English Studies and TESOL (with integrated foundation year) BA (Hons)

Aberystwyth University

If you're passionate about all aspects of English, the BA English Studies and TESOL (with integrated foundation year) at Aberystwyth University could be the course for you. Not only will you study literature across the ages, but you will also analyse the use of language and explore writing for different creative purposes. While gaining practical skills and theoretical knowledge, you will develop your understanding of the English language and language acquisition. Equipped with these skills, you will be all set to teach English as a second language, if that is the path you choose.

Whatever you decide for the future, the breadth of this course will enhance your career prospects. You will grow professionally and open-up a wealth of employment opportunities. Graduates who have a firm grasp of language, who know how to communicate and can teach others are highly valued by employers all over the world.

Why English Studies and TESOL (with integrated foundation year) at Aberystwyth University? Aberystwyth is a small town with a big heart and a cosmopolitan outlook. As a vibrant and friendly University, we attract students from all corners of the world, and the intimate atmosphere makes it a great place to get to know people. You will be able to indulge your passion for English as you study modules that cover the three broad areas of literature, creative writing and language, with optional modules ranging from The Beginning of the English Language to Contemporary Writing. Once you get the core English teaching modules under your belt, you will have the option to take a standalone, International English Centre summer course which will lead to a separate professional qualification – the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - in addition to your degree. Even if you’re not sure about teaching, gaining the Certificate would be a good addition to your portfolio of skills. The Department of English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University is ranked top 10 in the UK for student experience in the subject area of Creative Writing (Good University Guide, The Times & The Sunday Times, 2018) and top 3 in the UK for overall student satisfaction for the subject of Literature in English (National Student Survey 2020). You will benefit from our unique collaborative relationship with Aberystwyth Arts Centre – an on-campus facility that is an excellent resource for staff and students alike – as well as unlimited access to the National Library of Wales (one of the UK’s five copyright libraries). You can be confident that whatever career path you choose after graduation, this course will set you up for a successful future.

What will I learn? In your first year, you will study Critical Practice, Creative Practice, and Language Awareness for TESOL. Optional modules may include: American Literature 1819-1925; The Beginning of the English Language; Ancestral Voices; To Boldly Go: Reading Star Trek; Contemporary Writing; Literature and the Sea; Introduction to Poetry. In your second year, you will study Literary Theory: Debates and Dialogues, Approaches, methods, and teaching techniques in TESOL. Optional modules may include: A Century in Crisis; Beginning the Novel; Adventures with Poetry; Linguistics for Literary Analysis; Grit and Candour: Writing Short Stories; Writing Crime Fiction. In your third year, you will take the following core modules: Undergraduate Dissertation or The Writing Project; Materials Development and the Application of Technologies, and you will choose from optional modules that include: Writing in the Margins; Writing and Place; Romantic Eroticism; Haunting Texts; Writing Science Fiction. The core modules in your final year are the perfect culmination to your studies as they allow you to undertake independent research projects supervised by a subject specialist. These modules are excellent preparation for further study.