About This Course
Bangor University’s MA in Applied Linguistics for TEFL is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to non-native speakers of English.
Alongside teaching practice, the programme provides competence and critical understanding of a wide range of aspects of the English language and English linguistics (sociolinguistic aspects of English, the history of English, 2nd language acquisition, psycholinguistics as well as issues pertaining to English as an international language and bilingualism).
We are an accessible, friendly Department whose staff who are passionate about passing on their expertise and subject knowledge and committed to delivering the highest quality learning experience for our students. We're committed to providing an excellent student experience with strong personalised student support throughout the duration of your MA Applied Linguistics for TEFL studies.
On our Applied Linguistics TEFL MA you can use state-of-the-art learning facilities. Our staff also have expertise in and provide support for the following:
- Statistical software such as: SPSS, R-Statistics and Excel
- Experimental psychology software such as E-Prime, GORILLA Experiment Builder, Open Sesame and Webexp
- Acoustic and phonetic analysis software such as: Audacity, Praat, and SIL Speech Analyzer
- Standardised psychometric /language tests (e.g., EVT, BPVS, NARA, WISC, K-BIT, TROG, CELF)
- A wide range of specialized corpora and concordance software including CHILDES and CLAN
At Bangor you will be part of a vibrant, innovative post graduate research community which is supported through various events throughout the year, ranging from individual talks to informal seminars and workshops to large conferences.
Why Study MA Applied Linguistics for TEFL at Bangor University?
- Develop hands-on experience in lesson planning, task instruction design, and practical teaching.
- Develop advanced knowledge of English linguistics and gain the skills, confidence and practical insight needed to teach English as a second language.
- Learn from academics who bring cutting‑edge research directly into the classroom, making your learning relevant, engaging, and applied.
- Join a supportive, vibrant postgraduate community where we'll get to know you and your ambitions.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
This master's programme is designed to give you the confidence to take your next step in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). During the degree you’ll gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge learning from academics working at the forefront of linguistics research, ensuring your learning is both relevant and connected to the real‑world.
The course develops your understanding of the English language in depth. You’ll enhance a range of valuable transferable skills, including advanced research and analytical abilities, confident presentation and problem‑solving skills, effective teamwork, and strong time‑management to help you meet deadlines with assurance.
Compulsory modules:
- EFL Theory – Learn about the theoretical foundations of teaching English as a foreign language and examines key issues faced by teachers and learners.
- Second Language Acquisition and Language Teaching – Explore how second languages are learned, the processes involved, and the implications for effective language teaching.
- Teaching EFL – Delve into major EFL teaching methodologies and develop your ability to evaluate and apply them. We’ll look at practical components such as classroom observation and supervised teaching of non-native learners.
- Linguistics Research Methods – Develop skills in qualitative, quantitative, experimental, and ethnographic research methods in linguistics and applied linguistics helping you prepare to design and complete an independent Master’s-level dissertation.
- Dissertation – Complete an independent research project and write a dissertation under the guidance of a supervisor.
Non-native English speakers may be asked to take zero-credit courses with ELCOS to help with their English, unless exempted by their tutor.
You'll also be able to choose from some optional modules, tailoring the course to your interest and career goals, with topics including sociolinguistic aspects of English, the history of English, child language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and corpus linguistics.
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change.
This course will be taught through a combination of:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Oral work
- Computer exercise
- Self-study
- Field study
Teaching and learning methods used vary according to the subject matter and level of the module.
Assessment will involve a mixture of:
- Take home exams
- Essays or reports
- Oral presentations
- Computer exercises
- Article reviews
This information is for guide purposes only and may be subject to change.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Applied Linguistics for TEFL MA Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Entry Requirements
2(i) undergraduate degree normally required in a relevant discipline and/or relevant professional experience.
Applicants who do not speak English as their native language must pass the IELTS English test with a score of 6.5 (with no element below 6.0).
Students who have an overall score of 5.5 on the IELTS can take a summer presessional course in the University’s English Language Centre for Overseas Students (ELCOS) prior to beginning their MA.
Careers
Bangor University’s MA in Applied Linguistics for TEFL will give you a detailed understanding of how to teach English as a foreign language for various professional purposes across the globe.
In addition to gaining classroom experience you will have the opportunity to develop strong research and analytical skills as well as the ability adopt/use different strategies for communication and presentation in English in a range of multilingual and international contexts.
Studying TEFL gives students who wish to go on to teach English to non-native speakers the theoretical and linguistics background they need as well as offering practical, classroom experience. Opportunities exist to teach in countries all over the world, for example, in universities, colleges or private language schools.
After successful completion of the MA in Applied Linguistics for TEFL, you may decide to pursue an academic career and apply for a PhD.
Typical roles include:
- Language Teaching*
- Translation and Interpretation
- Language Technology
- Publishing and Editing
- Research and Academia
- Forensic Linguistics
- Language Policy and Planning
- Corporate Communications
- International Relations and Diplomacy
* This degree is not a formal teaching qualification, additional training may be required.
