TESOL with Japanese MA

This MA allows you to study Japanese from beginner level. By the end of the course you will be able to communicate effectively in Japanese, both orally and in writing, on topics familiar to you. You'll be able to quickly adapt to teaching English in Japan with the skills you will learn on this course.

Our approach to teaching TESOL focuses on teaching English in a multilingual world. You will explore and critique theories of English language learning and apply these to your teaching. You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in lesson planning and delivery.

You can also gain practical TESOL experience through our community programmes:

• YEAL (York: English as an Additional Language) is a student led voluntary outreach programme. You will be placed in a local school and work with EAL pupils to improve their English language skills.
• The Community Language School offers you the chance to help children aged 6-13 years develop their confidence and skills in using languages other than English.

This course is part of a suite of TESOL MA courses. The other courses in this subject are:

TESOL MA

TESOL with Korean MA

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:

• 2 compulsory Japanese module, 1 per semester
• 2 compulsory TESOL modules, 1 per semester
• 2 compulsory Languages and Linguistics modules, 1 per semester
• A compulsory Dissertation module

If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

You are encouraged to play an active role in your own learning. Your tutors will take the role of facilitators, encouraging you to think outside your own point of reference. You will be encouraged to share your experience and reflections through regular class discussions.

The course uses a range of teaching and learning methods, including:

• Lectures (with supporting materials posted on the Virtual Learning Environment)
• Tutor and student-led seminars, workshops and discussion groups
• Independent study and research
• Collection and analysis of data

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods on the course. These include:

• Essays
• Tests
• Self-reflection
• Data analysis
• Videos
• Peer teaching
• Critical reviews

You will receive support and feedback on assessments prior to submission. This will allow you to continually improve your academic work.

Qualifications

If you do not meet this criteria, either because your undergraduate degree is not in a related discipline or you do not have a 2:2, you are still encouraged to apply. We will ask you to submit a piece of written work that we will consider as part of your application.

You can find an example of the sort of task we would ask you to complete here:

Task for MA Applicants (Doc, 17KB)

You can enter this programme as a beginner in Japanese. You can also enter if you have studied Japanese before, as long as you do not already have C1 level or above of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR).

If you can provide evidence that you have successfully completed a Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA) qualification, you will be exempt from the 30 credit Theory and Practice in Language Teaching module.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.5 overall (with no less than 6.0 in each component) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission. 

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2025 - 2026 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to this postgraduate course is:

• £8,600 for 1 year of full time study
• £4,300 per year for 2 years of part time study

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2025 - 2026 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to this postgraduate course is:

• £11,800 for 1 year of full time study
• £5,900 per year for 2 years of part time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could TESOL with Japanese take you?

This postgraduate degree could lead you to a career directly related to teaching English to speakers of other languages, or it could take you in a completely different direction, using the many transferrable skills you will develop.

This will give you an advantage for a career in:

• Teaching English to speakers of other languages
• Translation
• Research in industry
• Interpreting
• Social activism

Alumni stories

Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £5,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2023).

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.