KUCHING – Students who are interested to enrol in the Master of Arts TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) programme March 2019 intake at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus can now apply for The Brooke Trust Education Bursary.
The bursary is worth 50% of the programme tuition fees which will be awarded to at least two students per year. It is open to eligible Malaysian citizens, preferably Sarawakians, who must satisfy the bursary award requirements of CGPA 3.33 as established by The Brooke Trust and Swinburne. Priority will be given to applicants who are financially in need where the individual or family monthly per capita income must not exceed RM3,500.
In addition to the financial standing and academic achievements of the applicants, The Brooke Trust will also take into consideration other factors such as attributes which indicate that the applicant is likely to become an outstanding citizen, personal qualities and character and the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities as well as participation and achievements in extra-curricular activities including sports and community services.
It is compulsory for the recipient of the bursary to volunteer as an intern at The Brooke Museums during semester breaks (minimum of 120 working hours) before the final semester of his or her Master programme.
The MA (TESOL) programme is offered by Swinburne’s School of Design and Arts. The programme complies with the Australian Qualifications Framework and is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Register. It is taught by highly-qualified and experienced lecturers trained in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Singapore.
According to the Head of School Associate Professor Ida Fatimawati binti Adi Badiozaman, the new MA (TESOL) programme commencing 2019 demonstrates the university’s commitment to continuing innovation where it offers features that will appeal to those who want to advance their career in English Language Teaching.
“In light of the growing importance of the English language, the programme is an excellent platform for those wishing to develop a deep understanding of the field of TESOL at both the theoretical and practical levels,” she said.
The programme is designed for English teachers who are seeking to enhance their qualifications with a quality higher degree, or degree holders who plan to make a career change to the exciting world of English language teaching. It focuses on skills such as oral presentation, academic writing, critical thinking, analytical, research, problem solving, lifelong learning, teamwork and leadership.
At present, there are 10.2 million English teachers worldwide and the demand for more qualified English language teachers in the Asian region is increasing. In Malaysia, it is reported that 70% of 60,000 English teachers performed poorly in the English Language Cambridge Placement Test (2013).
Structured to advance from the basics to pre-PhD level, the Swinburne’s TESOL programme comprises four semesters where Semester 1 to 3 each has four units of study. Semester 1 covers units such as Phonology and Grammar for English Teachers; Methods and Approaches of TESOL; Educational Management and Leadership; and Nature of Learning and Teaching, whereas in Semester 2, students will study about Theories and Practices: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing; Curriculum Design and Assessment; Digital Learning Environments or Design and Delivery for Online Learning; and Scholarly Teaching: To Explore, Evaluate and Improve or Dynamics of Diversity for Inclusive Learning and Teaching.
Meanwhile, in Semester 3, the units include Methods and Approaches to Language Research; Issues in Applied linguistics; Assessment in TESOL; and World Englishes. To complete the semester, students are required to carry out the TESOL Research Project.
Through classroom discussions, individual and group projects and micro-teaching tasks, students experience hands-on teaching, develop lesson plans and course design, and grapple with broader issues related to teaching English to speakers of other languages. A graduate certificate qualification comprising one semester is also available for those interested.
Further details of The Brooke Trust Education Bursary can be found at www.swinburne.edu.my/brooke-trust-bursary/. For other enquiries, email to Norazreen Sapiee at nsapiee@swinburne.edu.my.
Applicants may apply for the bursary as soon as they receive a Letter of Offer for enrolment from Swinburne and the application deadline is on 2 November 2018.
Swinburne is an Australian university that offers foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programs across a broad range of fields. At the Sarawak campus, graduates are awarded the same Australian qualification that allows for broader recognition and better employment opportunities around the world.
For more information about Swinburne, visit the university’s website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).