Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics
Overview
Rationale
- Designed to enhance the theoretical understanding and practical teaching skills of English Language professionals in the Asia-Pacific region who are interested in obtaining a postgraduate qualification in teaching ESL/EFL.
- The Diploma will benefit language lecturers, teachers and specialists in the region who have a first degree and at least 2 years of teaching experience.
Aims
With successful completion, participants should be able to:
- Apply relevant and appropriate key theories in the field of ELT/Applied Linguistics to their own teaching contexts;
- Discuss the main processes and issues involved in second language learning in the era of globalization; and
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major teaching and assessment approaches, methods, and techniques that have been widely used and discussed in the field of ELT/Applied Linguistics.
Period and Nature of Study
The period of study is from 1 July to 12 December 2025 (24 weeks). Participants are required to attend 10 weeks (about 2 and a half months) of compulsory residential school:
- Weeks 1 – 6 (1 Jul – 8 Aug): Residential Phase 1
Weeks 7 – 18 (11 Aug – 31 Oct): Online Phase
Weeks 19 – 20 (3 – 14 Nov): Break
Weeks 21 – 24 (17 Nov – 12 Dec): Residential Phase 2
Participants will do three (3) blended (online) modules in their home country during weeks 7 – 18.
Delivery
- This course consists of six modules:
- Three are delivered in a blended mode, combining on-line and face-to-face teaching; and
- Three are delivered entirely face-to-face with some asynchronous online and flipped learning sessions during the residential phase at RELC.
- Learner Training is provided to familiarise learners with the learning management system to be used for the online learning.
Structure
Description of Modules
This course consists of six modules:
- Three are delivered in a blended mode, combining on-line and face-to-face teaching; and
- Three are delivered entirely face-to-face at RELC.
The sequence and mode of delivery of the modules are subject to change.
Title
Teaching Listening and Speaking
Description
Mode of Delivery: Face-to-Face
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
This module aims to develop course participants’ understanding of the theoretical bases for teaching listening and speaking in ESL/EFL contexts. It examines and explores various approaches to teaching listening and speaking. It also familiarizes participants with the teaching of sub-skills and strategies involved in listening and speaking. Participants will be tasked to plan and carry out microteaching of listening and speaking lessons as part of the module assessment.
Title
Principles and Practices for Teaching Grammar
Description
Mode of Delivery: Face-to-Face
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
This module prepares course participants to teach grammar in a wide variety of intra/international contexts. The status of English as a global language has prompted a shift in the ways in which English grammar is conceptualized, learned, and taught. In addition to introducing course participants to different conceptualizations of language/grammar, they are also engaged in critical discussions on a variety of pedagogical principles and practices for teaching English language grammar. In light of these discussions, the module provides participants with an opportunity to design their own lesson plans, and assessment tasks that can potentially be implemented in their own teaching and learning contexts. The issues surrounding teaching grammar and future directions for researching/teaching grammar are also discussed.
Title
Teaching Reading and Writing
Description
Mode of Delivery: Blended
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
This module deals with the principles, design, and procedures in the teaching of reading and writing in ESL/EFL situations as well as in a multimodal world. The integration of theory and classroom practice will be achieved via sample lesson plans and microteaching sessions. Key reading theories and writing approaches will be explored and discussed vis-à-vis the course participants’ teaching and learning contexts. There will be a special focus on helping participants to make the transition from traditional print-based literacy to multimodal-based literacy (reading and viewing; writing and representing) involving more than one mode of conveying meaning – spoken, written, visual, gestural, and spatial.
Title
Language Assessment
Description
Mode of Delivery: Blended
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
This module introduces the basic theoretical principles related to language assessment. Course participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own language assessment practice in relation to their teaching objectives. There will also be hands-on practice in the planning, designing, and grading of assessments related to receptive and productive language skills. Additionally, this module will explore the rationale for assessment for learning and the key approaches in implementing such classroom-based assessment.
Title
Technology-Enhanced Language Learning
Description
Mode of Delivery: Blended
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
In today’s technologically driven society, learning languages has gone digital and classrooms have become increasingly high-tech. How should our English Language teachers respond to the use of technology in their classrooms? What is the role of technology in the teaching of the English Language? How do Second Language Acquisition (SLA) concepts and methods be made evident in the classrooms that use technology? These questions and issues will be covered in this module. The module will familiarize participants with the current approaches, concepts, principles, and practices of the use of technology in the teaching and learning of ESL and EFL. Participants will have the opportunity to select, evaluate and curate digital learning tools in their application of SLA concepts and methods in their own teaching contexts.
Title
Language Curriculum Design and Implementation
Description
Mode of Delivery: Face-to-Face
Mode of Assessment: Continuous Assessment and Exam
This module combines current language curriculum theory and curriculum design approaches with hands-on application. It also examines the types of language syllabus featured in textbooks and course materials used by teachers and their students in different ESL and EFL contexts. Through a combination of input sessions or lectures, group discussions and learning activities, and classroom tasks, participants will be familiarized with key concepts and approaches related to syllabus and course design, as well as the challenges and issues concerning language curriculum planning and implementation. Participants will be tasked to propose and design a short course or a unit of study for a targeted group of learners as part of the module assessment. The course/unit of study proposal will include clearly defined course aims and learning outcomes, the proposed course outline, structure and suggested content, and a description of the principles that guide the content and sequencing, the format and presentation, and the monitoring and assessment of the course/unit of study.
Admission Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualifications) in Linguistics, English Language, TESOL or Education;
- At least two years of recent full-time English language teaching experience or recent experience in English language curriculum planning and language development programmes#; and
- Candidates must meet the minimum language scores for any of the following:
- IELTS: 6.5;
- TOEFL: 550 paper-based/543 ITP; 213 computer-based; 79 internet-based/iBT;
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): score of 65 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 58);
- GCE O Level English: B4;
- GCE A Level General Paper: C6;
- Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): C;
- SPM 1119 English: B (GPK/PNG 3.00)/Kepujian Tinggi;
- STPM General Paper/English Literature: B- (CGPA/HGMP 2.67);
- Malaysian University English test (MUET): Band 4;
- CU TEP with a score of 65 (equivalent to IELTS 6.5);
- APTIS (B2/C1) or Linguaskill (>176) (equivalent 6.5 IELTS);
- Duolingo English Test (>120) (equivalent 6.5 IELTS); or
- Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176, with each skill score no less than 169.
#: 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 : 24 April 2025
To apply for this course, please submit the following documents to our email address at sa@relc.org.sg.
- Application Form (completed and endorsed)
- Officially certified copies of the applicant’s certificates of degrees/diplomas
- Officially certified copies of the applicant’s 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.)
- Officially certified copies of current/valid IELTS or official TOEFL results for applicants from non-English medium education systems
Note: Shortlisted candidates not residing in Singapore will be required to undergo a medical examination in their home countries as part of the application process. We will provide the necessary details to them in due course.
Please submit a soft copy of the above documents to RELC via email at sa@relc.org.sg
Fees
Year 2025 Course Fees
Registration Fee: SGD 85.00
Course Fee: SGD 6,594.50
*All Course Fees and Registration Fees include 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
• Cheques should be crossed and made payable to the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre; and
• An administrative fee of SGD 50.00 (inclusive of GST) will be imposed for cheques which are dishonoured.
• 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 course successfully, the candidate must satisfy the below criteria. A course participant whose progress has not been satisfactory may be required to terminate his/her candidature.
- Obtain a pass in all modules
- Satisfy face-to-face class attendance requirements; and
- Satisfy online mandatory course requirements in terms of the completion of forum postings, quizzes and assignments.
Award
The course will lead to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics.
