Dip (PG), 1 year full time/2 years part time
Subject overview
The Sussex Centre for Language Studies is concerned with all aspects of language teaching and learning, including teacher education and language classroom research.
The hallmark of our degrees is the practical and relevant application of theory and research, designed to enhance your professional standing and career prospects in English Language Teaching (ELT) and related fields of work.
The Centre runs a state-of-the-art digital multimedia language learning centre, for use by teachers and learners.
The Centre offers teacher training in ELT (Trinity College London Cert TESOL) and short professional development courses for international teachers of English.
Programme outline
This course focuses on the theoretical and practical issues that impact on the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and English as a Second Language (TESL/TESOL). The Postgraduate Diploma is designed to develop knowledge and critical understanding of current theories and research in language acquisition, and relate these to the practice of English language pedagogy.
The course is aimed both at experienced language-teaching professionals worldwide and those with language-/ linguistics-based degrees but little or no language-teaching experience. Options, seminar groups and teaching practice are organised to reflect students’ previous experience and interests.
We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.
Autumn term: Language Analysis • Second- Language Acquisition and Research • a short foreign-language module.
Spring term: Principles and Practice in ELT. You also choose from a number of career-focused options (subject to student demand), which may include Advanced Practical Teaching* • Discourse and Communication Analysis • ELT Management • Practical Teaching Techniques and Observation • Teaching English for Academic Purposes • Teaching Young Learners • World Englishes.
*Students with appropriate previous teaching qualifications who successfully complete this module will be deemed TEFL-qualified at UK Diploma level, as defined by the British Council Accreditation Scheme.
Some modules are taught with students from the MA in Applied Linguistics.
Current modules
Please note that these are the core modules and options (subject to availability) for students starting in the academic year 2012.
Advanced Practical Teaching
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This practical module includes supervised teaching practice as well as classroom observation of different teaching modes and styles, giving you the opportunity to acquire TEFL qualified status as defined and required by the British Council Accreditation Scheme.
Discourse and Communication Analysis
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This courmodulese focuses on discourse analysis of spoken or written text in the widest sense. It will provide you with insight into methodological and ethical aspects of data collection. You will be introduced to observation and elicitation techniques as employed in dialectology and other branches of social linguistics, and to discourse transcription conventions.
Language Analysis
30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module provides an overview of the structure of language including language systems, lexis and phonology, and is designed to to develop the language awareness of English Language teachers.
Practical Teaching Techniques and Observation
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This practical module is aimed at inexperienced teachers from outside the UK and includes classroom observation of experienced teachers. You will have the chance to observe and discuss a range of different teaching styles and modes, and supervised peer and classroom teaching practice will enable you to develop your teaching skills as well as your understanding of a range of teaching methodologies and techniques
Principles and Practice in English Language Teaching
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This course focuses on the development of ELT from the traditional grammar translation method to the communicative approach, including PPP and its alternatives, as well as content-based teaching and task-based learning. You will pay particular attention to the teaching of language skills, grammar and vocabulary, and testing and evaluation. You will also investigate topics including individual learning styles; cross-cultural views of learning styles; recent research on multiple intelligences (M.I.) and developments in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and how these affect an individual's learning performance.
Second Language Acquisition and Research
30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
On this module you will study how languages are learned and how the different research methods in language learning may affect language teaching in the classroom. You will analyse theories of language learning and explore the difference between qualitative and quantitative research.
You will be expected to undertake a mini classroom research project at the end of the module.
Teaching Young Learners
30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module will examine the difference in approach between teaching adults and teaching children, as well as the differences between teaching young learners below the age of 12 and teenagers. You will consider the importance of content-based teaching and task-based learning, educating the whole child and second language learning and literacy, and factors such as age, creativity, motivation, learning difficulties and discipline will be discussed. You will analyse and evaluate different young-learner materials as well as different methods of assessment and examinations such as the Cambridge young learner exams.
Entry requirements
UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a Linguistics and/or English Language or a Modern Languages degree involving a significant linguistic component. Alternatively, a first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in any subject plus substantial work experience (two years full time or equivalent) in a language-related profession (eg language teacher, language support assistant, translator).
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications.
If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas
qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related programme
Fees and funding
Fees
Home UK/EU students: £3,6751
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,6752
Overseas students: £8,6753
1
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Sussex Graduate Scholarship (2013)
Region: UK, Europe (Non UK), International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 16 August 2013
Open to final year Sussex students who graduate with a 1st or 2:1 degree and who are offered a F/T place on an eligible Masters course in 2013.
Faculty interests
Specialist areas are described briefly below. For further information, visit the Sussex Centre for Language Studies.
Dr Andrew Blair Teacher education and identity, second-language acquisition, research methods in language education, English as an international language.
Jennifer Book Teacher training, materials development, young learners, English for academic purposes, technology in language teaching and learning.
Yolanda Cerda Gender and language, teaching young learners, discourse analysis, teacher education and beliefs, language and literature.
Alison Chisholm English for academic purposes, English language and study skills support for international students in Higher Education, teacher training.
Ray de Witt Teacher training, English for specific purposes, testing and assessment, IELTS materials development.
James Greenough Second-language acquisition and theories of learning, teacher training and development, English for academic purposes, grammar and lexis.
Jeremy Page Intercultural teaching and learning, bilingualism, teacher training and development, ELT management, curriculum design, testing and assessment.
Dr Simon Williams Teaching English for academic purposes, testing and assessment, approaches to listening skills development.
Dr Jules Winchester Sociolinguistics; intercultural communication; linguistic politeness; language use and identity.
Careers and profiles
This course may be attractive if you have an interest in:
- English teaching – in a school, college, university or private language school
- educational management as a senior teacher, principal or owner/manager
- language teacher training or research
- ELT publishing or media.
The degree provides the opportunity to undertake teaching practice, as well as to evaluate conceptual and practical frameworks, enabling you to reflect on language, language-teaching methodology and other issues relevant to your future professional roles, and to the wider educational and social context.
Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers around the world in public- and private-sector language teaching, universities and research, teacher training, management roles and in publishing.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
Sussex Centre for Language Studies
The Sussex Centre for Language Studies (SCLS) has a digital language laboratory and multimedia workstations for private study of over 60 world languages, and its highly qualified and experienced staff will make your learning experience relaxed but structured.
Dr Andrew Blair, MA ELT Course Convenor,
Sussex Centre for Language Studies,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678176
E a.m.blair@sussex.ac.uk
Sussex Centre for Language Studies (SCLS)
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.