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College of Arts and Sciences
William Heidcamp, Dean
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Fatima Badry, Director
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL)
The mission of the master’s degree program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) is to provide students a balanced foundation of both practical and theoretical knowledge needed to teach English at various proficiency levels, and to prepare them for doctoral studies in areas related to language learning and teaching. By combining theory and practice, the curriculum aims to produce informed teachers capable of using theory to enhance their teaching practice.
Program Goals, Objectives and Learning Outcomes
To fulfill this mission, the program strives to:
- prepare students for positions requiring high levels of proficiency in teaching English as ESL/EFL at the secondary and tertiary levels
- equip its graduates with the required competencies to contribute to the field and be prepared to enroll in PhD programs
For more details, please visit www.edu/cas/matesol.
The educational objectives of the MA TESOL program are to:
- provide students with state-of-the-art knowledge in TESOL, and develop strategies for adapting that knowledge to serve the specific needs of the region
- explain the relation between the form and function of English
- demonstrate the practice of teaching English in ESL/EFL classroom settings
- provide students with knowledge about how languages are learned
- teach students how to evaluate the effectiveness and validity of different testing procedures
- develop students’ research skills
- enhance students’ awareness of the role of culture in learning and teaching in an ESL/EFL environment
- familiarize students with computer-assisted learning and teaching and supervise ESL/EFL classroom teachers
Upon graduation from the MA TESOL program, students should be able to achieve the following outcomes:
• assess various approaches to teaching language skills
• evaluate the effectiveness and validity of different teaching methodologies
• take initiative in developing appropriate teaching materials
• develop or adapt materials for special/learning teaching situations
• understand language testing concepts
• apply testing and assessment concepts to real classroom situations
• select appropriate tests for specific goals
• analyze and critique important theoretical positions in the field of applied linguistics
• adapt and apply theoretical concepts in grammar to actual ESL teaching practice
• identify personal and social factors that impact language learning
• recognize the complexities involved in language learning
• ask informed questions about the process of language acquisition
• understand the basic models explaining language learning
• apply pedagogical theories to teaching practices
• develop effective classroom observations skills
• use classroom research to improve teaching
• demonstrate critical, and practical knowledge in the field of computer-assisted/enhanced language learning
• conduct original research
• recognize the pedagogical potential of available technologies and develop curricula relying on these technologies
• supervise ESL/EFL teachers
Admission Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the university’s general admission requirements for graduate studies, the applicant must have a TOEFL score of 213 (CBT)/550 (PBT) or higher with a minimum of 5 on the TWE (Test of Written English). Only official ETS scores are accepted.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in English/linguistics with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B average) from an accredited institution are granted full admission. Holders of bachelor’s degrees in other fields who satisfy all admission requirements are granted conditional acceptance pending completion of ENG 223 Introduction to Language Study and ENG 401 Advanced English Grammar with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. These courses, however, may be waived with a minimum of two years of full-time English language teaching in an accredited institution.
Transfer Policy
The transfer policy is described in the Graduate Admission Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.
Academic Standing
Enrolled students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (B average) to remain in good standing. Students who fall below that level will be placed on probation and must raise their overall GPA to at least 3.0 within one semester to be returned to good standing.
Degree Requirements
The MA TESOL degree is awarded after successful completion of 36 credits at the graduate level. This consists of 10 graduate-level courses and a six-credit thesis supervised by a faculty advisor and committee. Students must complete the degree requirements within five years from the time of initial enrollment in the program. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation.
Required Courses (27 credits)
• ELT 510 Research Methods and Academic Writing
• ELT 511 Linguistics for ESL Teachers
• ELT 513 Language Acquisition and Development
• ELT 515 Methods and Materials Development
• ELT 551 Language Testing and Evaluation
• ELT 553 Technology in the ESL Classroom
• ELT 619 Practicum in TESOL
• ELT 699 Master’s Thesis
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Students must complete three courses (nine credits) from the following list, in consultation with their advisor.
• ELT 501 Advanced English Grammar
• ELT 503 Contrastive Linguistics
• ELT 504 Discourse, Semantics and Pragmatics
• ELT 505 Culture and the Language Teacher
• ELT 517 Curriculum Design
• ELT 521 Reading and Writing in ESL
• ELT 523 Bilingual Education
• ELT 531 Sociolinguistics
• ELT 567 ELT Leadership and Management
• ELT 611 Classroom Research
• ELT 615 Quantitative and Qualitative Research in ELT
• ELT 694 Special Topics in Applied Linguistics
The Master’s Thesis
The thesis must be prepared under close supervision of a faculty supervisor on a topic related to some aspect of TESOL. It must be defended to the satisfaction of the thesis committee, which is composed of three faculty members from TESOL program faculty. One committee member may be selected from outside the TESOL graduate faculty upon approval of the director of the program. The AUS Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses is available from the Office of Graduate Programs and online at www.aus.edu/gpr/graduate/thesesguide/index.php.
Academic Advising
Students work closely with their advisor in selecting elective courses that address their individual needs. The advisor also encourages students to develop professional portfolios that include samples of selected work such as research papers, teaching reports, projects and lesson plans.
Translation and Interpreting
Said Faiq, Director
Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting (MATI)
Translation and interpreting services are in demand now more than ever as the world market expands and the trend toward globalization gathers momentum. The vital role that English continues to play in international communication and the growing impact of the Arab region on world affairs combine to create a demand for highly trained English/Arabic translators and interpreters.
The Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting (MATI) degree at AUS is designed to respond to these demands. The program aims to equip graduates from a variety of disciplines with highly specialized translation and interpreting skills in English and Arabic. The program also addresses the need for upgrading the skills of professionals who are already working as translators and interpreters. Courses are intended to produce graduates conversant with the various forms of translation and interpreting required in the complex web of communication. This diverse range of skills is placed within a general theoretical framework, which provides the student with the conceptual tools to identify, analyze and resolve problems and develop a reflective approach to translation.
The MATI program enables students to achieve a high level of competence in English/Arabic/English translation and interpreting, provides them with advanced training in translation and interpreting techniques, and helps them develop a thorough understanding of translation theory and its relevance to the practical concerns of translators. In addition, students can further develop their knowledge of academic writing conventions and research methods. More details on the program are available at www.aus.edu/cas/mati.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to fulfill the university’s general admission requirements for graduate studies.
Full admission to the program is granted to applicants who hold a recognized BA degree or equivalent bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent) and 3.0 or its equivalent in 300- and 400-level courses in discipline(s) relevant to the program. In addition to the general admission requirements, non-native speakers of Arabic must hold a BA in Arabic. A TOEFL score of 213 (CBT)/550 (PBT) is required. Only official ETS scores will be accepted.
Conditional admission status may be granted to applicants with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (or equivalent) and a 2.5 or its equivalent in 300- and 400-level courses in discipline(s) relevant to the program, and at least three years of relevant practical experience in translation and/or interpreting. In such cases, the student must take Principles and Strategies of Translation (TRA 500) and another course as specified by the program director, and must attain a GPA of 3.0 (B) or above for that semester to achieve full admission and to be allowed to proceed.
Furthermore, applicants with a TOEFL score between 530 (197 computer-based) and 550 (213 computer- based) may be granted conditional admission for one semester but must meet the program’s required TOEFL score by the end of that semester. Only students who meet the TOEFL requirements will be allowed to continue in the program.
Transfer Policy
The transfer policy is described in the Graduate Admission Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.
Academic Standing
Enrolled students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (B average) to remain in good standing. Students who fall below that level will be placed on probation and must raise their overall GPA to at least 3.0 within one semester to be returned to good standing.
Degree Requirements
To graduate with the MA in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting, students must complete all the requirements of the program, which consist of 36 credits inclusive of a research thesis (eight required courses and three advised electives). Students must complete the degree requirements within five years from the time of initial enrollment in the program. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. Courses are offered during the weekday evenings.
Required Courses (27 credits)
• TRA 500 Principles and Strategies of Translation
• TRA 501 Terminology and the Translator
• TRA 503 Theoretical Models of Translation
• TRA 505 Interpreting and the Profession I
• TRA 509 Interpreting and the Profession II
• TRA 558 Contrastive Linguistics and Translation
• TRA 695 Translation Research Seminar
• TRA 699 Master’s Thesis
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Students must complete three courses (nine credits) from the course list below in consultation with their advisor.
• ELT 501 Advanced English Grammar
• TRA 502 Arabicization and Translation
• TRA 504 Discourse Semantics and Pragmatics in Translation
• TRA 506 Perspectives on Translation Quality Assessment
• TRA 508 Research and Academic Writing
• TRA 556 Rhetoric for Translators
• TRA 610 Intercultural Communication and Translation
• TRA 694 Special Topics in Translation and Interpreting
The AUS Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses is available from the Office of Graduate Programs and online at www.aus.edu/gpr/graduate/thesesguide/index.php.
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