Master of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Master of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages
Deakin course code	E704
Faculty	Faculty of Arts and Education
Campus	Offered Burwood (Melbourne), Online For students who commenced prior to 2025 only
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	103877A Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
The final intake to this course was in Trimester 2 2024. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

As global interconnectivity continues to expand, so too does the need for English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers, whose vital impact can be seen across all levels of society, whether it’s in bettering business, diversifying education, or improving community wellbeing.

Study a Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and get equipped with the teaching skills and critical knowledge to lead non-native speakers to English mastery.

Your teaching qualifications could also help you secure higher-level roles both in Australia and abroad. Deakin’s Master of TESOL is internationally recognised and taught by experts with global experience in the field.

Want to expand your career options and personal impact, both domestically and internationally?

This course takes an interactive, problem-based approach to teaching, allowing you to develop practical skills that translate directly to the classroom. It also focuses on research-led learning, ensuring course content is evidence based, and the skills you learn reflect the modern challenges of the field. Key study areas include:

principles and approaches to TESOL, including curriculum design and evaluation
the structure of the English language and how to analyse features of written and spoken text
linguistic and pedagogical aspects of language learning
how languages are learned and in what contexts
contemporary issues relating to language curriculum development.

In addition, you will explore the structural and cultural barriers new speakers face when learning English and learn how to help your students navigate them.

For students who are interested in furthering their knowledge, the course offers a research component that may comprise a pathway to a PhD.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period for each credit point undertaking required teaching, learning and assessment activities.

Professional recognition

This course will be recognised as professional development towards TESOL as a specialist teaching area.

Career opportunities

With a deeper understanding of the linguistic, cultural and pedagogical aspects of language learning, you will graduate as a self-motivated, well-equipped and culturally aware language teacher.

As a graduate of this course you will be equipped to pursue roles such as EAL teacher, head of EAL learning, or EAL curriculum designer and adviser, across a range of public and private learning institutions.

Note: this degree does not qualify students to work within school settings as a registered teacher in Australia. Students who wish to gain teacher accreditation should consider the Master of Teacher (Primary or Secondary) and the Master of Applied Learning and Teaching (Secondary).

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

Participation requirements

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Working with Children Check

Any unit which contains work-integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. Refer to the relevant unit guide.

Successful applicants who undertake the unit ETL706 are required to hold a valid Australian Teacher registration with an Australian State or Territory teacher regulatory authority and a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to undertaking professional experience placements in education settings, as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.

Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.

Inherent requirements

It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.

Immunisations

Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.

For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Master of Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (E704)

Alternative exits

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Critically analyse specialist knowledge of theoretical principles, concepts and methodologies which underpin contemporary approaches to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and apply this knowledge to plan, teach, assess and reflect for effective design and innovative learning programs across a range of language-related, professional learning and educational contexts.
Communication	Employ a range of oral and written communication skills and standards required of professional educators and learning professionals to be able to transmit complex knowledge in one or more languages to students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and in professional and scholarly contexts.
Digital literacy	Use expert knowledge of, and technical proficiency in, digital technologies that can be specifically used to creatively support teaching and learning practices in TESOL.
Critical thinking	Identify, synthesise and critically evaluate relevant theories that inform second language acquisition, TESOL principles and practices.
Problem solving	Demonstrate expert and specialist knowledge of relevant learning theories to identify, analyse and evaluate authentic problems of practice, and generate informed and innovative solutions.
Self-management	Apply the knowledge and skills required of professional educators and learning professionals to demonstrate autonomy, leadership and expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility in education contexts, research and for further learning.
Teamwork	Work effectively and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team to create solutions to authentic problems of practice.
Global citizenship	Apply self-knowledge and research to identify and address issues relating to the ethical and responsive teaching of languages in diverse communities, in a global context and with students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

Approved at Faculty Board August 2020

Course rules

To complete the Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages students must pass 8 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
6 credit points of core units
2 credit points of course electives

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Course structure

Core units

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

ETL700

Pedagogy for TESOL and EAL Learners

ETL705

Pedagogic Grammar

ETL713

Learning Global English in Diverse Social Contexts

ETL716

CLIL Pedagogy

EDX701

Research Design Development and Method

EDX707

Independent Research Project for Professional Practice

Electives

Select 2 credit points from:

ETL704

Language Curriculum and Assessment

ETL711

Learning An Additional Language

ETL706

Reflective Practice in EAL and Languages Classrooms

Work experience

Opportunities for work-integrated learning are provided through the professional placement unit [ETL706] which is available as a course elective to students who are eligible for teacher registration in Australia.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Alternative exit - additional information

The Graduate Diploma of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (E604) may be a useful exit point for those not wishing to complete a full Masters of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is an eight-point course consisting of the four units of the Graduate Certificate (E504) plus four core units from the Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Students with an existing registration for primary or secondary teaching in Australia can gain professional recognition for TESOL as a specialist teaching method area, and will receive RPL for the four units from E504 based on teaching experience.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.