Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MTESOL)

Overview

A one-year full-time programme jointly offered by the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and SEAMEO RELC. Click the Course Information tab on the right for the full course details. You can also download the application forms under the ‘Application Details’ section. Course fees will be updated once available.

Aims

Victoria University of Wellington’s Masters of TESOL attracts English language teachers from around the world who wish to upskill and become more effective in classroom teaching, assessment and curriculum design. Teachers in the programme are equipped to:

  • Prepare and critically assess teaching materials
  • Plan a programme of language study
  • Account for individual differences and difficulties in language learning
  • Monitor and assess learners’ progress
  • Advise teachers on effective procedures and interventions
  • Read and evaluate research, theory and descriptions of classroom practice in language teaching
  • Plan and carry out their own small-scale research studies

Period and Nature of Study

  • The programme will begin on 22 February 2027 and end on 4 February 2028.
  • Students are expected to arrive at RELC on 21 February 2027.

Duration

  • Students are required to be in Singapore for 2 trimesters (33 weeks) of compulsory residential school.
  • Students will complete the final trimester (12 weeks) in their home countries.
  • A summary of the schedule is as follows:
    Period Date Nature of study
    Weeks 1 to 33 (Trimester 1 and 2) 22 Feb to 8 Oct 2027 Residential
    Weeks 34 to 38 11 Oct to 12 Nov 2027 Break (in the student’s respective home countries)
    Weeks 39 to 50 (Trimester 3) 15 Nov 2027 to 4 Feb 2028 Online from scholars’ respective home countries
    Academic schedule
    Trimester 1 22 Feb to 28 May 2027 4 courses
    31 May to 25 Jun 2027 1 course (RELC-intensive)
    Trimester 2 5 Jul to 8 Oct 2027 4 courses
    Trimester 3 15 Nov 2027 to 4 Feb 2028 3 courses

(Note: Dates listed are tentative and subject to change.)

Structure

Students are required to successfully complete 12 courses to be awarded the MTESOL. 

Applicants with the RELC Diploma in Applied Linguistics (or equivalent qualification) may be given exemptions of up to 4 courses. The courses offered during the 2027 academic year are as follows. Please note that courses are subject to change.:

Title

LALS 510 Listening and Speaking in the Language Classroom

Description

This course explores a range of principles and practices for the teaching and learning of listening and speaking skills in the second/foreign language classroom. Drawing on evidence from classroom research, the course explores evidence-based proposals for addressing the practical issues that teachers face in planning and and implementing instruction. Particular emphasis is given to the design of classroom materials, activities and lessons, and principles for managing classroom learning.

Title

LALS 511 Teaching Reading and Writing

Description

Examination of the principles behind the effective teaching of reading and writing skills in another language and the application of these principles in the preparation and use of teaching materials.

Title

LALS 512 Exploring Grammar Using Corpus Linguistics

Description

An analysis and evaluation of diverse pedagogical interventions intended to facilitate grammar acquisition, with a view to helping practitioners optimise their design of course materials and classroom activities.

Title

LALS 515 Language Curriculum Development

Description

This course will enable students to critically assess current and historical claims about language curriculum development and employ context-specific evidence and relevant literature to support the assessment. It also enables students to Identify and assess learning needs in a specific context, and propose ways to meet these needs to improve learning experience in that context. Students will be able to identify and analyse a curriculum problem in a specific context, propose a solution for this problem, and propose a procedure for evaluating the process and outcome of the solution.

Title

LALS 519 Language and Learning in EMI and CLIL Contexts

Description

This course examines the theories and practices of English Medium Instruction (EMI) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in multilingual contexts. It explores how content, language, cognition, and communication interact in learning through English, drawing on research in applied linguistics, SLA, classroom interaction, and multilingual pedagogies. Participants will examine key EMI and CLIL frameworks, including the 4Cs framework, classroom discourse, learner strategies, and assessment. The course also focuses on designing and evaluating CLIL lessons and materials, while encouraging reflection on professional and contextually responsive practices.

Title

LALS 520 Second Language Acquisition

Description

LALS 520 introduces course members to theories of second language acquisition. It explores linguistic, psychological, and educational factors that bear on the abilities of children and adults to understand and use second languages. The course emphasizes the application of SLA research to second language pedagogy.

Title

LALS 522 Teaching and Learning Vocabulary

Description

The study of second language vocabulary learning and teaching, including factors that influence vocabulary learning, the roles of incidental acquisition and deliberate learning, how to select words for learning and how to assess vocabulary knowledge.

Title

LALS 523 Assessment for Learning in the Language Classroom

Description

The study of the theory and practice of language assessment, with particular reference to classroom learning and teaching. The course mainly focuses on classroom-based assessment for formative purposes.

Title

LALS 525 Learner Autonomy and Learning Strategies

Description

This course will enable students to critically examine the theories behind learner autonomy and learning strategies in language learning, as well as synthesise major research findings on learner autonomy and learning strategies and design their own studies. It also enables them to integrate theories and research into their own classroom teaching practice.

Title

LALS 528 Classroom Research

Description

The course focuses on the role of teachers as researcher who are seeking their classroom teaching/learning environment. It combines current reflective language teaching theory with the development of a hands-on action research plan.

Title

LALS 529 Task-Based Language Teaching

Description

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) has been extensively theorized and researched in recent decades and widely adopted in language teaching and learning internationally. Drawing on theoretical and classroom perspectives, this course explores task-based course design, teaching, and assessment. It considers the practicalities of adopting TBLT in contexts familiar to teachers on the course.

Title

LALS 530 Teaching English as an International Language

Description

An analysis and evaluation of diverse pedagogical interventions intended to facilitate grammar acquisition, with a view to helping practitioners optimise their design of course materials and classroom activities.

Title

LALS 582 30-point Research Project

Description

The collection, analysis and interpretation of data relating to a research question arising from course work in the MLing, MTESOL or MAppLing programme, leading to a 12,000-word report. Permission of the Programme Director must be obtained before enrolling in this course.

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the programme are:

  1. A Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, English Language, Education or a language other than English (or another relevant degree);
  2. At least two years of recent professional experience in language education or other areas of applied Linguistics#;
  3. Candidates must meet the minimum language scores for any of the following*:
    • IELTS or IELTS Indicator Test: Overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0;
    • TOEFL internet-based test (iBT): Overall score of 90 with a 20 in writing;
    • Pearson Test of English: 65 with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 58;
    • Duolingo English Test: Overall score of 120 with a 90 in the Production subsection;
    • LanguageCert (Academic): C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) HIGH PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS or C2 Mastery International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS (https://www.languagecert.org/en/study-in-new-zealand).

*Singaporeans may submit GCE ‘O’ level English results in lieu of these.

Applicants with a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics conferred by SEAMEO RELC or an equivalent post-graduate qualification may be eligible for a four-course exemption.

#: Nominees whose teaching experience is not recent or current but who intend to take on a teaching role after the course should indicate this plan/ intent clearly in section 3 (personal statement) of their completed RELC application form.

Application Details

Closing Date : 11 November 2026

To apply for this course, please submit the following documents to our email address at sa@relc.org.sg.
  • Officially certified copies of your transcripts. Where a transcript is in a language other than English, it should be accompanied by a certified translation into English. (In the absence of a transcript, a certified statement on the degrees/academic qualifications achieved with a listing of subjects studied and subject examination results is required.)
  • Reference letters (The two reference letters can be from an academic staff who has supervised you or a current/previous employer.)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Scanned copy of your passport (must be valid from the time of application until the end of the residential phase)
  • Officially certified copies of current/valid IELTS, official TOEFL, Pearson Test of English, or Duolingo English test results
*Note: Only for applicants not residing in Singapore. Applicants not residing in Singapore will be required to undergo a medical examination in their home countries as part of the application process.

Fees

Year 2027 Course Fees

To be updated by end of June 2026.

All course fees and registration fees listed are inclusive of 9% GST.

Note:

• All fees are subject to change without notice;
• RELC does not accept any responsibility for accidents on journey to and from Singapore or in Singapore, or for the loss of baggage and other personal belongings in transit or in Singapore;
• RELC will also not be responsible for taking out air, travel and personal accident insurance for students; and
• Students are expected to incur additional costs for miscellaneous learning materials.

Payment of Fees

• The registration fee must be submitted together with the application form and supporting documents

• Fees are payable before the commencement of the course

• An administrative fee of SGD 54.00 (inclusive of GST) will be imposed for payments made in cash
(i.e., Applicants will have to pay an additional SGD 54.00 (inclusive of GST) if they wish to make a payment in cash to RELC).

• Participants are responsible for all bank transfer charges and must ensure that the final amount received by SEAMEO RELC matches the amount stated on the invoice.

• Enrolment will only proceed once we have received proof of the transaction (e.g. a copy of the transaction receipt or a bank statement showing the transaction), confirmed receipt of funds, and received a completed Health Undertaking Form, duly filled out by a registered physician in your country of residence. Please note that the Health Undertaking Form will be issued only when we send the Letter of Offer.

Refund Policy

• The registration fee is strictly non-refundable

• Cancellation of enrolment must be made in writing

• An Administration Fee of SGD 160.50 (inclusive of GST) will be payable if the notice of cancellation/withdrawal is made less than 5 calendar days from the date on which the payment is received

• Full course fees paid are non-refundable if the notice cancellation/withdrawal is made after 5 calendar days from the date on which the payment was received

• Withdrawals after the course has commenced will not be eligible for refund.

Graduation Requirements

To complete the programme successfully, the candidate must satisfy the below criteria. A programme participant whose progress has not been satisfactory may be required to terminate his/her candidature. 

  • Obtain a pass in all courses;
  • Satisfy class attendance requirements; and
  • Complete all on-line tasks, where applicable.

Award

The programme will lead to the award of a Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MTESOL) conferred by the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.