Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Taught)

MA TESOL is a postgraduate degree for educators with at least two years of teaching experience who want to deepen their understanding of how English is learned and taught. It covers language analysis, teaching methodologies, learner development, and specialist areas within TESOL.
The course is led by experts and provides both theoretical grounding and practical insight into effective English language teaching. It equips professionals to respond to diverse learner needs, to use evidence‑based approaches, and to specialise in emerging or in‑demand areas such as technology‑enhanced learning or English for academic purposes.
Graduates can pursue a wide range of careers in the global TESOL field, including roles such as English language teacher, curriculum developer, teacher trainer, programme administrator, consultant, or specialist in areas like young learners, teacher education, academic English, or English‑medium instruction.

Student profile: Yi-Chun Pan
"I chose Teaching Languages to Young Learners and Global Learning in UK Primary Schools as my optional modules. I found these courses interesting because they were both closely related to my previous working experience in primary school."
Yi-Chun Pan, MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for Young Learners

Why study at Leeds:

• Learn from expert academic staff specialising in areas such as second language teacher education, English medium instruction, digital language learning, motivation, language assessment, corpus linguistics, and vocabulary.

• Build strong academic writing skills through a bespoke, year‑long academic literacy course designed specifically for TESOL students.

• Take part in regular TESOL Forum sessions exploring current ideas and research, and contribute to a student‑led postgraduate taught conference.

• Study within a friendly, supportive environment created by staff who understand the challenges of adapting to a new cultural and learning context.

• Engage with the world‑class Centre for Language Education Research (CLER) and its influential research and classroom projects.

• Access opportunities to enter prestigious awards, such as the British Council Master’s Degree Dissertation Award and other recognised competitions.

Rankings and awards

• Top 100 in the world for Education and Training, QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

• 1st in the UK for Childhood and Youth Studies, The Complete University Guide 2026

• Top 100 in the world, QS World University Rankings 2026

Where this degree could take you
Choosing this degree gives you a real edge in a competitive job market and opens the door to an exciting career - whether you want to work at home or explore opportunities around the world.

Student profile: Abayneh Haile
“After graduating from Leeds, I was employed by British Council as Programme Manager for the English language department. I believe my time in Leeds has helped me both to secure this job.”
Abayneh Haile, MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Career support
Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years by the UK's leading employers, The Graduate Market 2026, High Fliers Research
At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.
Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

Visit our website for the latest information on which modules we offer. https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/a613/teaching-english-to-speakers-of-other-languages-ma

We assess your learning on modules in varied ways, including written assignments, oral presentations, and posters. These assessments will require you to read widely and use relevant literature to support your arguments. You’ll be expected to demonstrate your critical understanding of TESOL debates and the application of theory in classroom contexts.

Clear guidelines and structured support will be provided for all assessments. Module tutors will also offer formative feedback to help you with your assignments.