Short course

TESOL: Language Teaching Methodology

Start date
Start date to be confirmed soon
Duration
12 weeks
Time commitment
8 hours per week
Mode
Online
Cost
£550
Subject
TESOL, Language Teaching
Level
Postgraduate Microcredential
Credit
10
Assessment
Individual assignment

Endorsed by

Discover the skills required to successfully teach English abroad

The number of English language learners continues to grow and with it comes a growing demand for qualified and experienced teachers of English.

This microcredential will help you become a better teacher of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and help you to progress your career in the UK and abroad.

You’ll delve into language learning theory and research-based teaching practices to equip yourself with the skills for a rewarding role as a TESOL teacher.

Discover teaching methods for delivering effective English language lessons

Influenced by the latest classroom teaching methodology, you’ll be introduced to different types of teaching for meeting every learners’ needs.

Covering key teaching concepts such as the communicative approach, you’ll learn when to use certain methods and hone your ability to evaluate different teaching ideas and materials.

Using this knowledge, you’ll learn how to plan and deliver a communicative lesson that is tailored to your learners.

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 programme

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: Insights into Language Teaching 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, which can be used as an alternative qualification for entry to our MA and PgCert TESOL distance learning programmes. 

I think it was a really well designed course. Dr Walker broke down some quite difficult concepts. He made the learning interactive. For example, if we were assigned a video to watch, he uploaded questions we should consider whilst watching in order to make the learning active

Student, Language and Teaching Methodology, 2022

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 will help you develop your teaching and your knowledge of how language works. The short course is designed to keep teachers up-to-date with current thinking and research in this growing field.

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 12-16 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.

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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 microcredential will benefit you if you want to develop your skills as an English language teacher, working either in the UK or abroad.

You could have some experience or you could be new to TESOL teaching and want an introduction to your career.

How to apply?

Applications to this course are now closed. Please check back for details of future courses and how to apply.

Weeks 1 to 3 - Basic Principles 

  • Introduction: Common Beliefs and Misconceptions
  • Acquisition vs. Learning
  • Pedagogic Grammar

Weeks 4 to 6 - How language works 

  • Lexis
  • Functions & Discourse
  • Lexico-Grammar

Weeks 7 to 9 - ELT Methodology  

  • Language Teaching Methodologies
  • The Natural Approach
  • The Communicative Approach

Weeks 10 to 12 - Lesson Structure

  • Task-Based Learning
  • PPP & Alternatives to PPP
  • Lesson Planning – Different Structures

What skills will you learn?

Working knowledge of the communicative approach

Knowledge of different teaching methods and approaches and how these relate to the communicative approach.

A wider knowledge of teaching techniques and how they can be applied in the classroom

Ability to plan and structure a language lesson Improved teaching skills in the area of teaching speaking, listening, reading and writing

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: Insights into Language Teaching microcredential course in order to achieve a total of 20 credits and therefore be eligible for entry to the PgCert or MA TESOL distance learning programmes.

If you are interested in entry to our PgCert or MA programmes, you can take TESOL: Language Teaching Methodology in January 2023, TESOL: Insights into Language Teaching in October 2023 and join the one of our distance learning programmes in February 2024.

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.

The skills you will gain

Understand and apply a communicative methodology

Design a variety of different types of communicative activity

Plan and deliver a communicative lesson

Design and deliver a lesson which focuses on speaking, listening, writing and reading

Meet your instructors

Dr Crayton Walker

Dr Crayton Walker, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics

My name is Crayton Walker and I work for the University of Birmingham as a Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics. I was a language teacher for 25 years before I joined the University.

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