This is the highest award of The College and is a mark of advanced professional standing.

The Fellowship in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is intended for experienced practising teachers of TESOL who seek an equivalent assessed master's level programme which, although academically challenging, adopts a pragmatic approach to study at this level and is centred on a workplace, classroom focussed, research project.

Learning at this level involves the demonstration of high level specialist professional knowledge and is appropriate for senior professionals and managers.

Perspective:

• The Fellowship TESOL course should be available to native and near native English speakers whose first or second language is English.

• The Fellowship TESOL should be suitable for those who teach internationally.

• The Fellowship TESOL should reflect current approaches to TESOL.

• The Fellowship TESOL should encourage candidates to develop self-evaluation techniques and record their progress.

Who is the qualification for?

The Fellowship is designed for TESOL teaching professionals and senior managers who are involved in internal projects as teachers, trainers, managers, and curriculum designers.

Entry requirements:

Candidates should be qualified or practising teachers, with a minimum Advanced Diploma Level 2 and two years’ experience of teaching English to speakers of other languages.

Exemption applicants will normally be required to have a relevant first degree or equivalent qualification. Application from non-graduates will only be considered if they have at least four years documented experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages. And if not speakers of English as a mother-tongue, must provide proof of proficiency in English sufficient for study at Master's level. The standard required is IELTS 6.00 or TOEFL 550.

All candidates must supply references and where appropriate an interview.

Course structure:

The Fellowship TESOL can be obtained by the submission of a thesis on an agreed area of TESOL education however a taught programme must be included. During the 36-week research phase, participants will collect and analyse data, write up and present their project in an 18,000 - 20,000 word dissertation. This research project should relate to the cultural and educational contexts of the participants' classroom environment.

Assessment outcomes:

A Fellowship TESOL will give the candidate the ability to employ effective classroom management techniques and have knowledge of current theories of language learning.

Level

Level 7 qualifications are at a level equivalent to honours Higher Education qualifications such as Masters Degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas.

The College of Teachers' qualifications are independently valid and stand alongside the National Qualification Framework (NQF) and Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).

The Fellowship TESOL is equivalent in level to NQF level 7, FHEQ M (Masters).