Graduate Diploma in TESOL 2015/16

Course details

This is a graduate programme designed for appropriately qualified English language teachers with a minimum of two years relevant experience.

The Graduate Diploma will be of interest to language professionals who wish to advance their careers in TESOL in the public and private education sectors in Ireland and abroad. Graduates of the programme intend applying for posts of responsibility such as directors of study, examiners, senior teachers, managers, course designers or teacher educators in TESOL.

Admission requirements

Applicants should hold a primary degree (at least 2nd class honours or equivalent, in any discipline), have an appropriate initial training qualification in TESOL and have a minimum of two years relevant teaching experience in Ireland or overseas. The number of places on the course is stricly limited and selection is based on written application and interview. Applicants whose first language is not English should have an overall band of 7.0 in IELTS (with a 7.0 in listening and writing components, and no band score less than 6.5 in speaking and reading components).

Course components

The course is pided into eight modules across two semesters. The components of the course include:

• a study component comprising lectures, workshops and feedback sessions
• a practical component comprising teaching practice and fieldwork 

Progression to MA in TESOL

The Graduate Diploma in TESOL can be taken as a stand-alone programme/course. Students are eligible to apply for a transfer to the taught MA programme in Semester II. This progression would be contingent on students achieving a 2.1 (or equivalent) in their Semester I exams and coursework/modules. Students who progress to the MA in TESOL will follow a slightly amended programme in Semester II. They will then write a thesis in the summer months which will be submitted at the end of August. Students who gain access to the MA programme will complete the MA in August of the same year.

Please note that a further registration fee would apply for this upgrade from the Graduate Diploma to the MA. For further information please contact the TESOL administrator.

Semester I - Modules

• TESOL - Describing English
• TESOL - Materials Development
• TESOL - Understanding Discourse
• TESOL - Methodology

Semester II - Modules

• TESOL - Researching TESOL
• TESOL - Teachers in a Global Context
• TESOL - Assessment (L Learning)
• TESOL - Specialist Fields