Recommended Study Sequence

Click unit name to reveal description:

Admission

Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

Applications from Australian citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

International applicants must apply directly to the University of Western Sydney via UWS International.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof can be found on the Universities Admissions Centre website (UAC).

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and UWS.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points which include the units listed below. Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate on completion of the relevant units.

Exit Awards

Contexts of TESOL

This unit introduces students to the field of TESOL and to some of the social and academic contexts which influence it - adult education, linguistics, cultural and migration factors, curriculum studies. It provides students with some insight into the key issues in these fields which impact on the teaching and learning of English as a second or other language.

Functional Grammar

This unit explores systemic functional grammar which relates language to its use in cultural and social contexts. This model of language is used in a wide variety of fields - teaching in school subject areas, teaching ESL, languages other than English and literacy, researching language in a range of settings. Students will explore functional grammar through texts from a range of social contexts.

TESOL Methodology and Curricula

Focusing on the process of teaching English as a second or other language, the unit provides students with knowledge about approaches to teaching necessary to plan, design and evaluate curricula most appropriate to the needs of different learners. Students will develop skills in action research to facilitate critical evaluation of their teaching practices as independent professionals.

TESOL Internship

This is a professional practice unit which consists of an internship in an English language teaching organisation for students of TESOL. It involves participation in the various aspects of the work of the teaching organisation, including a supervised English language teaching practice component for local students. Assessment items facilitate students' self-reflection on their teaching practice and critical evaluation of teaching methods and needs assessment in practice.

Language and Linguistics Research Methods

This unit aims to help postgraduate students acquire the knowledge and skills to design and carry out a research project in the field of Languages and Linguistics (i.e. Contrastive Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Language-in-Education Planning, First and Second Language Acquisition, Interpreting and Translation, Discourse Analysis and Descriptive Linguistics). It includes theoretical and practical work in specific areas of research in Languages and Linguistics.

Investigating Second Language Acquisition

This is an elective unit for honours and postgraduate students of languages and linguistics to provide a focused theoretical and research framework in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) from a psycholinguistic viewpoint. This unit widens the theoretical and methodological basis of those students intending to undertake further studies and/or research in the Linguistics and SLA area and also serves the language teachers interested in applying SLA-based knowledge to pedagogy and classroom research.

Master of Arts (TESOL)

The Master of Arts (TESOL) and the Graduate Diploma in TESOL provide graduates with a professional qualification for teaching English to speakers of other languages.

TESOL at UWS is offered at the Bankstown campus, one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse regions of Australia. UWS TESOL values bi- and multilingualism, with our staff having extensive experience and expertise in the fields of TESOL, linguistics and languages.

The School works closely with UWSCollege and other language teaching providers in Sydney to organise internship placements, to access current industry trends, resources and expertise in teaching methodology, and to identify resources and trends in the field.

The new UWS internship program leads the field in connecting students with language teaching providers in Sydney. A TESOL qualification is a means of combining work and travelnopportunities, with employment opportunities readily available in Australia and other countries.

It equips students with an internationally valued skills set, enabling them to communicate and exchange ideas with people of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and to learn more about other cultures and languages.

Career Opportunities

With a Master of Arts (TESOL) or a Graduate Diploma in TESOL you can find employment in Australia in a range of private and government settings. An example is UWSCollege, where international students learn English through the ELICOS program (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students). The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is another option. This Australian Commonwealth Government-funded program provides English language tuition for newly arrived migrants and refugees at various centres across the country.

Course Details

Location

Bankstown

Duration

1 Year full-time or 2 years part-time.

If you do not meet the Admission Requirements, you may consider:

Bachelor of Arts (Interpreting and Translation)
Bachelor of Arts (Languages)

Do you need more information?

Request a course and application information pack:
Course Enquiry Form
International Course Enquiry Form

For further assistance contact the UWS Course Information Centre.