Have you ever wondered what drives language and its relevance to human behaviour? It might surprise you to know that there are many areas of language learning that you may not have considered from phonetics to syntax, semantics to morphology.
If you have studied a relevant degree such as English or Foreign Languages or even have some practical experience working in the field of linguistics or foreign languages, you may be curious to delve deeper into the history of language.
With an MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, you can level-up your understanding to see how deep linguistics reaches into human history and where language derives from in our cultural history. This learning can then be applied to your own language teaching, as the history of language has played, and continues to play, a vital part in how we learn and teach second languages.
If you’re looking to advance your own education and improve your teaching abilities, then here are five reasons why studying Applied Linguistics and TESOL could be a great opportunity for you.
1. The Career Opportunities
Linguistics opens significant doors to wider career opportunities like translation, copywriting and lexicography. In fact, a linguistics degree is extremely versatile and can be used across many disciplines from language therapy to marketing and business. Plus, the transferable skills that you gain will make it a great addition to your CV.
Additionally, the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification puts you in a good position to be able to teach following the completion of your degree, as you will gain teaching experience as part of your studies.
A TESOL qualification is internationally recognised, meaning that you can find work abroad teaching new languages to others eager to learn, and experience the wide variety of cultures that the world at to offer.
Studying linguistics can lead directly into teaching English as a Foreign Language, and a specialism in applied linguistics will give you the opportunity to examine how different dialects are constructed across the globe.
This experience will provide you with crucial international perspective as a linguist, with first-hand research and experience in teaching and understanding language.
ARU also offers an Employability Service with access to quality careers advice, interview preparation, and an Employability Programme designed to help you make the most of your future.
With employment opportunities being so diverse for linguistic graduates, there are multiple opportunities to apply your linguistics training to a variety of fields. You can even use your education to pick up freelance work in teaching or translation, enabling you to travel widely – enhancing your lexical knowledge and understanding of language is used internationally.
2. The Financial Support
A higher education degree is an investment in your future, but with financial support it’s easier than ever to reduce the burden on your wallet.
If you are an EU or UK resident, Postgraduate loans are available through Student Finance England for up to £11,836 to cover tuition and living costs.
For students who are self-funding the course, the university can offer a spread of payment in three instalments across the academic year to minimise the impact on your pocket. Because a linguistics degree can be undertaken through distance learning, you’ll have the opportunity to earn while you learn, fitting your study around your existing work commitments – being in full-time employment is not an obstacle to your academic success!
In fact, if you are employed and looking for a place on the course, you may also be able to gain sponsorship from your employer to pay for a portion of your course, as furthering your education can be in your company’s best interests.
Additionally, if you have successfully completed the Bell English DELTA Programme, there is a 60-credit exemption, which in turn, reduces the tuition fee and may also reduce the time needed to complete the course as a result.
3. Study Online or In-Person
At ARU, our Applied Linguistics and TESOL MA can be studied on-line or in person at our Cambridge campus, giving you full autonomy over your learning.
In-person teaching is conducted in the evenings at our campus, so it can fit well around commitments such as work and childcare.
Studying remotely is also more environmentally friendly than studying in a traditional campus setting, as research has indicated that distance learning produces 85% fewer CO2 emissions per student.
4. Rich Course Content
Throughout the duration of the course, you will get the chance to study sociological and sociolinguistic models and theories, enhance your transferable skills and hone your linguistic analysis abilities.
And if you choose to study at ARU, you will be assessed through a combination of portfolios, classroom observation tasks, and critical essays, as well as a 15,000 word dissertation that allows you to research the topic that you are most interested in.
The TESOL qualification will also educate you with several essential transferable skills for employment like time management, crisis management, and leadership skills that will serve as valuable tools in whichever career path you choose to embark upon after graduation.
So, Why Choose Linguistics?
Graduating with a Masters in Applied Linguistics and TESOL is an investment your future that will benefit you for years to come.
Not only is the field of linguistics rich with the potential for academic research and the promise of solid and high-quality teaching experience, but it also contains all the tools to provide you with the skills to further your current career, or kickstart a brand new one.
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