BA Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Program Overview

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What do you need to know about the English language to teach it? How do you teach English in a variety of different contexts? Do you want to understand more about the types of contexts English Language teachers work in? Do you want to graduate with a professional qualification as well as a degree? Are you interested in starting a career in TEFL and in English Language Teaching in the UK as well as in international contexts? You explore a broad range of topics that give you a thorough grounding in English language, teaching methodologies as well as practical training in TEFL. You study topics including:

• Second language learning
• Foundations of TEFL
• Language in Society
• Practical training in TEFL methods linguistics and sociolinguistics
• The structure of the English language

In each year it is possible to take a modern foreign language option, if you wish, instead of an English language option. In your first year, you take two practical TEFL modules where you learn about teaching methodology, receive guided preparation sessions, and engage in teaching practice. Taken together, these modules are worth 60 credits and provide the content required for a TEFL-initiate qualification. On successful completion, you're awarded a stand-alone certificate in TEFL which will help you start your teaching career. We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021). If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in an established department, welcome to Essex. Why we're great.

• In your second year, you take teaching practice modules. On successful completion, these give you practical experience and a TEFL-initiate qualification recognised by the British Council.
• You are taught by lecturers who are internationally recognised for their research.
• Tailor your degree to suit your interests and career goals thanks to our wide range of optional modules

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

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Placement year

On a placement year you can gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our placements team . If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.

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Our expert staff

Our staff maintain excellent student-staff ratios with capped language-specific seminars. In theoretical linguistics, Kyle Jerro and Hannah Gibson work on the structure of words and sentences, focusing on English and other languages. Scott Lewis and Nancy Kula work on sound structure. In sociolinguistics, Rebecca Clift, Enam Al Wer, Ella Jeffries and Amanda Cole all work on different aspects of how language varies, and investigate which factors cause such variation. In applied linguistics, Karen Roehr-Brackin and Adela Gánem-Gutiérrez focus on the learning of second and further languages, whilst Tracey Costley, Christina Gkonou, Neophytos Mitsigkas and Nasser Jabbari focus on issues to do with the classroom teaching of English as a foreign language. In psycholinguistics, Claire Delle Luche and Laurie Lawyer use experimental techniques such as eyetracking and EEG to understand how children learn language, how adults process language, and what happens when language ability is impaired by brain disorders or other factors (e.g. hearing impairment). In all of these areas, we combine a theoretical approach with high-level, qualitative and quantitative, empirical and experimental technique; in particular, we have a strong interest in recent developments in inferential statistics.

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Specialist facilities

• Our ‘Visual World’ Experimental Lab records response times and eye movements when individuals are presented with pictures and videos
• Our Eye-Tracking Lab monitors eye movement of individuals performing tasks
• Our Psycholinguistics Lab measures how long it takes individuals to react to words, texts and sounds
• Our Linguistics Lab has specialist equipment to analyse sound
• An exciting programme of research seminars and other events
• Our Albert Sloman Library houses a strong collection of books, journals, electronic resources and major archives
• Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost

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Your future

Studying language and linguistics allows you to develop your research and IT skills by collecting and analysing linguistic data using state-of-the-art technology, and a combination of team-work and independent projects enhances your communication, problem-solving, and management skills. Graduates of our department have gone on to have careers in a wide variety of fields, including teaching (in the UK and abroad), journalism, branding, advertising, marketing, travel, communications, publishing, speech and occupational therapy, interpreting, translating and media. Other graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

• The British Council
• English in Action
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Macmillan Publishers
• Cambridge University Press
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• Decisive Media Ltd

We also work with the University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Program Outline

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

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Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose. Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

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Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits. In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available. Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

HR	100	4	FY
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.	The module number.	The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.	The term the module will be taught in. AU : Autumn term SP : Spring term SU : Summer term FY : Full year AP : Autumn and Spring terms PS: Spring and Summer terms AS: Autumn and Summer terms

Year 1 Year 2 Final Year This module introduces you to the production of language sounds and their distribution in words, in particular, but not exclusively, in English. You will study the basic principles of phonology and develop the knowledge required to understand and begin to analyse sound systems. You will also discuss phonological processes and investigate the context and motivation of occurrence. View Sounds on our Module Directory View Introduction to the Study of Language on our Module Directory This module explores significant methodological aspects of English language teaching from a theoretical perspective. You will understand how to apply the theory to practice through your lesson plans. View Theory and Practice in English Language Teaching on our Module Directory Discover how to describe and analyse the structure of words, phrases, and sentences in this introductory half module. With topics including the English parts of speech, word structure and the distinction between inflection, derivation and compounding, and the identification of phrases, you will gain a solid grasp of the foundational material for the study of English linguistics, whilst developing useful analytical skills. View Words and Sentences on our Module Directory Discover the role of variation in language systems, and learn the techniques and concepts needed to study the way language varies. You will look at geographical, social and historical dialects, explore language myths, and cover topics such as measuring language variation, social patterns and functions of language variation, speaker variables, and the relationship of language variation to language change. At the end of this module, you will have gained a clear understanding of the role variation plays in language systems, and will be able to look critically at the social functions and values of dialects and vernacular language usage. View Foundations of Sociolinguistics on our Module Directory This module provides an introduction to the teaching methodology associated with teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language. It aims to provide students with an overview of the key principles related to the areas outlined in the syllabus, and therefore provide a basis from which students may move onto the Initial Teaching Practice module, LG666. By the end of the module, students will have been introduced to the key methodology associated with TEFL and they will have developed their knowledge of productive and receptive skills in language teaching. Additionally, various techniques for organizing and managing the class will be explored, and the students will be introduced to lesson planning for the EFL context. Lastly, and importantly, this module will provide an overview of TEFL which is sufficient to prepare students for a more successful hands-on teaching practice module. View Introduction to TEFL Methodology on our Module Directory COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS (LG115-4-AU and LG119-4-SP) or Language option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) What are your skills? And how do they fit in with your career plans? Build your employability skills through this non-credit bearing but obligatory module. Attend workshops and events, engage in activities to raise your employability and build your knowledge of the graduate job market. View Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics on our Module Directory Put teaching theory into practice by planning and delivering a range of grammar, vocabulary and skills development lessons. Starting with a fully guided session and culminating in an independently planned lesson, the support from your tutor lessens each week as you develop your ability to prepare and plan your teaching. View Initial Teaching Practice on our Module Directory Discover the steps involved in undertaking a research project in language and linguistics and develop your own final-year project. Topics include: Reviewing literature; Formulating research questions and hypotheses; Choosing a suitable research design; Data collection; Analysis techniques; Reporting findings. You will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and lab sessions to build your knowledge, skills, and confidence in researching, structuring, and writing a research project. View Research methods for language and linguistics on our Module Directory This module explores the different contexts language teachers find themselves in and how this affects teaching practice and course structures. You learn how to develop and enhance materials and appropriate activities in order to get the best from your students.y learning. View Language Teaching in Different Contexts on our Module Directory This module covers topics in multilingualism and language contact. First, you will look at multilingualism at the level of the individual and cover topics such as language choice, diglossia, and code-switching. You will then consider multilingualism at the societal level and look at the outcomes of language contact. This will involve exploring the coexistence of more than one language within the same community and the issues that arise as a result including language maintenance and shift, the plight of minority and endangered languages and the emergence of Pidgin and Creole languages. View Multilingualism on our Module Directory COMPONENT 05: OPTIOL Linguistics option (15 CREDITS) COMPONENT 06: OPTIOL Linguistics option(s) or Language option (lower intermediate to proficiency) (30 CREDITS) What are your skills? And how do they fit in with your career plans? Build your employability skills through this non-credit bearing but obligatory module. Attend workshops and events, engage in activities to raise your employability and build your knowledge of the graduate job market. View Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics on our Module Directory COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS LG831-6-FY or LG832-6-FY (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 02: OPTIOL TEFL or Linguistics option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 03: OPTIOL Linguistics option(s) or Language option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) How do you select literature for a language class? What are the distinctive features of literature for classroom use? What practical activities can language teachers undertake using literature? Learn to incorporate literature into the language classroom. Examine novels, poetry and drama, and understand how to use drama in the classroom. View Literature and Language Teaching on our Module Directory COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS LG362-6-SP or LG378-6-SP (15 CREDITS) What are your skills? And how do they fit in with your career plans? Build your employability skills through this non-credit bearing but obligatory module. Attend workshops and events, engage in activities to raise your employability and build your knowledge of the graduate job market. View Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics on our Module Directory

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Year abroad

On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree. Our Programme Specification gives more detail about modules on your year abroad.

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Teaching

• Teaching is arranged to allow freedom in how you organise your learning experience
• Examples of practical work include digitally recording dialect speakers in a small traditional fishing community, or scouring digitised child language databanks
• Other teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations and learning by teaching others

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Assessment

• You’re assessed through a combination of coursework (assignments, essays and tests) and end-of-year examinations.
• Weighted 50% coursework and 50% exams depending on which modules you choose.
• Other assessment methods include quizzes, presentations, portfolios, group work, and projects.