Postgraduate Programs 2022/23
Master of Arts Program in International Language Education
Award Title

Master of Arts in International Language Education (Concentration: Teaching Chinese as a Second Language or Teaching English as a Second Language)

Program Short Name

MA(ILE)

Mode of Study

Full-time

Normative Program Duration

1 year

Program Fee

Local students: HK$85,000
Non-local students: HK$120,000

 

Students who take additional course(s) are required to pay HK$4,250 for each additional credit.  Students who need to retake failed course(s) must pay the pro-rated fee for the necessary course(s).

Program Advisor

Academic Director:
Prof James SIMPSON, Associate Professor of Humanities

Enquiry
Remarks

Applicants may apply for TCSL or TESL concentrations.

The Master of Arts (MA) Program in International Language Education offers advanced postgraduate education, taught in English, with two specialized concentrations: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL). Our research-informed approach to language education prepares language professionals for a dynamic global career in teaching English or Chinese as a second language. The program provides a solid foundation in applied linguistics, with an emphasis on the use of digital technology in teaching.

On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Explain applied linguistics theories;
  2. Design effective teaching plans and devise appropriate testing methods for second-language teaching based on language pedagogy;
  3. Effectively teach English or Chinese as a second language in English to non-native speakers; 
  4. Design and implement research-embedded teaching approaches; and
  5. Lead teaching teams in the development of language curricula and teaching materials.
  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

24 credits

 

  1. Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is not allowed.

 

  1. Foundation Course

9 credits
 

MILE 5001
MILE 5002
MILE 5003*
*may be offered as pure online course

 

  1. Elective Courses

15 Credits


Students are required to take at least one course (3 credits) from general electives, and at least three courses (9 credits) from either the TESL or the TCSL Concentration. 

 

General Electives

MILE 5103
MILE 5105
MILE 5106
MILE 5107


TESL Concentration Electives

MILE 5201
MILE 5202
MILE 5203*
MILE 5205
MILE 5206
MILE 5208
*may be offered as pure online course


TCSL Concentration Electives

MILE 5301
MILE 5302*
MILE 5303
MILE 5304
MILE 5306
*may be offered as pure online course

 

Teaching Practicum / Research Project

Selected students may obtain 3 credits through participating in a supervised teaching practicum or a research project.  Students cannot take both MILE 6000 and MILE 6980.
 

MILE 6000
MILE 6980

 

Students may substitute no more than six credits (two courses) of elective courses with other courses (including a maximum of one undergraduate course at 4000-level) offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science to fulfill the program requirements with prior approval of the Academic Director(s).  The approved substituting courses should be either language teaching-related or culture-related.

 

  1. Remarks

Full-time students are required to take a minimum of 9 credits of coursework each regular term.

 

Last update: 18 January 2022

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements.  Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
 

1. General Admission Requirements of the University
  • Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification.

2. Program-Specific Admission Requirements

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Concentration 

One of the following:

  • IELTS: 7.0 (Writing: 7.0, and other sub-scores: 5.5)
  • TOEFL iBT: 100* (Writing: 27/30)
  • First language being English
  • Having obtained a bachelor’s degree awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English

* refers to the total score in one single attempt

 

Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) Concentration

ENGLISH 

One of the following:

  • IELTS: 6.5 (all sub-scores: 5.5)
  • TOEFL iBT: 85*
  • First language being English
  • Having obtained a bachelor’s degree awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English

* refers to the total score in one single attempt

 

CHINESE 

  • For applicant whose first language is not Chinese and whose bachelor’s degree is awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was not Chinese:
    • Level 5 in Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK by Hanban or the “New HSK”) ; OR
  • For applicant whose first language is Chinese or whose bachelor’s degree is awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was Chinese:
    • Grade 2B in National Putonghua Proficiency Test (PSC)
3. Additional Information
  • Applicants must declare the concentration they apply for at the time of application.  Any transfer between the TESL and TCSL concentrations must be approved by the Academic Directors, and is contingent on whether students can meet the language proficiency requirement of the concentration they would like to transfer to. Double-concentration is not allowed.