Short course

TESOL: Insights into Language Teaching

Start date: TBC
Duration: 12 weeks

Time commitment: 8 hours per week
Mode: Online

Cost: TBC
Subject: TESOL, Language Teaching

Level: Postgraduate Microcredential
Credit: 10

Assessment: Individual assignment

Discover research and pedagogical insights to develop your practice

This microcredential is for individuals who are interested in how insights from different areas of linguistic research (including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and corpus linguistics) can inform language teaching.

You will be guided through the microcredential by the course convenor, joined by a team of researchers from the Department of English Language and Linguistics who will introduce their research and the implications of their findings for language teaching.

Discount for IATEFL members

We are offering a £100 discount for IATEFL members who apply for one of our TESOL microcredentials, either TESOL: Language Teaching Methodology or TESOL: Insights into Language Teaching. You will first need to apply for the course (applications will open soon for spring 2024) and then complete the discount form.

IATEFL member discount form

Explore the pedagogy of language teaching

By the end of this course, you will have gained an overview of recent research and pedagogical insights into language teaching and have identified resources for continuous professional development.

You will be encouraged to reflect on and develop your own teaching practice in light of these.

Who is this course for?

Recent graduates who want to become language teachers and have an interest in linguistic research
EFL / ESL teachers who want to inform their teaching practice with research and pedagogical insights from linguistics
Individuals who are interested in a “taster” of the University of Birmingham’s MA TESOL or Applied Linguistics distance learning programmes

This microcredential caters to both learners who have a general interest in language teaching and those who already have practical language teaching experience. The course is open to those who have already completed the TESOL: Language Teaching Methodology microcredential offered by the University of Birmingham, but this is not a pre-requisite. On successful completion of both microcredentials, you will be awarded 20 UK Credits at Postgraduate level from the University of Birmingham.

What skills will you learn?

Apply insights from the fields of cognitive linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and corpus linguistics to your language teaching practice
Explore the use of the English language across a variety of social, professional, and international contexts
Use digital technologies, corpora, and literature in the language classroom
Communicate complex ideas in the field of language teaching effectively

How to apply?

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for TESOL: Insights into Lanuage Teaching. You will create an account with the University application system and complete a short form to register onto the course.

Applications are now closed. Information about the next intake will be available in due course. Please register your interest to receive updates.

I will be your convenor for this microcredential, guiding you through this course that aims to share language teaching implications from our respective research specialisms.
Peter Browning, Lecturer in TESOL

Learn alongside experts at The Department of English Language and Linguistics

With more than 20 years of experience running TESOL programmes globally, you’ll benefit from the expertise of specialists at The Department of English Language and Linguistics and the University of Birmingham.

This microcredential provides you with a route into TESOL teaching, helping you gain valuable teaching skills to pursue a career in this in-demand role.

What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.

Learn online with expert instructors: Complete online courses led by experts over 12 weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.
Complete project-based assessments: Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.
Earn a professional credential: Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.
Advance further in your career: Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.

Are you eligible for this microcredential?

This microcredential is designed for those with some experience of learning and/or teaching a language undergraduate qualification. It will also suit you if you have a language teaching qualification (e.g. CELTA or any other recognised qualification in any language).

You should also have a high level of proficiency in English (IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in any band) and a reasonable level of digital literacy.

Is this microcredential right for you?

This course is best suited to:

Recent graduates who want to become language teachers and have an interest in linguistic research
Language teachers who want to inform their teaching practice with research and pedagogical insights from linguistics
Individuals who are interested in a “taster” of the University of Birmingham’s MA TESOL or MA Applied Linguistics distance learning programmes

Throughout the 12 week programme you will cover research and pedagogical insights including:

Introduction

Induction to your microcredential at Birmingham
Introduction to applied linguistics and implications for language teaching

Insights from cognitive linguistics

Insights from cognitive linguistics that are relevant to language learning
The role of the L1 in English language teaching

Insights from sociolinguistics and discourse analysis

The concept of the native speaker in the context of a global language
Teaching English as a lingua franca and translanguaging practices
Business discourse and teaching English for specific purposes

Insights from sociolinguistics and discourse analysis

Pattern Grammar in the context of pedagogic grammar
Online corpus applications to language teaching
The use of literature in language teaching

Concluding the course and continuous professional development

Keeping up with linguistic and pedagogical research and next steps

What skills will you learn?

Apply insights from the fields of cognitive linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and corpus linguistics to your language teaching practice.

Explore the use of the English language across a variety of social, professional, and international contexts.

Use digital technologies, corpora, and literature in the language classroom.

Communicate complex ideas in the field of language teaching effectively.

What you will receive

10 UK Credits at Postgraduate level from University of Birmingham

On successful completion of this microcredential course, you will be able to use the 10 academic credits awarded for this to apply for advanced entry to the University’s PgCert or MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), distance learning.

You will also need to successfully complete the TESOL: Language Teaching Methodology microcredential course in order to achieve a total of 20 credits.

A Postgraduate Microcredential certificate from University of Birmingham

Certification of UoB academic credit for PG microcredential courses is through production of an official University of Birmingham Postgraduate Microcredential certificate and transcript managed by UoB Student Records.

Meet your instructors

Peter Browning , Teaching Fellow

I am a sociolinguist with a background in English language teaching and teacher education who works at the intersections of Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics and TESOL. I have carried out research and taught in a number of HE contexts both in the UK and abroad and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I will be your convenor for this microcredential, guiding you through this course that has been designed close collaboration with colleagues to share language teaching implications from our respective research specialisms.