This course is for individuals with more than 2 years English language teaching experience and it offers a comprehensive critique of the key concepts and theories that lie behind language teaching. You will take a critical professional perspective towards TESOL and Applied Linguistics in a global, cultural, political and educational context. Language is embedded in the social, cultural, personal, and interpersonal processes of human life, with complex forms and patterns that constantly develop to help us communicate more effectively. Thus, you will be encouraged to think of language as more than a set of rules. Instead, you will recognise language use as a complex process with personal, social and educational consequences, and you will acquire the knowledge and skills required to reflect critically upon your own language teaching practice. This course combines exciting subject-specific content with an emphasis on development of independent analytical and research skills, supported by knowledgeable, research-active staff. Our learning and teaching strategy is designed to deliver a stimulating and student-centred environment through a combination of lectures, seminars, group workshops and individual tutorials. You will engage with a range of technology enhanced learning (TEL) activities that support the learning and teaching principles, including a virtual learning environment that delivers specific course and module information, a range of course-related activities and online interactive reading lists. You will also have access to scholarly databases and can submit coursework electronically. Employability is woven into the course at all stages to develop your lifelong learning, critical skills and attitudes, presentation skills, and reflective and evaluative abilities. You will improve skills in motivation, show initiative and personal responsibility, be capable of making decisions in complex situations, and possess a thirst for independent learning. You will have demonstrated a critical awareness of the current research and scholarship within your discipline, helping you to interpret knowledge in a variety of professional fields. In addition, the course will strengthen your communication skills, media literacy, self-management and planning, ethical and professional understanding, as well as developing your research and inquiry skills. The MA has been designed to enhance promotion prospects, fulfilling industry demands for highly qualified graduates with the skills to work across a variety of professions – most notably English Language teachers and teacher trainers, managers, course planners, government advisers, inspectors, material developers and consultants. The course is also ideal for those looking to move into professional research, publishing and editing, and educational management. There is constant demand both in the UK and overseas for Applied Linguistics and TESOL graduates in other language-related professions, such as the media, the helping professions, communication, publishing and editing. Employment prospects for those holding the MA Applied Linguistics for TESOL qualification are excellent and graduates have gone on to good careers as English teachers overseas or in their home countries.