Language and Intercultural Communication

Overview

The MSc in Language and Intercultural Communication from The University of Edinburgh is based on the premise that, to help learners develop into multi-lingually and multi-culturally aware world citizens, language teachers must work for maximum integration between language and culture teaching.

While this is now a desired goal of foreign language courses in the European context, and also in Asia, Australia and the USA, a growing body of literature suggests that the study of language and intercultural communication is not approached in a critical and engaged manner in the classroom. This lack of critical engagement may have a detrimental effect on deep culture learning.

Building on existing strengths and developments in intercultural language education, this programme will introduce specialised theories, concepts and principles that see intercultural communication as a form of social practice embedded in potentially shifting global processes, and contributes to the creation of autonomous and reflectively thinking practitioners, who are able to deploy their teaching skills in rapidly changing contexts of intercultural language teaching provision.

Why Edinburgh

The programme is designed with a strong research focus across its courses and is taught by internationally recognised experts in the field.

Who this programme is for

It is designed for both pre-service and in-service language teachers interested in developing and enhancing the skills necessary for a professional career in language and intercultural communication.

The programme is also suitable for individuals working in intercultural language education policy, as well as graduates interested in undertaking further postgraduate research at PhD level.

Career opportunities

On completion of the degree, you can expect to be employed worldwide in all areas of intercultural language education.

Example roles include:

• teaching language and intercultural communication in primary, secondary and tertiary levels

• training other intercultural language teachers

• designing intercultural language curricula, policies and materials

• undertaking empirical research into the development of democratic competencies for intercultural citizenship

Every year we have the pleasure to accommodate representatives from large teacher recruitment agencies, who talk to our students about the benefits of becoming an intercultural language teacher, in addition to conducting interviews with candidates who are short-listed for language teaching posts.

The MSc in Language and Intercultural Communication is also a good introduction to undertaking further research at PhD level.