Field of Specialization
- Teaching English as a Second Language
Faculty and Administration
Dean
Ingrid Makus
Faculty of Social Sciences
Associate Dean
Dawn Zinga
Faculty of Social Sciences
Core Faculty
Professors
Thomas S. C. Farrell, David Hayes, Gary Libben, Ron Thomson
Associate Professors
Lynn Dempsey, Andrew Lee, Cheng Luo
Graduate Program Director
Ron Thomson
ron.thomson@brocku.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
Mae Leong
GradAppLingTESL@brocku.ca
https://brocku.ca/tesl
Program Description
Teaching English as a Second Language is a complex process, with a knowledge base combining such diverse areas as applied linguistics, language-teaching methodology, curriculum design, and testing. This MA program is designed to integrate these important elements in an educational experience promoting a high level of expertise and professionalism. Faculty teaching in the program bring a valuable range of attributes, including extensive international experience, hands-on proficiency in ESL teaching right here in Canada, capacity in a range of different languages beyond English, and energetic research and scholarship published and presented around the world. Graduates of this dynamic program will be well prepared as Teaching English as a Second Language professionals working in Canada or abroad and those who have completed a thesis will be well prepared for further graduate study at the doctoral level.
There are 4 program Schemes that can be followed: Scheme A, B, C, and D. Schemes A through C have a specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). Students can choose Scheme A, the Course-work and thesis route, Scheme B, the Course-work and Major Research Paper route, or Scheme C, the solely Course-work route. These Schemes all have a September entry point, and will be completed by the end of August (3 terms). Scheme D is a combination of Course-work and a Thesis, with no specialization in TESL. Students interested in this scheme may have a broader interest in linguistics than TESL alone. This Scheme will be completed in December of the second year (4 terms).
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of a four year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline with a minimum average of 75%. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission, who believe they may be eligible for admission, should contact the Graduate Program Director to discuss their admission qualifications.
Applicants should have a four year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) undergraduate background which includes English linguistics, TESL, or a comparable field, with courses relevant to the theory and practice of Teaching English as a Second Language (e.g. general linguistics, syntax, phonology, discourse analysis, or other linguistics courses with a focus on English; educational psychology or similar courses related to ESL learning; ESL teaching methodology; or ESL practice teaching). Applicants without the required subject background at the undergraduate level, but with a minimum overall average of 75%, may be admitted if they show strong academic performance on a graduate certificate in TESL from a recognized university and have relevant teaching experience.
Strong English language skills are essential for all applicants.
Candidates whose first language is not English and who have not completed 3 or more years of full-time study at a Canadian post-secondary institution are required to provide proof of English language proficiency as follows: TOEFL PBT 630/CBT 267/iBT 109, TWE 5.5 and TSE 55, or IELTS 8 and writing band 8, (no individual score under 7.5).
Applicants who submit TOEFL or IELTS, scores may be asked to submit a writing sample.
For students whose language scores do not meet the above standard, but do meet TOEFL PBT 550/CBT 213/iBT 80, TWE 4.5 and TSE 45, IELTS 6.5 and writing band 6.5, (no individual score under 5.5), Brock University offers a non-credit intensive language training course and writing mentorship program.
When applications are reviewed, the admissions committee will make an offer based on your language scores. If the intensive language training course and writing mentorship program are required, it will be noted as a prerequisite to admission in your offer letter. Students with this prerequisite will only be considered for Scheme B and C, and will not be eligible for funding.
Students interested in the program without a background in a relevant discipline are advised to consider, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, applying for the undergraduate TESL Certificate program also offered by the Department of Applied Linguistics. TESL Certificate graduates with a strong ‘B’ average (mid-70 or higher) are well-placed to apply for admission to the MA-level study of TESL at Brock or elsewhere.
Program Notes
Given the broad nature of the MA Applied Linguistics (General) concentration, additional graduate courses needed to fulfil degree requirements may also be taken outside of the department. For example, language related courses are available in Modern Languages, Psychology, Education, etc., which may be relevant to the interests of a particular student. Statistics courses may also be taken outside the Applied Linguistics Department. Such courses should only be taken in consultation with the student’s supervisor and Graduate Program Director, and must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee.
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