The courses and qualifications mentioned here are appropriate for experienced teachers of English, with English at C1 level or higher in the Common European Framework Reference for languages, and who want to take on a more specialist role, as a teacher trainer, materials or curriculum developer, area specialist, examiner or test writer, manager or advisor.

You may be specialising in one of these areas: business English; content and language integrated learning (CLIL); cross-cultural issues; curriculum design; English for academic purposes (EAP); English for specific purposes (ESP); ELT management; literature; materials design; new learning technologies; pronunciation; teacher education; testing, evaluation and assessment; young learners.

On this site, here http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/transform/teachers/specialist-areas ,we offer overviews of specialist areas, with details about specific courses and qualifications relevant to these particular areas.

Courses

What types of course are there?
A number of training providers in the public and private sectors offer suitable short courses for highly experienced teachers in specialist areas. When you look at the descriptions of short courses offered in these areas, check that the courses are not introductions to the particular topic, but offer an advanced level in the topic.

Longer courses, normally leading to postgraduate awards, for those who are specialising in aspects of ELT are offered particularly at university level in the UK. The range of awards includes:

• Postgraduate certificates
• Postgraduate diplomas
• Bachelors in TESOL/ELT
• Masters in TESOL/ELT (including specialist topics such as ESP, EAP)
• Doctorates

The courses offer a range of learning modes: part-time, full-time; blended, distance learning.

A growing number of institutions offer single subject or joint degrees in ELT/TESOL. Joint bachelor degrees include such possibilities as BA (Hons) in Criminology and TESOL.

Around 45 universities in the UK offer certificated, diploma and Masters' courses in TEFL/TESOL. Certificate and diploma courses in TESOL are offered either as stand alone qualifications or as contributing credits towards a higher degree. Some institutions offer certificate courses that are delivered outside the UK.

Masters courses vary according to whether or not they:

• Lead to an MA, an MSc or an MEd
• Are full time or part time
• Are taught face-to-face, by distance or blended learning
• Are general post-graduate degrees in ELT/TESOL or specialised ones
• Have a research, balanced or practical focus
• Involve writing a dissertation or not
• Include some kind of teaching practice
• Are for teachers with little or no experience or teachers with a minimum of two/three years' experience.

Many MAs follow a modularised course structure and consist of a number of core modules and optional units from which students can choose. This modularised approach allows applicants to study specific areas, such as ESP, Young Learners, Cultural Studies and New Learning Technologies.

Some degrees have a strong research orientation, whereas others have a more practical focus. Masters courses in ELT in the UK have traditionally been post-service qualifications, though some provide both for inexperienced and experienced teachers

Some private language and training schools offer Masters courses in collaboration with universities.

A number of universities also offer research degrees in ELT/TESOL such as M Phils and PhDs. These consist of research-only or partly taught programmes.

Some universities deliver higher degree programmes in off-shore locations.

How do I choose a suitable course?
Think carefully about what your needs are. It may help you to use some of the teacher development tools in the teacher section of this website http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/transform/teachers/teacher-development....

If you are intending to take a UK university course, check that this will be acceptable in your home situation. Within the European Union, ENIC (European Network of Information Centres) http://www.enic-naric.net/ will give you information about the compatibility of qualifications from institutions in the European Union. If you live outside Europe, you should find a similar body in your country that can make these judgements. You should also check the language level of the course is right for you. UK universities will make the language requirements for each course clear, and this is often indicated using levels from the Common European Framework Reference for Languages. Assess yourself quickly with the can-do statements in this leaflet from the ALTE site.

How can I pay for a course?
The costs of degree courses are high: including course fees and living costs for at least a year. www.educationuk.org has information about costs and scholarships that are available. This site also contains information about opportunities to study for a UK qualification in your own country.

How can I find a course?
Courses can be found:

• via the Education UK website - From the drop down Your Study Options menu, choose 'Study English' in the UK. Then choose 'Courses for Teachers' under Types of Course.
• via English UK's website http://www.englishuk.com/ and its English in the UK guide.

The Accreditation UK Scheme (http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation) accredits UK English language learning providers and covers teacher development courses which include English language improvement as an aim.

Find out about Specialist skills - qualifications here.