Postgraduate - CourseMaster of TESOL

NOTE: This course has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2014. For details of changes, please consult the Handbook change registerHandbook change register (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/2015-change-register.html).

This course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, educators or prospective educators working in English language teaching in international or local contexts and leads to a postgraduate qualification in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). It prepares students as language teachers in different global educational settings. It caters for those who wish to gain specialised learning in English language teaching and learning.

This course includes an independent research dimension requiring the knowledge and application of research principles and practices relating to a field of professional work or learning, or a capstone experience comprising professional experience and scholarship in a specific area of professional practice.

Student learning is sequenced from broad to deep across four tiers:

(1.) Orientation to education: introduces contemporary issues in the study of education to those who come into the course without previous qualifications in education or work experience in education-related fields.

(2.) Key constructs in education: presents key theoretical frames to understand ideas and research conducted across a broad theme.

(3.) Enhanced professional learning: deepens knowledge of particular ideas, specialist areas and practices.

(4.) Professional inquiry: extends scholarly work through systematic inquiry into public intellectual debate and educational issues.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

(1.) develop their understanding of core principles of language teaching and learning for TESOL classrooms

(2.) engage with current theory and practice for additional language acquisition and pedagogy

(3.) examine the role of social and cultural contexts in language learning and use

(4.) develop competence in a range of key areas in additional language acquisition, including content-based learning, curriculum development and assessment

(5.) develop critical and analytical skills in discussing relevant and substantive research in the field

(6.) extend disciplinary learning and applied research skills in a professional project

(7.) demonstrate competence in communicating ideas in an academic context.

Students who have completed previous postgraduate study may be eligible for credit up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the course. Block credit up to a maximum of 24 credit points is available for a bachelor's degree qualification (or equivalent) in a related discipline and a further 24 credit points are available for an honours degree qualification in a related discipline. Students with two or more years of full-time relevant informal learning may be eligible for recognition of prior learningrecognition of prior learning (http://monash.edu.au/education/future-students/apply/credit/).

This course consists of orientation units, key construct and enhanced professional learning units, and professional inquiry or research units.

Students complete one of the following structures as determined by any credit granted on the basis of their admission qualifications:

• Structure 1: 96 points over two years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 2: 72 points over one and a half years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 3: 48 points over one year full-time, or part-time equivalent.

Note: Students eligible for credit may elect not to receive it and complete one of the higher credit-point options if they choose.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Structure 1 - 96 credit points

Students must complete:

(A.) two orientation units (24 points):

• EDF4610 Interacting with research in education contexts
• EDF4611 Investigating education issues in global contexts

(B.) one or two of the following key constructs units (12 or 24 points):

• EDF5620 Leading education and work
• EDF5621 Challenging curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
• EDF5622 Developing learners and learning
• EDF5623 Deepening education and sustainability

(C.) three enhanced professional learning units (36 points):

• EDF5640 Language, culture and curriculum
• EDF5641 Pedagogy and assessment in TESOL
• EDF5642 Bilingualism and content-based programs

(D.) one or two professional inquiry or research units, depending on how many units are completed at (B.) (12 or 24 points):

Professional inquiry

(1.) Students complete:

• EDF5696 Professional practice for teachers of TESOL

plus, if only one unit is completed at (B.), one of the following units:

• EDF5691 Professional project
• EDF5693 Using and evaluating research evidence
• EDF5694 Taking a stand in education debates
• EDF5695 Self-study as professional inquiry
• EDF5814 Creative research approaches

Research

(2.) An alternative research pathway is offered to students who achieve a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent (high credit) in the units of this course. This is not available at the point of entry; however, students interested in this possibility must make space to pursue two units of professional inquiry by taking only one key constructs unit in (B.) above. Students invited into this pathway take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

Structure 2 - 72 credit points

Students must complete six units from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above as follows:

• one or two units from (B.) (12 or 24 points)
• three units from (C.) (36 points)
• one or two units from (D.) which must include EDF5696 (12 or 24 points)

Students interested in the research pathway possibility must make space to pursue two units of professional inquiry in (D.).

Structure 3 - 48 credit points

Students must complete four units from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above, comprised as follows:

• one unit from (B.) (12 points)
• two units from (C.) which must include EDF5641 (24 points)
• EDF5696 from (D.) (12 points)

Students who achieve an average weighted mark of at least 65 per cent (high credit) in their first two units and are interested in a research pathway should contact the student adviserstudent adviser (http://www.monash.edu.au/education/current-students/contact/) to discuss options.

Course progression

Refer to the course mapscourse maps (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/courses/maps/2015/) for guidance on how to plan your unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Master of Education

Students who have completed the following two units with a minimum mark of 65 per cent (high credit) in each unit may be eligible to apply for 0077 Master of Education, which is a research degree by thesis. Students choosing 3204 Master of Education, a research degree by thesis and coursework, may receive credit for 24 points towards the coursework requirements:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

Doctor of Philosophy

Students may be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) if they meet Monash University Institute of Graduate ResearchMonash University Institute of Graduate Research (http://www.monash.edu.au/migr/) eligibility requirements of a minimum weighted average mark of 70 per cent (distinction) for all units, and have achieved a minimum mark of 70 per cent (distinction) in each of the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

• Graduate Certificate of Education Studies after successful completion of 24 points of study at level 4 and above
• Graduate Diploma of Education Studies after successful completion of 48 points of study at level 4 and above.

Note: These awards do not qualify graduates to be registered or employed as teachers.

Master of TESOL