Master of Arts in TESOL

The role of an English instructor is engaging, interesting, and is also a field with extremely high demand in the context of English being a global communication language.

The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA in TESOL) program is a dual-qualification program, combining a national Level 7 qualification (Master of Education) from the United Kingdom and a Master’s qualification in TESOL from Switzerland’s leading education system. This unique program integrates both educational management skills and the ability to operate English language teaching systems. It not only focuses on planning and management in the education sector but also provides indepth training for individuals to become experts in classroom instruction or to retrain existing English language instructors.

MI Swiss is the international cooperation institute of SIMI Swiss, the first higher education institute in Zug, Switzerland. It has cooperated with the Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences (SIMS) and the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body OTHM, United Kingdom to recognize results and award qualifications.

Through the MI Swiss Institute for International Cooperation, fellows can participate in original programs and receive exclusive study support from SIMI Swiss, while also earning qualifications from the Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences (SIMS Swiss) and the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body OTHM, United Kingdom. This model helps students save up to 85% of tuition compared to the original cost when not getting a qualification directly from SIMI Swiss.

The program consists of 6 modules in pedagogy and 3 modules in English language teaching, totalling 180 UK credits over a minimum duration of 1.5 years.

The 6 modules in Pedagogy (120 UK Credits): 

• • Contemporary Issues in Education: Theory, Policy and Practice (20 UK Credits)
  • The Management of Educational Change (20 UK Credits)
  • Managing Effective Intercultural Communication and Perspectives (20 UK Credits)
  • Pedagogy and Practice in Education (20 UK Credits)
  • Leading Reflective Practice in Education (20 UK Credits)
  • Research Methods in Education (20 UK Credits)

The 3 modules in English teaching (60 UK Credits):

Teaching Reading and Writing (20 UK Credits):

• Topic 1 – The Nature of Reading Topic 2 – Models of Reading
• Topic 3 – Reading and the Second Language Reader
• Topic 4 – Social Contexts and Motivation to Read Topic 5 – Individual Student Variation
• Topic 6 – Reading and Vocabulary Development Topic 7 – Strategic and Fluent Reader
• Topic 8 – Extensive and Intensive Reading
• Topic 9 – Theoretical Orientations to Second Language Writing Topic 10 – Learning to Write in the Second Language
• Topic 11 – Writing Process
• Topic 12 – Response, Error Correction and Grading Topic 13 – Second Language Writing and Culture Topic 14 – Writer’s Workshop Approach

Teaching Listening and Speaking (20 UK Credits)

• Topic 1 – Listening as Comprehension & Listening as Acquisition Topic 2 – Cyclical Approach in Teaching Listening
• Topic 3 – Principles of Developing Listening Activities Topic 4 – Types of Meaning for Listening
• Topic 5 – Examples of Listening Activities
• Topic 6 – Learning Styles and Listening Strategies Topic 7 – Functions of Speaking
• Topic 8 – Talk as Interaction, Transaction and Performance Topic 9 – Types of Speaking Activities
• Topic 10 – Assessment of Speaking
• Topic 11 – Teaching Pronunciation in a Second or Foreign Language Topic 12 – Speaking and Listening Fluency

Language Assessment and Testing (20 UK Credits)

• Topic 1 – Role and Purpose of Testing and Evaluation Topic 2 – Principles of Test and Measurement
• Topic 3 – Limitation of Tests
• Topic 4 – Basic Statistics and Measurement Topic 5 – Reliability of Tests
• Topic 6 – Validity of Tests Topic 7 – Item Analysis
• Topic 8 – Different Formats of Assessment Topic 9 – Objective Language Tests
• Topic 10 – Subjective Language Tests Topic 11 – Technology in Assessment Topic 12 – Authentic Assessment

After each module, learners will take an ending exam. The end-of-module exams are application-oriented essays to help learners review knowledge, apply knowledge in the workplace, and improve the practical environment.

Graduating from the program, the learner could:

• • Develop leadership skills for educational management.

• • Attain accreditation as an educational manager with an international-standard pedagogical system.

• • Create educational models meeting quality management standards.

• • Plan marketing and enrollment strategies in a competitive educational landscape.

• • Lead and manage a team of lecturers, integrating modern teaching technologies.

• • Master the formation, evaluation, and management of training programs.

Teaching and learning strategies:

The program's central training philosophy starts with understanding the theory and case studies currently applied in world enterprises and then applies the learned knowledge to the enterprises themselves and the learners’ business environment. In addition to the practical knowledge, the program also equips the necessary skills for a business leader and manager in the volatile and risky global business context.

The program is Learner-centered and focuses on solving learners’ problems:

The Learner-centered training method will focus on solving learners’ problems through background knowledge and case studies that are applied in successful businesses worldwide. Through each module, learners will step by step solve management problems that they face every day with the guidance of the theoretical system, the practice system, expert lecturers and local teaching assistants.

In addition to the entry requirements, candidates applying to the program are also assessed for their suitability by the admissions committee before joining the program to ensure that they can acquire and benefit from the program.

Entry requirements:

To enrol this program, learners must possess one of the criteria below:

• • A Bachelor's qualification in English or Education from accredited universities; 

• • Or a Level 6 EQF diploma or equivalent in English or Education. Level 6 Diplomas must be issued by organizations authorized to award qualifications and must be accredited.

English requirements:

If a learner is not from a predominantly English-speaking country, proof of English language proficiency must be provided.

• • Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2 or equivalent;

• • Or A minimum TOEFL score of 101 or IELTS 6.5; Reading and Writing must be at 6.5 or equivalent.

Please note:

1.SIMI and MI Swiss reserve the right to make admissions decisions based on the requirements of recognized agencies and the global quotas of the program.

2.Bachelors in other majors must meet English entry standards and must demonstrate a minimum of 3 years of English teaching experience.

3.If you already have a Bachelor's degree in English, English pedagogy, or a Bachelor's program taught in English, you will be exempt from English entry.

MI Swiss functions as an International Cooperation Institute of the Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss), established with the aim of providing learners with more opportunities to participate in Swiss programs in the context that SIMI Swiss's tuition subsidy programs have reached their maximum quota. 

MI Swiss implements SIMI Swiss programs, but learners will receive their qualifications from university partners, allowing students to save on tuition fees while still accessing Swiss-Made academic programs at a more affordable cost

With the goal of providing an effective learning experience and adapting to the global educational landscape, programs at SIMI Swiss apply a Hybrid learning model (combining Live classes and online local tutors), helping to optimize learning efficiency for busy working people.

The following video will provide learners with a direct and comprehensive overview of enrolling in online classes at SIMI Swiss:

Supporting Systems:

We understand that pursuing a postgraduate accredited program can be both exciting and challenging, especially for busy adult learners. To assist in overcoming challenges, we’ve developed the SIMI Swiss Supporting Systems, designed to help navigate any difficulties during learners studies.

For a comprehensive overview of our support, please watch our informative videos for assistance at every step of your academic journey:

Effective SIMI Pedagogy:

At SIMI, we pay special attention to the effectiveness of our programs. As for our exclusive teaching method specifically designed for busy learners, we strongly believe that this method will allow learners to seamlessly integrate foundational theory and professional knowledge into the context of real life and career.

The following video will help you understand this method more deeply:

In collaboration with APEL.Q (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications), the world's first experience-to-credit and diploma conversion system, students who are in the middle of studying in a peer-level program can can be considered for transfer to MI Swiss and partner university programs to save time and costs.

Candidate benefits:

• • Learners do not have to retake the subjects they have learned if the subjects have the same or similar Learning Outcome of the subjects that MI Swiss is implementing.

• • Reduced fees based on the number of transferable credits.

• • Reduced study and graduation time corresponding to transferable credits.

Applicable objects:

• • Students studying in other programs wish to transfer results to programs of MI Swiss and partner universities.

• • Students have graduated from an equivalent program who wish to save time and money to earn a qualification in another major.

Admission and Transfer Principles:

• • The program being accepted must be equivalent and within the same field of study.

• • Courses previously completed (with transcripts, results, or proof of study) must fully or partially correspond to the courses in the MI Swiss program and its partner university.

• • MI Swiss and its partner university reserve the right to determine (1) the number of credits to be transferred, (2) the fees to be reduced, and (3) the potential shortening of the program duration.

• • MI Swiss does not accept students from fraudulent universities.