This programme will provide an understanding of teaching, learning and assessment approaches to enable individuals and organisations to develop, apply and adapt language assessment tools for English. It will provide an open environment for critical approaches to learning and assessment for diverse contexts in the public and private sector in the UK and internationally. The programme will therefore be highly interactive with workshops, case studies, subject experts, and practitioners providing different perspectives on the content and method of assessment practices.
Educational aims of the programme
The course aim is to produce graduates who:
- have a critical understanding of the different forms of English language assessment as seen through the lens of teaching and learning theories and theories of language assessment;
- are reflective practitioners in terms of subject specialist knowledge and are prepared to consider different assessment methods for English language learners in diverse contexts;
- are equipped with the advanced research skills required to actively contribute to the academic debate on language teaching and assessment, and to engage with intellectual rigor with individuals and organisations working towards the development of a range of assessment methods for individuals in diverse contexts;
- are prepared to critique and evaluate current pedagogical practices in English language teaching and assessment and to conduct systematic research relevant to their professional practice;
- are equipped with the knowledge and skills to design new assessment tools or strategies for learners of English.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- understand and critique the most common language assessment methods for each language skill (speaking, listening, reading, writing);
- reflect upon, communicate, and integrate key notions of linguistic, psychological and computational theories in assessment practices;
- recognise, appreciate, and assess multiple stakeholder perspectives in the implementation of language assessment methods;
- develop and apply advanced research skills;
- develop new assessment methods or tasks suitable for learners of English.
Continuing studies
The MSt is a research degree, and successful completion of the MSt at a high grade may allow students to progress to a PhD either at the University of Cambridge or another institution.
Graduate employability and career destinations
Students will have been in employment prior to entering the course (one of the requirements is for a minimum of one year’s work experience in either the social, public or private sector). Some graduates may therefore choose to pursue (or continue) their employment within their chosen field. Predicted avenues of employment include teaching or teacher education, educational publishing, working for examination boards, assessment agencies, educational institutions, or multi-national companies where expertise in English language assessment is a relevant skill.
Virtual Events
If you have missed any of our taster lectures for this course, you can view the recordings below:
