The MSc TESOL & Intercultural Communication program at the University of Strathclyde equips individuals with the theoretical and practical skills to teach English to learners from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Through a comprehensive curriculum that combines language teaching, intercultural communication, and research methodologies, graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers as English language professionals, including teaching, course design, and research. The program offers both full-time and part-time options, fosters a global TESOL community, and provides a personalized professional learning experience.

MSc TESOL & Intercultural Communication - University of Strathclyde

Degree Overview:

The MSc TESOL and Intercultural Communication degree is designed for individuals seeking a career in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). It is also suitable for those already working in the field who wish to enhance their professional knowledge, skills, and career prospects. The program addresses the learning, teaching, and use of English by speakers of other languages from an intercultural communication perspective. It draws on the expertise of educationalists, linguists, and literature/culture scholars. The course options allow students to explore issues across these disciplines or specialize in one area. Recognizing the evolving role of English in a complex multilingual and multicultural world, the program equips students with the theoretical and practical skills to teach English to learners with diverse social, cultural, and communicative goals. Students will gain a deeper understanding of language learning and language use in intercultural contexts. They will engage with key issues related to language teaching and intercultural communication, developing theoretical knowledge and practical skills for language-related careers in a linguistically diverse world.

Outline:

The program is structured over three semesters:

Semester 1:

• Two compulsory classes:
• Contemporary Issues in Language Teaching:
This module explores key issues in second and foreign language education, encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences and engage in critical debate. It focuses on developing practical skills in analyzing, evaluating, and designing innovative language teaching materials, with a particular emphasis on sociocultural theory's impact on language education. Topics include communicative language teaching, task-based language learning, content and language integrated learning, sociocultural theory, developing listening and speaking skills, developing reading and writing skills, and material development.
• Language Learning in a Multilingual World: This class examines key ideas relating to second language acquisition (SLA) through a shared reading of a recent journal article.
It explores various aspects of multilingualism, second language acquisition, language development, meaning-making, contexts for learning and using languages, classroom learning, motivation and investment, identity, agency, ideology, and neurobiological mechanisms.
• Two research classes (students choose two):
• Introduction to Intercultural Communication:
This class critically applies linguistic analysis of discourse, conversation, and other verbal behaviors within a theoretical understanding of meaning communication. It examines languages in contact, the relationship between language, culture, and thought, and other theoretical and practical issues in intercultural communication.
• Research Methodologies & Reasoning: This module, running over both semesters, introduces education and social research methodologies within the context of professional development and practitioner inquiry.
It aims to develop students' understanding of research traditions and approaches, their implications for professional development, and the wider social research environment's role in policy and practice.

Semester 2:

• One compulsory class:
• Research Methodologies & Reasoning:
(Continues from Semester 1)
• Students choose from a selection of options:
It emphasizes research-informed and context-situated approaches, viewing teachers as agents of change who contribute to both top-down and bottom-up curriculum design and enactment. Students develop knowledge and practical skills in creating and working in a digital environment for language education, considering ways to develop students' 21st-century skills as language users/learners and teachers. Topics include digital technologies in language teaching, theoretical models in digital education, digital storytelling, blended learning, flipped classrooms, computer-assisted language learning, computer-mediated communication, digital game-based language learning, augmented reality, and assessment.
• Contemporary Scottish Cultural Studies: This class engages with materials from Scottish cultural, historical, and literary studies, exploring primary literary and cultural materials in a historical and theoretical context.
Students develop skills in textual analysis and critical engagement, gaining an understanding of the relationships between literature, culture, and theories of nationalism. They also develop awareness of major issues in contemporary Scottish culture and apply sophisticated theoretical approaches to these issues. It considers the implications for understanding stories from outside one's own culture, a fundamental issue in intercultural studies.
• Re-imagining TESOL in the 21st Century: This module connects the sociolinguistics of English as a global language with the "politics" of TESOL today.
It examines the history and spread of English, the emergence of World Englishes, the concept of English as a "global" language, standards of English, the teaching of English in TESOL, multilingual interactions using English as a lingua franca, and the relevance of being a "native speaker" of English in TESOL identity. It aims to initiate change in ELT and reimagine TESOL in the 21st century, encouraging teachers, teacher educators, and researcher-practitioners to analyze learning/teaching contexts in relation to Global Englishes, examine relevant research, and consider pedagogical implications for ELT in their local contexts.
• Transcultural Fandom and British Popular Culture: This class explores fan studies, a rapidly growing discipline, and the increasing visibility of fan cultures in academic scholarship and popular culture.
It examines how fanfiction and fan culture can serve as an entry point for young English language learners into informal reading and writing in English. It also considers how knowledge of fanfiction communities' writing and reading practices, often involving transforming or translating works from English into other languages and vice versa, can be applied to classroom engagement with new uses of English in intercultural communication. By focusing on internationally known British cultural properties and their global circulation and adaptation, the class encourages critical reflection on the use of British culture in teaching English language and the dissemination of ideas of "Britishness."

Summer Semester:

• MSc students write a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words on a topic related to the course or their professional practice and future career aspirations.

Assessment:

Assessment methods include:

• Written assignments: essays and reflective journals
• Materials development
• Presentations

Teaching:

• On-campus lectures, seminars, and tutorials
• One research class is available through online teaching

Careers:

Graduates are well-positioned to start or enhance careers as English language professionals, both domestically and internationally. Potential career paths include:

• English language teacher
• Course designer
• Course director
The program also offers a route into research-oriented careers, with options to pursue a Doctor of Education or Doctor of Philosophy.

Other:

• The program is offered both full-time (12 months) and part-time (24 months).
• The program has a global TESOL community, with students from the UK, France, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam, Nigeria, and other countries.
• The program provides a highly personalized professional learning program, enabling students to become autonomous and reflective ELT practitioners.

2024/25 Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland Full time - £8,700 Part-time - £4,350

• Please note, Year 2 fee will be subject to an increase
International £19,600

Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation