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Anaheim University in Anaheim, California, USA David Bracey is the Managing Director for Development at Anaheim University in the United States. The international distance MA TESOL program offered by Anaheim University is taught almost entirely online. Earn an accredited MA or Certificate in TESOL degree online from Anaheim University. Print this text out along with this 6-digit code and have your Application Fee ($100 for degree or $50 for certificate) waived!: 423050 MATESOL.info: What makes Anaheim University's MA TESOL unique, unlike any other program? DB: Anaheim University's MA TESOL is taught online in real time by 4 of the world's most renowned linguists, Dr. David Nunan, Dr. Rod Ellis, Dr. Kathleen Bailey and Dr. Ruth Wajnryb. The Dean of the Anaheim University Graduate School of Education is Dr. David Nunan, former President of the world's largest language teaching organization TESOL and the world's leading author of over 100 English language teaching textbooks and journals with worldwide textbook sales exceeding 300,000,000. Anaheim University Chair of the School of Education is Dr. Rod Ellis who is known throughout the world as the Father of Second Language Acquisition. Dr. Kathleen Bailey is a former TESOL President and renowned American linguist, and Dr. Ruth Wajnryb is a renowned linguist and Oxford and Cambridge University Press author. MATESOL.info: According to your website, when the program was developed in 1998, it was "the world's first TESOL program to be taught online in real time." Could you describe in more detail how the coursework is taught? What does a typical online session look like? DB: Students are required to attend one 90-minute real time online lesson per week. The first 60 minutes of each live chat session is conducted by the professor and the final 30 minutes is led by a weekly student host. During these live chat sessions, students discuss and ask questions about their weekly readings. In addition, MATESOL.info: Although the program is mostly taught online, two four-day residential sessions are required. Could you perhaps explain why the requirement is there? In other words, why can't whatever is done during these two sessions onsite be done online? DB: These sessions are held in collaboration with other universities using their campuses. This allows AU students to network with other TESOL professionals who join our jointly-offered sessions. In the past we have held sessions on the campuses of California State University Fullerton, Alliant International University and the MATESOL.info: The four faculty members are quite famous in the TESOL world and thus, one would assume, they are very busy. How accessible are they? Do they have office hours only during which they may be contacted online? Or can students contact them anytime? DB: The faculty members interact live 60 minutes for 8 of the 9 weeks of the term. In addition, students interact with the faculty in the online discussion forum during the week and normally receive feedback within 48 hours. Students can also send e-mail anytime directly to the professor if they have issues to discuss outside the forum. MATESOL.info: According to your website, assessment is based on daily participation and assignments. What are the specific criteria used to evaluate your students' online work? DB: The following is a breakdown of our grading structure: MATESOL.info: Anaheim University's MA TESOL program objectives state that students will be able to "design, implement and evaluate a piece of original research": a thesis is required. Could you tell our visitors more about this requirement and its importance? DB: The thesis culminates the degree. It provides students with an opportunity to identify an issue or problem arising out of their prior course work or their own professional experience. They then design and carry out an original piece of empirical research, and present the results in a substantial piece of writing. MATESOL.info: Since a thesis is required, what types of training in doing qualitative and quantitative research do your students receive? DB: The Research Methods in Language Learning course that has the 4-day residential requirement helps to prepare students for the thesis. At the end of Research Methods course, students should be able to: MATESOL.info: Writing an MA TESOL thesis is never easy, especially for students who have never had to write a major research paper of this type. A project of this magnitude, in other words, requires the help of an experienced advisor. Since this is primarily an online TESOL program, will it be harder for the advisee and the advisor to communicate and exchange feedback as compared with a more traditional, onsite-only program? DB: No. Students are able to meet face to face and ask questions directly during the Research Methods course. In addition, during the thesis-writing process, students have contact with their thesis advisor who monitors their progress and is able to answer questions the student may have. MATESOL.info: According to the objectives stated on your website, students engage in literature-based research and empirical linguistic and sociolinguistic research: for instance, collecting and analyzing data "from first and second language users using phonological, lexical, morphosyntactic and discoursal tools." Why is it important for a teacher-researcher to be able to conduct both types of research, and how does your program prepare your students for engaging in such research activities? DB: Both types of research are different but complementary. Literature based research, also called secondary research, is designed to summarize and synthesize what other researchers have established. Primary research, in which the teacher-researchers collect, analyze and interpret their own data, is designed to add to our stock of knowledge on a particular question or issue. MATESOL.info: Your students can use cell phones and PDAs to participate in online classes, as an option. How much emphasis is placed on computer literacy, and what skills and alternative literacies do your students have to master in order to successfully participate in your online classes? DB: Technology is simply a tool, and not the focus of our programs. Therefore, students who are able to type messages and send attachments using a webmail system such as hotmail, yahoo mail, or gmail are able to use Anaheim University's learning management system. The chat system is user-friendly and can be "learned" in one session. MATESOL.info: What avenues exist for your students to present their research at, online and onsite? Do you support student travel to present at conferences, financially or otherwise? DB: Students make presentations on their final day of each residential session. Although we do encourage students to attend and present at local and international conferences as well as publish their research MATESOL.info: According to your website, Anaheim University Press publishes your students' research. Could you provide our visitors with some examples of recently published TESOL-related titles, perhaps to illustrate the diversity of topics your students focus on? DB: Here are a few thesis topics: MATESOL.info: Can your students transfer credits from an introductory TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate program, and if so, how many credits are these certificates usually worth? DB: Students can transfer up to 4 units (1 course) towards the AU MA TESOL program. Students must provide transcripts and may be asked to provide the curriculum of their completed program, which will be reviewed by the Dean who will determine if credit will be awarded. MATESOL.info: What student financial aid and other funding opportunities exist at Anaheim University, such as graduate fellowships, scholarships, discounts, tuition waivers, research grants, and so on? DB: Normally, students pay either course by course ($1,700 every 10 weeks) or students can pay 100% of their fees upon enrollment ($20,150) and receive a 10% discount on tuition ($1,500). Students in need may propose their own payment plan system (for example, $700 a month).
You may still be eligible for the 50% tuition fee waiver
(ask before applying) and a 100% application fee waiver. Earn an accredited MA in TESOL degree online from Anaheim University.
Use this 6-digit code and have your $100 Application fee waived!: 423050 There is a worldwide TESOL boom as governments around the world are realizing that in order for companies to truly globalize, employees must speak English. This is causing a push for schools to improve their English education system. Therefore, they are looking for a way to effectively and cost-efficiently train large numbers of teachers spread out over vast geographic areas. Anaheim University's online learning system, and our MA TESOL + short-term 15-week TESOL certification courses combined with our world-renowned faculty is a MATESOL.info: Thank you. For more information, visit the university's website where you can chat live with an admissions officer. Click on the banner below to visit the website and don't forget to ask to have your application fee waived (must use the six-digit coupon number shown). Also, ask about the 50% tuition fee waiver.
Anaheim University
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