Page 21 - ELG2111 Nov Issue 478

TEACHER TRAINING
Moving up the ladder to do a Master’s and aim for work in, for with a bewildering choice of specialisation at
For those with a cert and a couple of years of example, universities, teacher training or Scotland’s University of St Andrews and – in
teaching under their belt, the question arises: management. This is the point where doing hybrid form with an optional DELTA – the
“Do I want to stay in this sector and, if so, a higher-level degree really can get you a Norwich Institute of Language Education in
how do I get a better job?” The answer is, to higher-level job in any number of fields. the East of England.
get a better job, you probably need a better For those wanting an on-campus option,
qualification and, traditionally, the choice Choosing a Master’s the geographic choice is wider still, whether
has been between a DELTA-type teaching For any teacher considering a Master’s, the in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin or in New
qualification or a Master’s. first question is: can I afford to take a year out Zealand at Victoria University. And beyond
Outside the UK and Europe there isn’t of employment or do I have the staying power the Anglo-Saxon world there are several great
really a choice at all, because almost nobody to do one online while I work? It’s not a courses in Singapore and Hong Kong. Always
outside of the British-owned language schools question anyone else can answer for you, but remember, however, that a US Master’s and
really knows what a DELTA is. Actually, it’s the good news is that there is a lot on offer in many Canadian ones take two years, not one.
a great, solid, teaching course which teaches both modes of delivery. Do your research. If you want to go the
you all the things about teaching you wish When it comes to an online TEFL-related university route, check which department the
you’d known all along, but it’s expensive, Master’s, the UK and Australia have the Master’s is in and search under that subject
time-consuming and schools pay little if any most to offer. If you’re thinking of a job in the area on the QS global subject rankings.
extra money to teachers who have one. Now university sector, it’s the research ranking of Nottingham and Birmingham have two
even directors of studies (Dos) in accredited the department of the university rather than different Master’s in two different ranking
UK schools don’t need dips (and, anyway, UK the university itself you need to think about. departments: education and English. Check
Dosses make peanuts, as we report on page 6). For applied linguistics, for example, Lancaster out the student websites, ask around and for
Unless you have a good job, the spare cash in the UK and Maquarie in Australia are both goodness’ sake look at the course details and
and are looking to be a better teacher, dips are in the top 50 in the world. the research interests of the staff who teach it.
probably not worth the investment. If your If you’re looking more towards teacher Don’t worry if you make a mistake, though,
school needs a dip teacher, they can pay for training or perhaps school management, you A Master’s can change your life. At least one
you to do one: after all, the British Council, might lean towards one with a practical bent friend of mine wanted to focus on grammar
IH and (sometimes) Bell all do. and an emphasis on the classroom, such as teaching, with a plan of going into publishing
So, you have two real choices: stay in the one on offer in Australia at the University afterwards, and ended up at a university which
schools, but switch to mainstream – in which of New England or the hybrid course which had a heavy emphasis on language testing.
case you could consider an iPGCE (see page mixes online with an in-person summer Luckily for him, there is a world shortage of
22); it’s the same price as a dip, but the jobs school at the School of International Training language testers and he now works for a major
you can get pay double. Or you can choose in Vermont. There are even online courses exam board.
EHU TESOL 18.11.2021 93mmx135mm.qxp_Layout 1 19/11/2021 12:00 Page 1

MA TESOL

1 year full-time,
2 years part time (face to face) available September 2022
Online options also available from September 2022

• Expand your career options in the world of English language teaching

• Explore research and theories which underpin and inform practice

• Enhance professional knowledge through optional modules in areas
including the Management of TESOL
• The online option allows you to study while working

Find out more at: ehu.ac.uk/tesol

search Edge HIll

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