The main goal of the program is to prepare highly qualified specialists for higher education who meet international standards of teaching foreign languages in higher education. During the training the graduates form professional competencies as well as acquire scientific knowledge to be able to adapt to the changing requirements in teaching foreign languages as well as scientific, socio-economic and cultural development of society.
Students of this program will be able to:
- Analyze language at different levels (i.e., phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and discursive) and to describe, analyze and apply concepts, theories, and research related to the nature and acquisition of English and other languages to construct educational settings that support foreign language students.
- Plan, implement and evaluate standards-based practices and strategies for planning, implementing, and managing instruction in English and other languages, including classroom organization; teaching strategies for developing and integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students are able to effectively choose and adapt classroom resources and incorporate educational technology, and to design and implement standards-based assessment measures with foreign language students.
- Appraise and design courses which account for a range of different learners in ways that reflect the values of harmony and diversity. Students can use appropriate theory to effectively evaluate learner needs and plan for cultural diversity, internationalism, special/inclusive education.
- Develop lifelong learning skills which help them to maintain understanding of new instructional techniques, research results, and innovations in the foreign language teaching field, as well as public policy issues. Students use such information to take on leadership roles, to reflect upon and improve foreign language education, and provide support and advocacy for foreign language adult students
MAFL CURRICULUM
Requirements for the MA in Foreign Language are as follows:
| Discipline module | Credits | ECTS |
| Program Foundation | 22 | 35 |
| Required Courses | 13 | 20 |
| Elective Courses | 9 | 15 |
| Program Specialization | 20 | 53 |
| Required Courses | 12 | 20 |
| Elective Courses | 6 | 10 |
| Research Internship | 2 | 23 |
| Research Component | 5 | 24 |
| Final Attestation | 1 | 8 |
| Total Required for Graduation | 48 | 120 |
To view the detailed MAFL curriculum, please see KIMEP University Catalog
STUDY PLAN
The following tables are a sample program of study to finish the MA in Foreign Language in two years.
| 1st Year | |||||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||||
| Course Code | Course Title | Cr | ECTS | Course Code | Course Title | Cr | ECTS |
| TFL5401 | Methods in Language Teaching (Pedagogy) | 3 | 5 | TFL5103.3 | Academic Writing | 3 | 5 |
| EPM5102 | Managerial Psychology | 2 | 2 | TFL5301 | Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 3 | 5 |
| TFL5601 | Research Methods (History and Philosophy of Science) | 3 | 5 | TFL5403 | Curriculum and Materials Design | 3 | 5 |
| TFLxxxx | Program Foundation Elective 1 | 3 | 5 | TFLXXXX | Program Specialization Elective 1 | 3 | 5 |
| TFL5700 | Seminar in Applied Linguistics | 2 | 3 | ||||
| TOTAL | 13 | 20 | TOTAL | 12 | 20 | ||
| Summer Semester | |||
| Course Code | Course Title | Cr | ECTS |
| TFL5405.2 | Research Internship | 2 | 23 |
| 2nd Year | |||||||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||||||
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits | ECTS | Course Code | Course Title | Cr | ECTS |
| TFL5201 | Language Analysis for Language Instructors: Formal and Functional Grammars | 3 | 5 | TFL5690.2 | Thesis I (Including Field Research – Data Collection: research apprenticeship) | 3 | 21 |
| TFLXXXX | Program Foundation Elective 2 | 3 | 5 | TFL5691.1 | Thesis Defense | 1 | 8 |
| TFL5502 | Educational Technology in Language Classroom | 3 | 5 | TFL5505.3 | Introduction to Program Evaluation | 3 | 5 |
| TFLXXXX | Program Specialization Elective 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| TFL5402B.2 | Teaching Practicum | 2 | 3 | ||||
| TOTAL | 14 | 23 | TOTAL | 7 | 34 | ||
Total for program: 48 course credits (120 ECTS)
EPM5102 Managerial Psychology (2 credits, 2 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
This course will familiarize students with the basic concepts of and approaches to managerial psychology, exploring human behavior in the context of work. It will provide an overview of basic behavioral science theory and provide opportunities to apply them in work environments. By the end of the course students will have a basic knowledge of the field as well as the ability to learn more about this subject independently.
EPM5211 Educational Equity (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
This course focuses on factors that impact decisions educators must make regarding design and implementation of curriculum, teaching strategies, and materials in order to provide equity and excellence for all learners. The course covers the following topics: education, equity and social justice; tracking and inequality; measuring inequalities; educational strategies for socio-culturally disadvantaged students.
EPM5214 Language Education Policy (3 credits, 4 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
The course is a comprehensive introduction to language education policies as a form of human resource development planning and social impact of language policies. The focus is on critical analysis of explicitly stated language policies (legislation, curricula and other educational documents), implicit language ideologies and language practices in education.
TFL5103.2 Academic Writing (Foreign Language) (2 credits, 2 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
This course is offered to master students and it introduces them to scientific writing. Students will practice writing their own articles, review literature, improve texts, and practice advanced grammar. The course will also assist in learning to identify typical features in published articles. Students will have an opportunity to submit work to their instructor and receive constructive feedback; they will also submit and receive papers for peer feedback. Through these practices, they will discover more about their own writing style and maximize their learning experience.
professional development.
TFL5102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This sociolinguistics course focuses on examining language as it is used in society and how language and society affect each other. It assumes that language is fundamental in the organization and understanding of everyday interactions, from both individual and societal perspectives. The course topics include social dialects; class, ethnic, and gender differences in speech; linguistic change; language in multinational settings; and the politics of language. The course also studies applications of sociolinguistic research methods to problems in applied linguistics and language education.
TFL5103.3 Academic Writing (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This course is offered to master students and it introduces them to scientific writing. Students will practice writing their own articles, review literature, improve texts, and practice advanced grammar. The course will also assist in learning to identify typical features in published articles. Students will have an opportunity to submit work to their instructor and receive constructive feedback; they will also submit and receive papers for peer feedback. Through these practices, they will discover more about their own writing style and maximize their learning experience.
TFL5201 Language Analysis for Language Instructors: Formal and Functional Grammars (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
This course is the first part of a two-course sequence. The course provides an overview of formal and functional perspectives using English language structure as the point of departure and focuses on English phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax. The course surveys the role(s) of grammar in second/foreign language teaching, and presents strategies for introducing grammatical forms to non-native speakers.
TFL5301 Introduction to Second Language Acquisition (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisite: None
This course examines the process of acquiring a second or additional language. Topics include the nature of learner language, individual differences in language acquisition, the role of input and interaction, similarities and differences in L1 and L2 acquisition, instructed acquisition, and the relationship between acquisition research and second language teaching. The course also analyzes the neurolinguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic bases of second language acquisition in childhood and adulthood.
TFL5401 Methods in Language Teaching (Pedagogy) (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This course is an introduction to current instructional methods and approaches for teaching a second language to adults. The course focuses on theoretical perspectives, major methodological issues, and current controversies, and examines the historical and theoretical foundations in second language teaching. The course involves extensive readings, discussions, and observations of language classes, with consideration of principles for instruction in a wide range of teaching contexts. Particular attention is paid to long-term development of language teachers as decision-makers and problem-solvers.
TFL5402a Academic Practicum (3 credits, 6 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TFL5401 Methods in Language Teaching (Pedagogy) and minimum of 18 credits in program
The practicum is a course in which the student demonstrates the knowledge and skills developed in the master’s program. It involves the observation, and practice of teaching a second language to adults at the college or university level. Students are apprenticed to experienced mentor teachers in ongoing language classes, and receive detailed feedback on: their teaching, including comments about the knowledge, principles, and skills required to teach second languages; the use of student assessment. For experienced teachers, especially those who have taught for many years in ESL and multilingual settings, a research project is an option.
TFL5402b.2 Teaching Practicum (2 credits, 3 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TFL5401 Methods in Language Teaching (Pedagogy); TFL5402b can be taken concurrently with TFL5402a; a minimum of 18 credits in the program
The second part of the practicum is the in-class, student teaching experience, where the knowledge and skills developed in the program are applied. TFL5402b can be waived for teachers who are working full-time.
TFL5403 Curriculum and Materials Design (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TFL5401 Methods in Language Teaching (Pedagogy)
This course prepares and evaluates materials for second-language teaching in a variety of contexts. The course focuses on learning-centered approaches to designing courses, from curriculum development to materials design. Curricula in both second- and foreign- language environments will be addressed. During the course, students will design a curriculum to respond to the needs of a specific student audience/target group through a process of needs assessment, selection, sequencing, presentation, and evaluation. Students will select, adapt, develop, and evaluate course goals and objectives through the use of a structured syllabus, course units, lesson plans, a system of evaluation, and materials for one lesson.
TFL5404 Language Evaluation and Assessment (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This course introduces the principles and practice of conducting language learning evaluation within the context of adult foreign language acquisition from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The course is aimed at analysis of the goals and rationale of different types of assessments in foreign language programs, including teacher-made assessments and current standardized testing instruments. Students will also gain experience in developing and critiquing assessment materials.
TFL5405.2 Research Internship (2 credits, 23 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TFL5601 Research Methods (History and Philosophy of Science)
This independent research project, undertaken in a work or research environment, provides students with data, people, and experience for studying an issue in teaching.
TFL5502 Educational Technology in Language Classrooms (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TFL5401 Methods in Language Teaching
This course explores the uses of computers in the foreign language classroom, including language learning through information-processing software, digital technology, multimedia applications for home-oriented and educational software, and the Internet. During the course, students will have hands-on experience with multimedia applications and instructional software, information-processing software, and digital technology.
TFL5505.3 Introduction to Program Evaluation (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This seminar provides an introduction to the major concepts and theories in the field of program evaluation. There will be an emphasis on defining the different components of a program evaluation, its role in program and policy development, and how evaluations vary based on where they are theoretically situated. Students will be able to design, collect data, analyze data, and write up an evaluation report based on a field-based program evaluation project that the entire class will participate in.
TFL5506 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Language Teaching (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This course defines and explores the relationship between language teaching and culture with a heavy emphasis on how to use different approaches (literature, writing, media, theater, history) to teach culture through language courses starting with the basic question of ‘what is culture?’ This course is grounded in a socio-cultural constructivist approach towards language and language learning. Students will study culture in general and learn about their own cultural influences to better understand teacher-student and student-student interactions from various cultures through and in language teaching.
TFL5601 Research Methods (History and Philosophy of Science) (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This course is designed to familiarize students with a variety of scholarly and scientific approaches and methods for research in education settings, theory development, data processing, scholarly writing, and organization of a research paper related to applied linguistics, second language acquisition and/or pedagogy.
TFL5690 Thesis I (3 credits, 21 ECTS)
Prerequisites: TEL5601 Research Methods; a minimum of 18 credits in the program
Students register for this course and TEL5691 while they are creating and defending/presenting their master’s thesis research proposal. Students are assigned a main and secondary supervisor whom they will consult with.
TFL5691.1 Thesis Defense (1 credits, 8 ECTS)
Prerequisites: A minimum of 22 credits in the program
This is the second course for working on and defending the master’s thesis, where students execute their research plan, with regular supervision.
TFL5700 Seminar in Applied Linguistics (3 credits, 5 ECTS)
Prerequisites: None
This is a special- topic seminar that will focus on various contemporary issues in language acquisition and teaching. Seminar topics include (but are not limited to): bilingualism, language policy and planning, discourse analysis, program evaluation, and critical pedagogy. Seminar topics will be listed on the program website during the registration period prior to the start of the semester.
and translation organizations. All our graduates are employed or continue with their Ph.D. programs abroad.