Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
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Master of Education (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)


General information

* Not offered in 2001
Course code: 2502 * Abbreviation: TEFL * Clayton campus and offshore: direct instruction * Course coordinator: Ms Marie-Thrse Jensen (telephone (03) * 9905 * 2819 or (03) * 9905 * 2784 for initial inquiries)

Target group

The course is designed to accommodate both teachers and novices and aims to develop these candidates' understanding of the theory and practice of teaching English as a foreign and international language in a range of contexts (elementary, secondary, tertiary and workplace) in a country where English is not the official language.
The delivery of the course in dual settings in Australia and the home country provides optimum opportunities for candidates to immerse themselves in the target language and culture, to experience a variety of teaching/learning approaches and to explore the implications of their acquired understandings in the settings most representative of their future professional context.
The specialism is available to cohorts of candidates from countries in which there is a cooperating university to conduct the course with the Monash Faculty of Education. This specialism consists of four semesters of full-time study. Part-time enrolment is not available.

Special admission requirements

Students should have a minimum requirement of a four-year (post-secondary Year 12) bachelors degree or a three-year bachelors degree plus a postgraduate course of study (postgraduate diploma) of at least one year (full-time). The disciplines within which the degree should be taken are arts/humanities and/or education. The degree may have been undertaken in either English or in a medium other than English. However, whether or not the degree has been taken in English, the applicant must present evidence of English proficiency as indicated in the next subsection. Applicants with successfully completed studies of English will be given preference.
Prior studies in Education are not required, although these may be necessary for employment purposes in some countries (eg Australia). It is the responsibility of the student to investigate the registration requirements of their target employment situations.

English proficiency

Those whose prior qualifications were not taken exclusively in English must also achieve an English proficiency rating in one of the following internationally recognised tests (note that the TOEFL must be accompanied by the TWE):

Test

Minimum rating

IELTS

6.0 (global), no rating below 5 - speaking must be a minimum of 5

TOEFL and
TWE

577
4.0 (preference to 4.5)


Staff experienced in the assessment of English proficiency will be present at the selection interviews and will be permitted to use their discretion in the event that any of the above scores are not achieved. Skills in using computers for word-processing will be assumed, although there will be opportunities to extend these skills on course. Appropriate library searching skills will be taught on course.

Course outline

The course is conducted for five weeks each year at Monash and the rest of the academic year at the cooperating university offshore. It offers a fixed sequence of subjects, all of which are compulsory, unless credit transfer has been permitted by the appropriate committee. The course consists of five coursework subjects and a research project focusing on an aspect of teaching and learning English as a foreign language (10,000 words). The major input for five of these subjects is provided by Monash staff during the residential periods at Monash each year in July and August, or any other time negotiated between Monash and the cooperating university. Some of the assignments for these units are completed by students in the cooperating university overseas under the supervision of staff there, and submitted to Monash for assessment. The other two coursework units are taught at the cooperating university overseas by suitably qualified staff there. The research project is undertaken under the same conditions overseas, and each project is assessed by one staff member from Monash and one from the cooperating university. The structure of the course is set out below.

First year

Second year

March to June

Other institution
Subject 1: EDF6231 The international context of TEFL

Other institution
Subject 4: EDF6234 Curriculum design in TEFL

July to August

Monash
Subject 2: EDF6232 Advanced English for professional practice in TEFL
Subject 3: EDF6233 Theory and practice of TESOL
Assignments completed by November

Monash
Subject 5: EDF6235 Research design in TEFL
Subject 6: Research project
Assignments completed by November


Note that months in which the residential period at Monash takes place may be negotiated with the cooperating university offshore.
This is a conceptual outline only. It gives a general indication of how the course will progress and is subject to change without notice. Students should consult their course coordinator to assist in planning their program. Please check the timetable for 2001 for subject availability via our website address at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/timetables/.

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