How my MA in TESOL Helped me Achieve my Aspirations of doing Humanitarian Work

What made you study Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at UL?

I came straight from my undergraduate degree in early childhood education and special education. I knew that I wanted to go straight from my undergrad to my master’s degree and my university at home in Pittsburgh actually had a partnership with UL. I knew a few friends that completed their study abroad and they adored it and raved about it. I was between two international Universities, but I ultimately committed to UL because they were so receptive and enthusiastic. I was put in touch with Elaine Riordan, the coordinator of the Masters programme where we discussed the content of the programme. She was so enthusiastic and wanted to know what I was hoping to achieve, immediately I knew that she had the best intentions for me. She was so attentive and personable and through this interaction, I knew that I would be supported at UL. Once I submitted my application, Elaine personally emailed me and told me that I was accepted.  I felt at ease knowing that even though I was an ocean away that I was already supported, and I felt that they truly wanted me to be here.

Can you take us through a typical week on the MA programme?

Typically, in a semester there are four modules, so this means there are four classes a week. Three of them are core modules. You get to choose electives in both semesters where I chose to do the teaching practice. Each class is around 3 hours throughout the week and then readings, group work and different assignments follow. Teaching practice and all of our assignments in general have been very practical and relevant to the field of study and work we are engaging in. For our classes we have around 15 students in the class, so there is a range of learners and some of them, like me, came straight from their undergraduate degree. Some of them have years and years of teaching experience internationally, and some of them are looking for a career change. It's very cool being able to interact with so many different people with so many different backgrounds. Of those 15, we have students from China, Vietnam, Ireland, Cyprus, France, Latvia and Mexico. I think that I have been able to grow so much being surrounded by such a diverse and international community. Discussions that would pop up in class have helped me grow and expand my perspective both professionally and personally.

What was your favourite topic or subject that you studied on the programme?

My favourite part of this course was definitely the teaching practice. I remember my first week in teaching practice last semester, I was very nervous going into it and now I know that it will always be the highlight of my week and I leave every teaching practice smiling.

Teaching practice involves one hour a week of teaching the Erasmus students on campus and following this, you have a supervisor meeting. A lecturer or a professor or one of the supervisors in the modern languages department will come and watch you teach and then after your class, you will have a 30-minute session where you debrief and receive feedback.

It is so rare to have such individualized feedback. When I did my undergraduate degree and I had six months of student teaching, I only had feedback sessions four times. To receive feedback every single time on just one hour of teaching is great. I know I will never receive this type of direct supervision again.  

It has helped me to grow exponentially; I remember being so nervous and now I feel so much more comfortable. The supervisors make you feel at ease. It feels like they are just part of the classroom, I do not feel any pressure with them sitting in. I'm excited to talk to them after and hear their feedback. I think given that we get 30 minutes a week with a supervisor on top of the hour that they're watching you, it has helped my relationships with those supervisors and those professors as well, which has made me feel much more comfortable in the program and much more supported.

 I like the fact that as an English teacher, you always get to continue learning because you have such a range of students and that’s what I find so interesting about teaching the Erasmus students, there's so many cultures in your classroom and you get to bring their cultures and home countries into your teaching, which I had not experienced given my undergraduate background.

Can you describe your experience of the programme and how it enhanced your own teaching skills? I've gained so much confidence in my teaching and in my interactions with the students. The program really focuses on communication within the classroom. When I look back on my first teaching sessions, I remember I was talking so much and I look to where my classes are now where the students are doing most of the talking, which is amazing. There is so much discussion, it is so much more interactive, and I wouldn't have had the tools or the confidence to have such a student centred classroom without having the support from those supervisors.

I think it is a unique program in itself. The fact that we can teach the Erasmus students is one of the reasons why I chose UL's TESOL programme specifically because as teachers, we learn by doing. Getting to dip my feet into the water before going out into the world and having such personalized supervision and feedback each week has just helped me to grow immensely. I feel very supported, and I feel like I have such a personal relationship with each of my professors. I do feel like any time I talk with them, they have my best interests at heart. I feel so comfortable in the programme; it has definitely helped me grow my confidence.

What are the benefits and challenges of completing the MA TESOL?

The only challenge I can think of is because it is master’s programme, there is a lot of work and a lot of commitment. At times, I have felt out of my depth. When I did feel this way, I had always reached out to my professors for advice and for help within whatever class it was, or I reached out to my peers, and they would encourage me so much that I was always able to pick myself back up. I don't know if this is a negative or positive, but the course went by so fast. It is such a great thing that it happened in the blink of an eye, and I just can't believe how quickly the year has gone, I just wish it were longer. I wish I had more time with the staff and everyone at UL.

I think it is so amazing that we have the experts in the field as faculty on the programme because we have been able to participate in some of their own research. They are not only professors but also recognised researchers in this area. I also think the range of experiences and content that we received because our module leaders invited other experts in the field to speak with us was an amazing part of the programme.

Would you recommend the MA to others?

I would absolutely recommend this course to others. No matter where people are coming from, what their walk of life is, whether they are coming straight from their undergraduate degree or coming in to the programme after a few years of teaching, or just looking for a career change, there is something there for everyone. It is such an accepting program. There's so much to learn and I think that the diversity of learners adds so much to the program itself. I can’t say enough about this course.

What do you plan to do post-graduation?

This coming summer, instead of doing the thesis, I chose the Praxis internship, so I will be working at UL's Access Campus. I will be working on a humanitarian outreach program where I will be teaching English to the Ukrainian displaced persons in Limerick. Following this, I hope to move into Europe and teach at a University. Further down the line, once I get some experience under my belt I would love to come back for my PhD. I would love to become a member of faculty because as I have had so many amazing professors here in UL, I would love to pay forward what they have given me. I didn't realize that this summer I could not only be teaching English, but also be working doing humanitarian work, which is not something that I had ever thought of. The opportunities, this programme has offered me is something I am very grateful for.