Will-Excel Master of TESOL FAQ
- Who is Will-Excel TESOL?
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Will-Excel TESOL Institute is a subsidiary of Will-Excel Global Inc. (Canada). Will-Excel TESOL is a North American owned and run institute located in
Harbin, China. Will-Excel management has over 25 years of experience teaching English to speakers of other languages in North America, Europe and Asia.
The institute provides a wide variety of educational services and TESOL Certificate and TESOL Diploma programs.
The majority of the Institute`s work focuses on training native-English speakers to teach TESOL, including a 160-hour TESOL Certification course, a 7-month TESOL Diploma program and a Master of
TESOL program. The Institute has partnered with the Heilongjiang Provincial Bureau of Education to train and examine the province`s TESOL teachers.
The Institute also holds intensive 40-hour TESOL certification courses for Chinese university graduates.
- What is the Master of TESOL Diploma?
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The Master of TESOL Diploma is a government accredited advanced TESOL Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Holders of the Master of TESOL go on to become Curriculum Developers, Teacher Trainers, Directors of Studies, and School Owners.
- What is the difference between Master of TESOL and Master of Arts (TESOL)?
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Candidates participating in the Will-Excel Master of TESOL program study the same topics and acquire the same knowledge base as those studying in formal universities in the West.
Both the Master of TESOL Diploma and university MATESOL require approximately 1 – 2 years of formal study, most of which is independent. Both programs
also provide experienced and knowledgeable advisors with which candidates work closely to cultivate and foster a true sense of expertise in the field.
University programs and the Will-Excel Master of TESOL Diploma require candidates to produce a publishable thesis.
Master of Arts degrees are generally broad and encompass a wide variety of majors. The Will-Excel Master of TESOL Diploma is exclusively focused on educating
within the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages.
- Why shouldn`t I study for an MA at a university instead?
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Some MA programs can take more than 2 years of full-time study to complete and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The Master of TESOL program is
designed for individuals who are teaching English. These individuals may not want to devote the time and money to a lengthy MA program, yet they still
wish to receive a quality education that will increase their chances of procuring the best TESOL jobs available worldwide.
- How do you compare to DELTA and other TESOL Diploma programs?
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Other TESOL Diploma programs, including the DELTA, are similar on many levels to our 7-month TESOL Diploma program. The Master of TESOL Diploma
program is a Master`s level advanced diploma. Therefore, the Master of TESOL Diploma is steps above foundational TESOL Diplomas.
- Can I study both the TESOL Diploma and Master of TESOL program simultaneously?
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In most cases, candidates must first complete the TESOL Diploma program before applying to the Master of TESOL Diploma program. However, candidates
who excel in the first month of study of the TESOL Diploma program and receive good evaluations for the first two months of their work term may be
eligible for early admission to the Master of TESOL Diploma program.
- Is the Master of TESOL Diploma accredited?
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Our Master of TESOL Diploma is internationally recognized as an advanced diploma and is accredited by the local Education Bureau.
- How long is the Master of TESOL program?
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Most candidates will study part-time (10 – 15 hours per week) in order to finish the program within 12 months. Those who wish to study full-time (20+ hours per week) may finish within 6 months. Candidates may also choose a study term of longer than 12 months.
- What is the workload of the Master of TESOL program?
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The Master of TESOL Diploma program requires a great deal of independent study, reading and writing. The entire program requires at least 500 hours of study. Throughout course study candidates will read assigned texts and research and write a thesis paper. Those studying part-time should be spending 10 – 15 hours per week on their studies. Candidates studying full-time should be spending 20+ hours per week.
- What will I study during the Master of TESOL program?
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In addition to the candidate`s thesis specialization, candidates study theoretical and historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, the linguistic study of bilingualism, second language acquisition, principles, methodology and pedagogy of language learning and teaching, multiculturalism in the classroom, advanced grammar, and business principles as they relate to successful school management.
- What is a Master`s Thesis?
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The dictionary definition of a thesis is “a document that presents the author`s research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification.” The word "thesis" comes from the Greek word meaning "position", and refers to an intellectual proposition. All credible institutions of higher education require their Master`s students to produce a publishable thesis.
A thesis generally begins with the candidate asking a question. Most of the time spent in developing the thesis will be in researching an answer to this question. Most candidates will begin by choosing a topic with which they feel a strong connection. Candidates then research what others have discussed regarding this particular topic. Once enough research has been done and data found, candidates may decide to carry out experiments with volunteers or their own students to confirm or refute other`s findings. The culmination of this research is then presented in writing as the Master`s thesis. The final step of this process is submitting the completed thesis for publication.
The Master of TESOL thesis is generally 10,000 words (approximately 30 pages, double-spaced). The process of posing a question, carrying out experiments and reading other scholars` studies ensures that candidates become experts on their thesis topic.
- How will I receive my textbooks?
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Electronic textbooks will be lent to candidates from the Will-Excel TESOL Institute`s electronic library.
- Do I have to be in Harbin to take the Master of TESOL program?
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No. Candidates in other parts of China or the world can fully participate in all of the Master of TESOL Diploma program`s tutorials and discussions
via the correspondence option. Candidates who choose the correspondence option receive the exact same training and support as those who are studying
in Harbin at the Will-Excel TESOL Institute. They also receive the same Master of TESOL Diploma and transcripts as those studying in Harbin.
- What is the correspondence option?
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The correspondence option is the best choice for those who wish to participate in the Master of TESOL program, but will not be attending tutorials in
Harbin. These candidates will attend all program tutorials via a Skype conference call. During this conference call, the advisor and candidates will
meet online to discuss course work and assignments.
- What are the qualifications for the Master of TESOL program?
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Successful applicants meet one of the following criteria:
- Completion of the Will-Excel TESOL Diploma program
- Completion of an approved TESOL course and have at least one year of teaching experience
- Completion of at least two years of teaching experience and have a letter of recommendation from a school where they were recently employed. These applicants must also pass a test on introductory TESOL theory.
- Can non-native speakers take the Master of TESOL program?
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Yes. However, non-native speakers applying to the Master of TESOL program need to be able to participate in tutorials as if they were native speakers. These applicants must be confident in their reading and writing skills.
- What is the price of the Master of TESOL program?
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Including all tuition, fees, textbooks, and shipping costs, the cost of the program is $2000 USD. Individuals who have completed the Will-Excel TESOL
Diploma program may qualify for a $500 scholarship towards their Master of TESOL tuition.
- How does sponsorship work?
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There are two methods in which teachers organize to have their tuition fees sponsored:
- A candidate`s current employer may be willing to sponsor his or her tuition fees. Many schools
employing TESOL teachers are willing to sponsor their teachers for higher education. Schools
do this by paying the tuition up-front on the candidate`s behalf. Candidates then reimburse
their employer through salary deductions over a number of months. When you apply, indicate
that you would like a copy of our sample sponsorship contract to discuss with your employer.
- Some candidates may be interested in applying to work for a Will-Excel TESOL Sponsor School.
These schools sponsor your tuition fees in exchange for a TESOL teaching term contract.
These positions are very limited.
- How does payment work?
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There are three different payment scenarios:
- Sponsored candidates can choose to pay for the Master of TESOL Diploma program through monthly deductions from their salary. The Will-Excel TESOL Institute will receive payments from the sponsor school.
- Some candidates may choose to study module-by-module. These candidates pay $250 USD per module and are not eligible for the Master of TESOL Diploma scholarship. Should these candidates later decide to register for the full program, they will pay $200 USD for each of their remaining modules.
- Non-sponsored candidates must pay the tuition in full upon admission to the program.
What is a scholarship? (↑Back to Top)
Scholarships are offered to teachers who have begun research on a compelling thesis research topic. Teachers may be offered scholarships that cover up to 50% of the total tuition amount.
How do I apply for a scholarship? (↑Back to Top)
When applying for the Master of TESOL Diploma program, teachers interested in applying for scholarships submit a thesis abstract along with the scholarship form. This form outlines the thesis topic and possible research methods, studies, etc.