teaching component. From the very start of the two taught semesters, you will observe and then teach small groups of international students, gaining real classroom insight while being supported by experienced staff. You’ll plan lessons, prepare activities, and receive detailed, constructive feedback from peers and tutors to help you grow confidently.
Alongside developing your teaching practice, you will study modules that link key theoretical ideas with real classroom application and build your research skills. Small group teaching ensures you receive close guidance and regular opportunities to reflect on your progress and development as a teacher.
Key modules include:
- Approaches to Teaching and Learning Languages: Explores how second languages are learned and taught, considering key issues in SLA and teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and professional identities
- Methods and Materials in ELT: Develops your ability to evaluate and adapt teaching materials to meet curriculum and learner needs.
- Linguistic Analysis for Language Teaching: Provides an in-depth study of English phonology, grammar, and pragmatics to strengthen your understanding of the language.
- Teaching English as an International Language: Examines how English is used worldwide and the implications this has for teaching.
- Course and Syllabus Design: Offers foundational skills for those interested in designing courses, language schools, or tutoring services.
- Research Methods and Dissertation Skills: Prepares you for your final-semester dissertation, allowing you to explore a TESOL topic of your choice in depth.
Overall, the programme combines practical teaching experience with a strong theoretical foundation, supporting your development as a reflective, informed, and confident English language teaching professional.
Why choose this course?
Top reasons to study MA TESOL at the University of Hertfordshire
You will be:
- teaching students throughout the taught part of the course
- gaining both teaching skills and in-depth subject knowledge
- learning about research-informed practice and developing your own research skills
- equipped to choose from many career options including teaching English in different countries; teaching English for Academic or Specific Purposes (EAP/ESP) at university level; progress to a more senior teaching position such as Director of Studies or teacher trainer; set up an online tutoring business; marketing; publishing, materials design; examining; PhD study
- receiving an exceptional learning experience. We're proud to have ranked 10th for education and teaching in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, 2024).
What will I study?
One day a week is spent on teaching practice, including supervised lesson preparation, and discussing and receiving extensive feedback. Lectures are supplemented with workshops, seminar discussions, and out of class reading. Free English language support is offered through English for Academic Purposes courses run through the University library.
Key staff
Dr Gwyneth James
Find out more about Dr Gwyneth James
Further course information
| Programme specifications | |
|---|---|
| MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Full Time, Sem A | Download |
| MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Part Time, Sem A | Download |
| MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Full Time, Sem A | Download |
| MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Part Time, Sem A | Download |
| Additional information | |
|---|---|
Sandwich placement or study abroad year |
n/a |
Applications open to international and EU students |
Yes |