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Teaching in front of whiteboard in class

Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (MATL): Teaching English as a Second Language (Non-Thesis)

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Red Location IconProgram Location

Red Student IconStart Term
Summer Semester

Red Book IconProgram Type
Coursework, Internships, & Project

Red Calendar IconSchedule
Full-Time/Part-Time

Red Clipboard IconCredits
60 Credits

Red Clock IconAverage Duration
2 years (5 semesters) Full-Time

The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (MATL) in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) offers a comprehensive pathway to Quebec teacher certification (K-12), for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a Ministry of Education-identified teachable subject area. (Note that the department can not pre-assess prior credits for prospective students; this process happens only after applications are submitted.)Incoming students should have a passion for second-language instruction and an undergraduate background related to the subject matter.

Learn through engaging coursework and two school-based internships (at the elementary and secondary levels). As an MATL student you will have the opportunity to pursue an independent Capstone Research Project and curate a professional e-portfolio to showcase your skills, preparing you for future employment. Upon successful program completion, graduates are recommended for Quebec Ministry of Education teacher certification.

Students accepted into this program should therefore be comfortable in a French workplace environment as student teaching placements are predominantly in French schools.Additional French classes and specialized communication courses are available to support language development. Graduates aiming for positions in French school boards must pass a standardized French language test, ensuring effective communication within educational settings.

Have questions?

info.education [at] mcgill.ca (Contact a Student Recruitment Associate)

Details from the eCalendar

Teaching and Learning (Non-Thesis) (M.A.): English or French Second Language (60 credits)

Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed(Faculty of Education)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 60

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning; Non-Thesis - English or French Second Language Option is a graduate-level teacher education program. The program includes a minimum of 700 hours of school-based internships at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers two streams: an Independent Research Stream and a Course-Based Stream. The program's core academic components emphasize a comprehensive understanding of educational foundations, principles, theories, and practices and include a specific emphasis on English or French second language education. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are recommended to the Québec Ministry of Education for teacher certification at the elementary and secondary school levels.

Required Courses (51 credits)

Course Title Credits
EDEC 550Indigenizing Pedagogy and Curriculum.3

Indigenizing Pedagogy and Curriculum.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Diverse social, cultural, linguistic, political, and pedagogical histories of Indigenous communities. Indigenous ways of knowing and worldviews.

EDEC 612Digital Media and Learning.3

Digital Media and Learning.

Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026

This course addresses emerging theories, pedagogies, and practices related to youth learning through digital media and online participatory cultures. Through direct engagement with multiple forms of digital media and youth, students will consider implications for teaching and learning within and beyond schools.

EDIN 610Internship 1.7

Internship 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Mentored student teaching in a school requiring a gradual increase in teaching and related duties.

EDIN 620Internship 2.8

Internship 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

Mentored student teaching in a school requiring full responsibilities for lesson planning, student learning, classroom management, and evaluation.

EDPS 600Introductory Professional Seminar.3

Introductory Professional Seminar.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Introductory seminar designed to foster critical thinking about the complex educational endeavour of becoming a teacher. Considers what shapes the development of teachers’ roles, identities and professionalism. Case-based approaches to topics such as community, families, relationships, conflict management, and trauma informed practices. E–portfolio documentation of developing individual teacher identity and professional competencies.

EDPS 610Professional Seminar 1.2

Professional Seminar 1.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Reflexive thinking on equity, diversity and inclusion, classroom situations with a view to improving practice, and of teacher collaboration and community-building through a case study approach. Ongoing support for and debrief of concurrent internship. E–portfolio documentation of professional competencies and selection of artifacts.

EDPS 620Professional Seminar 2.1

Professional Seminar 2.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Professional and ethical practices as novice teachers. Case study approach of topics include: identity, contributions to education, connections to competencies, professional organizations and professional development. Ongoing support for and debrief of concurrent internship. E-portfolios are completed and prepared for future professional development in the field.

EDSL 500Foundations and Issues in Second Language Education.3

Foundations and Issues in Second Language Education.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Introduction of second language (L2) education; an overview of contributing disciplines (e.g., linguistics, psychology, sociology and education). A history of theory and various methodological approaches to L2 teaching and learning is used to promote an understanding of current theory and practice.

EDSL 505Second Language Acquisition Applied to Classroom Contexts.3

Second Language Acquisition Applied to Classroom Contexts.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

An overview of theory and research in second language acquisition, including developmental patterns, factors affecting how second languages are learned, and relevance for teachers in terms of applications to the classroom context.

EDSL 512Grammar in Teaching English as a Second Language.3

Grammar in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Analysis of English grammar at phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, and discourse levels. Applications are made to second language teaching and learning, focusing on integrating grammar into communicative language approaches.

EDTL 515English Exam for Teacher Certification.0

English Exam for Teacher Certification.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Two hour exam designed to assess teacher candidates' competency in the language of instruction - MELS requirement for teacher certification in the Quebec school system. Students are permitted 4 attempts to pass this exam; it must be passed before commencing the First Internship (EDIN 601). Any student unsuccessful after 4 attempts must withdraw from the program.

EDTL 601Student Engagement and Learning Environments.3

Student Engagement and Learning Environments.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Exploration of a range of classroom expectations and routines including creating and maintaining a positive approach, building connections between home and school, building positive relationships, developing positive responses to challenging behaviour and other aspects of creating an engaged classroom. Focus is on developing a leadership style and teaching philosophy crucial to establishing and maintaining a positive, authentic learning environment where student engagement is central to learning. Quebec Ministry of Education professional competencies are addressed and assessed throughout.

EDTL 604Techniques for Planning and Assessment.3

Techniques for Planning and Assessment.

Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Classroom planning and assessment in the Quebec context including backward design, writing learning objectives, assessment for, of, and as learning, differentiated planning practices, and the creation of assessment tools. Classroom opportunities to foster and assess creativity and problem-based learning while balancing the constraints posed by standardized testing and other evaluation and reporting responsibilities. Quebec Ministry of Education professional competencies are addressed and assessed throughout.

EDTL 609Neurodiversity and Learning.3

Neurodiversity and Learning.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Current research and practice in educating students who have a variety of individual needs and strengths. The complex interplay between individual and contextual factors that impact learning in the modern classroom. Examination of abilities/disabilities, school and classroom dynamics, and teachers' roles in promoting an inclusive environment. Focus on applicable, practical skills such as curriculum design and modification, formal/informal assessment procedures, universal design for instruction, home-school collaborations, and differentiated instruction. Quebec Ministry of Education professional competencies are addressed and assessed throughout.

EDTL 635Applied Methods in Second Language Education.3

Applied Methods in Second Language Education.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

The development of appropriate strategies for the teaching of second languages in diverse, contemporary contexts in a variety of programs types and levels. Addressed through the development of professional competencies. Parts of this course may be undertaken in school settings.

EDTL 636Adv. Applied Methods in Second Language Education.3

Adv. Applied Methods in Second Language Education.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Continuation of topics covered in EDTL 635. Parts of this course may be undertaken in school settings.

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

9 credits selected from one of the following streams:

Independent Research Stream

Course Title Credits
EDSL 695Project 1.6

Project 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Theoretical or practical supervised project to explore and analyze an area of interest relevant to second/additional/plurilingual language education and research.

3 credits selected from:

Course Title Credits
EDEM 690Research Methods: Theory and Practice.3

Research Methods: Theory and Practice.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Overview of the epistemological foundations of a range of research methods, including but not limited to quantitative, philosophical, qualitative, arts-based, and mixed methods. Students will learn techniques to conduct research and to develop a research proposal.

EDTL 640Teacher Inquiry and Action Research.3

Teacher Inquiry and Action Research.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Furthers students' understanding of teacher inquiry and action research. Students will make connections between their theoretical understandings of research and their own emergence as practitioner researchers in educational settings. Topics include: writing a focused literature review; collaborative and spectator forms of research; ways to identify problems to investigate; data collection and analysis; reflexive praxis; and ways to draw conclusions from research. The major assignment for the course will be the completion of the final written MATL capstone project or equivalent.

Course-Based Stream

3 credits selected from:

Course Title Credits
EDER 615Introduction to Philosophy of Education.3

Introduction to Philosophy of Education.

Terms offered: Summer 2025, Winter 2026

Explores questions, aims, debates and modes of inquiry that characterize philosophical approaches to studying educational questions. Introduces philosophy of education as a distinctive field of educational research and may focus on figures or themes of contemporary interest.

EDTL 506Philosophy of Education.3

Philosophy of Education.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

An exploration of philosophical underpinnings of educational theories as they inform professional practice. Reflections on aims of education, knowledge and values, nature of schooling and curriculum, roles and responsibilities of professional educators. All addressed through the development of professional competencies.

6 credits to be chosen from among 500-level or 600-level department course offerings to be determined by the student’s area of study. Courses in other departments may be taken upon approval by the department graduate coordinator or director.

Eligibility (Admission Criteria)
  1. Possess an undergraduate degree.
  2. Have at least 45 discipline specific credits (university level). Applicants must complete the TESL Self-Assessment Grid to self-assess whether their background meets the 45 credit minimum requirement in their discipline.

    Courses listed must be at the 200 level or higher (no Foundation level courses) and you must have received a grade of “C” or higher, per ɬ﷬ standard. These credits may be taken as part of a degree or as an independent/special student.

    Note that it is preferable to have all 45 credits of background completed to the start of the MATL program. Applicants missing up to, but not exceeding, 6 discipline-specific credits may be accepted into the MATL program. The completion of missing credits will be consider a condition of program completion. Students are strongly encouraged to complete outstanding discipline-specific credits prior to the start of the MATL program. In exceptional circumstances, students may be allowed to complete outstanding discipline-specific credits during the MATL program; however these credits should be completed prior to beginning the subject-area specific methods course. Failure to complete outstanding discipline-specific credits may result is a deferral of the first internship placement. This deferral will result in a significant delay in the students program completion.
  3. Have minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is 3.0 out of a possible 4.0, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies.
  4. Experience working/volunteering in formal/informal education or youth sector. Informal teaching experience includes, but is not limited to, camp counselor, tutoring, mentoring, coaching, etc.

    Admission decisions for graduate programs at ɬ﷬ are holistic, meaning that many factors are taken into consideration in the admission decision, including academic credentials and grades. The eligibility requirements outline the minimum requirements for admission to the MATL program at ɬ﷬. These minimum requirements apply to both Canadian and international candidates. Please review the list carefully, as you must meet all of the minimum requirements in order to be considered for acceptance. Keep in mind that meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee your admission.

Application Deadlines

November 1st for International applicants and November 15 for Canadian and Permanent Resident applicants

Application Process

Applications submitted through Slate:

Supporting Documents
  • A current working CV
  • A personal statement. 2 page maximum.
  • A completed TESL Self-Assessment Grid NB, Grids must be typed and not hand written
  • A copy of your unofficial transcripts from all previous university level studies ((undergraduate and graduate, including exchanges with other institutions, even if the credits appear on your home institution transcript). Official transcripts are required after you are officially admitted to the program.
  • Two letters of recommendation, one from a university-level instructor and the second from a professional who has supervised you in a formal or informal education or youth sector position (if you have experience working in a formal school setting, one letter must be from a school / school board administrator qualified to assess your professional qualities). You will be prompted to provide the names and contact information of your referees in uApply. An email request will be generated prompting referees to upload their letter of recommendation directly to uApply.
  • IELTS with a minimum overall band of 7.0; with a minimum Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading score of 7.0; or
  • TOEFL:iBT (Internet-based test) – total score of 92 with a minimum score of 22 each for the Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading sections. N.B. Applicants are required to submit their scores electronically.
  • The Department reserves the right to evaluate the applicant's language proficiency before initial registration and at the time of application.
  • Applicants who meet the above English language requirement must also pass the departmental English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)- with French component to be eligible for admission (see more information on this test below)

Additional Information about English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) - with French component

Applicants to the MATL TESL program must register for a testing date after the department has confirmed academic admissibility to the program. Applicants will receive more details about how to register by email.English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)- Applicants to the MATL TESL program must pass the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) as a condition of admission. Additionally, because MATL TESL students will have internship placements in French schools, MATL TESL students are expected to have the capacity to function effectively in a French speaking environment . Therefore, the ELPT also includes an assessment of applicants' abilities to functionally communicate in French. Once the department has confirmed academic admissibility to the MATL program, applicants to the MATL TESL program will receive an email detailling regsitration procedures for the ELPT- with French component.

Eligible applicants will receive email notification requesting that they register to take the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)

If you are an applicant to the MATL - TESL program who meets the academic admission requirements, you will be required to pass an English language test unless you meet the requirements to be exempted as noted below. Please DO NOT register until you have been instructed to do so.

You are exempt from the test if:

  • You have attended an English-language institution for high school and/or university in Canada or elsewhere in the world for at least four consecutive years; or
  • You have attended an English-language university in Quebec for at least three consecutive years; or
  • You have completed a DEC at an English-language CEGEP and/or completed Secondary IV and V in English in Quebec.

The English Language Proficiency Test is offered by ɬ﷬'s School of Continuing Studies. The purpose of the test is to determine whether your levels of written and oral English meet the standards we require for future ESL teachers. There is nothing you can do to prepare. Please do make sure you are well-rested on the day of the test and ready to demonstrate your English proficiency.

What you need to know about the School of Continuing Studies English language test:

  • The test consists of both a written portion and an individual oral interview.
  • Total test fees: Approximately $92 (NON-REFUNDABLE)
  • *After receiving the results of the English language test, you will be required to upload your results to your application in Minerva.

Register for ELPT

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