Program Description

Wenzhou-Kean University’s Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) program aims to prepare English teachers to teach ESL in primary, secondary, university and adult education contexts. The program is committed to improving students’ teaching skills in various environments; to providing students with cutting-edge research in the field of English language education, theories and principles; to guiding students to carry out diverse and multi-level practical teaching activities; and to strengthening students’ capabilities and solidifying their foundation in theoretical and practical areas of English teaching. Through this program, students will gain a better understanding of current relevant methodologies for classroom practice, comprehend the significance of language analysis in teaching, and improve their understanding of adapting to the cultural environment. In order to enable students to carry out targeted learning based on their interests and career goals, this professional program covers different teaching theories and includes in-depth research in language pedagogy. Both theoretical knowledge and practice are emphasized, and students can choose their area of research from both the theoretical and practical perspectives. The program courses include: Culture, Cognition & Communication for English Language Learners, Advanced Theory & Practice of Teaching English Language Learners, Systematic Observation & Field Experience in ESL/EFL Settings, General Linguistics, Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning, Phonology& Structure of American English, Assessment of Language Performance in ESL/EFL Contexts, etc.

Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university

*Applicants, if not graduated from U.S. institutions, must submit a course-by-course evaluation of their official university transcript by National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES) (http://www.naces.org), such as the International Education Evaluation (IEE) or World Education Services (WES) (need to choose course-by-course evaluation).

2. Official transcripts of all colleges or universities attended, cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
3. Two letters of recommendation
4. Personal statement
5. Professional resume/CV
6. Departmental interview may be required
7. Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score reports of test taken within the past two years of application

*TOEFL iBT / TOEFL at home: 79, paper-based: 550; IELTS: 6.5; Duolingo English Test: 105

Curriculum & Academic Standards

 * The Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) program requires students the completion of 2 seminars beyond research courses. Seminars will usually be scheduled during the winter semester. Two seminars include:

1. Academic Writing
2. Introduction to Educational Research

After a graduate student attempts six (6) total graduate credits as a matriculated student, a 3.0 cumulative GPA must be achieved. Failure to meet this minimum may result in the student being placed on Academic Probation. Upon completion of twelve (12) attempted graduate credits, if a student fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0, the student may be academically dismissed from the University at the discretion of the program/department. If a student who is on Academic Probation achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, they will be removed from Academic Probation. However, if at any time during subsequent semesters the student falls below a cumulative 3.0 GPA, they will be academically dismissed from the University.

Graduation Requirements

The Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) curriculum is comprised of 11 courses (3 credits each) for a total of 33 credits. Students who complete the academic requirements including the research project (TESL 5098/5099) and achieve a grade point average (GPA) no less than 3.0 will be conferred the Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) degree of Kean University.

Program Highlights

Field Experience

One of the requirements of the Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) program is field experience. During this course, students synthesize what they have learned from courses that focus on theory, including applied linguistics, culture, second language acquisition and methods, language assessments, lesson planning and implementation, and put them into practice. At WKU, students have the opportunity to conduct field experience right here at the university, teaching incoming freshmen, or at the K-12 level, teaching at local elementary or secondary schools.

Service Learning

The goal of this program is to develop English teachers who are skilled in teaching and civically engaged. This program  has established connections with the local community in Wenzhou and provides students with volunteer service opportunities. During the semester, students can go to Ruian Tongpu Primary School, Wenzhou Library, Baimen Community and other places to provide community services. These opportunities not only means a valuable service to the students being served but also hands-on experience for the graduates of this program.

Student Partnering with Faculty (SpF) Research Projects

Students in the Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.) program have conducted research with faculty through the support of the Student Partnering with Faculty (SpF) program. Past projects include topics such as service learning, picture book analysis and applications, pitch modulations and learners’ perception, etc. As the program continues to grow and expand, there will be many more opportunities to conduct research alongside faculty who specialize in applied linguistics, teacher identity, teaching strategies, and children’s literature.

Contact Us

Email: instcurr@wku.edu.cn

Tel: 0577-55870063