The Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL) offers you flexibility in choosing study pathways that fulfil your individual needs and ambitions.

Incorporate your professional experience into your study

The Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL) will build your knowledge and skills and improve your ability to teach English to speakers of other languages. The qualification offers extensive opportunities to engage with curricula from a TESOL perspective, try out new approaches in your practice, and reflect on your experience as a TESOL professional.

Get real-world skills

Become a highly prized and skilled teacher through a sought-after qualification that meets your professional development needs. This programme will prepare you to contribute to research and professional understanding in a range of TESOL-related educational levels and research contexts in New Zealand and abroad.

Courses and assessments 

Your assessments offer options to work on TESOL-specific issues and contexts as part of both the taught and research pathways. The compulsory course 272.705 Advanced TESOL for Diverse Learners and Contexts will deepen your TESOL-specific knowledge and skills by examining a range of teaching approaches for integrating English language and content, the development and evaluation of TESOL-specific curricula, and a critical reflection on TESOL-related theory, practices and current trends in practices and current trends, including digital technology and assessment.

Draw on Massey’s research strengths

Master’s study includes a research component. On the Master of Applied Linguistics you’ll complete a research report (60 credits) or thesis (120 credits), supported by leading TESOL researchers.

Your qualification options

Please note that this programme is not a pathway to becoming a registered teacher in the New Zealand primary and secondary school setting. If you want to become a teacher, please explore your options in our education pathways tool.

TESOL is a fast-growing area internationally. You’ll gain skills and experience that will prepare you for careers in language teaching and other areas related to language teaching research and practice, and in supporting those who operate in multilingual contexts in New Zealand and abroad (for example, teachers, learners, migrants and refugees.)

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers throughout the tertiary sector, and hold positions of responsibility in such institutions as Auckland University of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, Canterbury University, Massey University, and IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute. Others are employed at universities in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific, including Danang University (Vietnam), Naresuan University (Thailand), American University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), University of Putra Malaysia and University of South Australia.