Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Taught)

Accelerate your career teaching English with our MA TESOL, designed for anyone with less than a year's teaching experience. Discover new and different approaches to teaching English as a second language. You'll enhance your knowledge of linguistics and educational theories to prepare for the next step in your teaching journey.

Uncover the close relationship between language teaching theories and practice with our experts in linguistics. We focus on training students to be English teachers via hands-on practice throughout the MA. You’ll gain the confidence and knowledge to apply language teaching theories and methods in your teaching career. We also offer a distance learning programme over 2.5 years – for more information see Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA (Distance Learning).

Course highlights

At Birmingham, you'll learn with other early career teachers of English and be taught by experts in linguistics. Our course is designed with your level of experience in mind.

You won't just learn how to teach English as a second language - you'll understand how the English language works too.

By the end of the MA, you'll possess a rounded knowledge of linguistics and English language teaching methods, ready to apply this knowledge directly in the classroom.

• Develop the English language teaching skills and knowledge you need to advance your career.

• Small group learning – discuss linguistic theories together and enhance your teaching skills by practising presenting your ideas.

• Learn from experts in a range of linguistic areas at a world Top 30 department for English Language and Literature (QS World University Rankings 2025).

• Tailored to your level of experience, gain the knowledge and skills you need early in your career.

• Dedicated hardware, software and data resources available at the Linguistics Research Laboratory.