1. Can the MA TESOL degree and TESOL Certificate be completed entirely by home study?

AU's master degree programs allow the student the opportunity to complete the great majority of their degree program through online learning. However, students are required to attend two four-day residential sessions during the MA in TESOL degree program.

The TESOL Certificate program can be completed entirely online from anywhere in the world. There is no residential requirement for the TESOL Certificate program.

2. Where are the MA TESOL on-campus residential sessions held?

Residential sessions are held in California and other select locations. In the past, residential sessions have been held on the campus of Alliant International University in San Diego, California; on the campus of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii, and in classroom facilities in Tokyo, Japan.

3. What is the schedule for the MA TESOL residential sessions?

Please see the TESOL Course Schedule. Please note that these dates are tentative and subject to change.

4. How much time do students spend on campus in MA TESOL residential sessions?

The average residential session begins on a Thursday and ends on the following Sunday. Students normally spend approximately 27 hours in the classroom per session.

5. What do I do if I am unable to attend a scheduled MA TESOL residential session?

If a student is unable to attend a scheduled residential session, s/he may attend a different residential session in the future. In such an event, this may cause a delay in the student's degree completion process at an additional tuition cost to the student.

6. Does the university provide dormitories at Masters in TESOL residential sessions?

Currently, the University does not provide dormitory rooms for students attending residential sessions. However, a number of hotels located in close proximity to the residential sessions offer discounts to Anaheim University students attending the residential sessions. Information on hotels offering student discounts is provided to students prior to the residential sessions.

7. When I attend a residential session for the Master of Arts in TESOL, which course should I enroll in first?

Residential sessions are required components of two courses: EDU 580 Second Language Curriculum Development and EDU 590 Research Methods in Language Learning. It is recommended that students take EDU 580 Second Language Curriculum Development prior to EDU 590 Research Methods in Language Learning, but this is not a requirement.

8. When I attend an MA TESOL residential session, can I take two courses at the same time?

No. Classes for the two residential courses (EDU 580 Second Language Curriculum Development and EDU 590 Research Methods in Language Learning) are held at the same time in different classrooms, making it impossible to attend both courses during one residential session.

9. What happens at the Master of Arts in TESOL residential sessions?

For the EDU 580 Second Language Curriculum Development residential session, students are involved in a series of hands-on workshops in which they explore in greater depth than is possible in the online classes curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation. They will look at needs analysis, goal and objective setting, content selection and grading, assessment and evaluation. These workshops will prepare them for the main assignment which is to design a module of work for a specified group of learners.

During the EDU 590 Research Methods in Language Learning residential session, students will explore the practicalities of doing research. They will identify a research area and questions, and will develop and refine a research plan which they will present to fellow students on the final morning of the residential session.

10. Is there a practicum?  Will I have to do student teaching?

We generally only accept experienced teachers onto the masters program, as we believe that a masters degree is as post not pre-experience degree. There is no provision for a practicum, because the assumption is that those doing the degree will be teaching at the same time as they do the degree. During the course they are encouraged and indeed expected to apply the knowledge and skills they are acquiring in studying for the degree to their daily teaching lives. There is no practicum in the degree for two reasons. Firstly, it is neither necessary nor feasible for practicing teachers, who are working full-time, to take time out for practicum placement. Secondly, the cost of arranging and paying for supervision is very high and would significantly increase the cost of the degree.

It is clear from the course description  that there is no practicum. It is therefore assumed that people without experience who apply for and are accepted onto the course are aware of this  will arrange for practical experience, both observing experienced teachers in action and being observed doing some teaching themselves.

It is quite rare for individuals without experience to apply for and be accepted onto the course. We do not have teaching experience as an entry requirement, as it then becomes a Catch 22 for individuals who want to break into the field.

The classroom management and observation course requires some contact with classroom instruction. Occasionally we have experienced teachers doing the course who are not currently teaching and who, for various reasons (e.g. young children at home) have difficulty getting access to classrooms. In this case, we negotiate alternative options for them.

There is no doubt that individuals with no experience whatever are at a disadvantage. However, as indicated above, there are ways of compensating for this, and we do our best to help them deal with this disadvantage.