MEd Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Visiting Speakers

During the year, from time to time there will be talks by visiting speakers who are authorities in particular areas of Education.

Study Skills Classes

Classes are provided for language support study skills in terms 1 and 2 that will help you adjust to academic study. These classes are provided by INTO and, while optional, are strongly advised if English is not your first language (more information below).

An optional two-hour workshop is also provided in term 1 by the Education Quality and Enhancement unit on Critical reading and writing. This is open to all MEd students and is strongly recommended.

Writing support tutorials

In addition to the on-going one to one tutorial support you will receive from your lecturers throughout the year, you will also be able to seek additional one to one writing tutorial support from a tutor from INTO if English is not your first language, and from the Study Skills Service for those who have English as a first language.

Staff-student research seminars

A programme of seminars on researching various aspects of education takes place regularly throughout the year on lunchtimes and evenings. Many of these are given by visiting academics from other institutions. We also organise Research-Day events for MEd TESOL students to come over and present a snapshot of their masters dissertation topic to their tutors and classmates. You are welcome to attend any of these, but we will also highlight those we feel to be of particular interest or of relevance to your studies.

Research

Our programme is designed to relate theory to practice, allowing you to introduce effectively the knowledge, skills and understanding gained through our research-led modules into your professional work. You’ll get informed on a diverse range of research conducted by the TESOL staff on applied linguistics issues such as EAP, professional development, multilingualism, language skills and strategies, corpus linguistics, and discourse analysis.

A variety of placement options are available. Students may secure their own placement (with support from university advisors). Others may undertake a placement within the university, observing and working with teaching staff in the department. A small number of competitive placements may be available to apply for directly from university partners. Students may also opt for an online placement involving curated digital activities. You are encouraged to think about the variety of settings where education might occur and to consider experiences which will challenge your existing assumptions, perspectives and skill sets.

To access some placement options, you may require Disclosure and Barring Service clearance, which will incur a cost. Note that the administrative process for this can take several months, and international students may need to obtain documentation in their home country before applying for clearance. Please see information on DBS. 

The challenges will come from external University strategic partners, ensuring issues are current, cutting edge and relevant, whilst supporting employability. The module aims to teach you how to collaboratively, and critically, produce original ideas, and think innovatively about the future through research-based activities, fieldwork and creative workshops that blend the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities and business. 

Using appropriately innovative assessment techniques, the module will equip you to respond to the global complexity and uncertainty that you will inevitably encounter when you graduate. You will be taught using pedagogical innovations, working in transdisciplinary teams with facilitation through cutting edge Creative Pedagogies and Design Thinking. 

This module is particularly appropriate for international students seeking insight into UK business, creative industries and cultural contexts and employment possibilities. 

Feedback from students who have taken this module highlights its value and the additional skills it helps them develop:

"This module has changed my perspective and transformed my vision. I now have a new understanding of how educational processes and practices should be designed so that learners can acquire skills such as problem-solving, collaborative working, critical and creative thinking in a transdisciplinary way." - Canan, MEd TESOL  

"This module has made me more deeply understand the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. This diversity is also a key reason why I chose this course. I hope to interact with people who have different viewpoints and come from different fields to help me look at problems from various perspectives." - Joey, MA Creative Arts in Education

"Taking this module is one of the best things I've done as part of my studies at Exeter. This is the most exciting and creative course I have ever attended." - Linh Le, MEd TESOL

"I would definitely recommend this module, not only can students learn by means of interdisciplinary cooperation through group cooperation, but also can expand the scope of communication, promote international students to know more about local culture, and promote the communication between international students and other students, which is really very good." - Sherry, MA Creative Arts in Education

Career support

We have a good track record of graduate employment, and employers visit the University when recruiting. The EF recruitment team have visited the University to talk to our TESOL students about teaching and learning English in Chinese private language organisations, and conducted on-campus interviews. We also regularly receive details of job opportunities from Turkish and Chinese universities who are looking for high-quality language teachers.

Careers support including skills training, internships, jobs vacancies, employment fairs and other events is available through the Career Zone.