Joining us from China, Charles Wang recently completed his MSc TESOL. Read on to discover Charles’ journey and find out how achieving his Masters has helped him develop the skills he needed to boost his career.
Originally from Beijing, Charles began his career working as an English textbook editor at a well-known publishing house in China. But after three years in the role, Charles realised the importance of furthering his education to gain a deeper understanding of teaching situations and acquire specialised knowledge in second language teaching, education, and curriculum design.
That’s why he chose to pursue TESOL to enhance his skills — and after conducting careful research and comparing his options, Charles decided to apply to the University of Stirling in the UK.
Studying TESOL at Stirling
The University of Stirling’s MSc Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course is a unique programme designed to give students from all over the world the knowledge and practical classroom skills they need to be confident English teachers.
But Stirling’s TESOL course stands out because it goes beyond the classroom — offering multiple pathway options to help students develop specialist skills in Applied Linguistics, Methodology, and Computer Assisted Language Learning.
Charles chose the University of Stirling not only because of its excellent reputation as one of the UK’s universities for Education (Good University Guide 2023), but also because of its inclusive campus environment and academic atmosphere.
Charles was particularly attracted to Stirling because of its small class sizes, high levels of both theory and practice, and opportunities to further develop his skills overseas in countries like Germany, France, and Japan.
Studying abroad in the UK
Studying abroad for the first time was a memorable and fresh experience for him. He actively adapted to the new life, engaging in the campus community to meet students from different backgrounds and took part in new activities like the Saturday hiking group. Charles values these indispensable experiences in his study abroad journey.
Charles’s study at Stirling went beyond classroom knowledge including practical learning opportunities with local and international educational projects. These experiences not only broadened his educational perspectives but also provided crucial experience for his career development in the field of educational material editing.
After returning to China, he found there were many career paths to choose from — including positions such as teachers or research assistants. Charles is now responsible for designing English textbooks specifically tailored for Chinese university students. This involves tasks such as rationale design, authors commissioning, materials selection and textbooks editing.
“My experience at the University of Stirling has been immensely beneficial,” he says.
“It has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills required for my job. The education I received during my time in Stirling has greatly contributed to my professional development.”
Charles believes that, when choosing to study abroad, paying attention to personal interests and career goals is crucial.
Ready to start your own TESOL journey?
At the University of Stirling, our postgraduate degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) aims to provide an advanced training and professional qualification to those wanting to become confident, critically reflective and enterprising teachers.
Visit our website to learn more about our MSc TESOL course and discover how you can join us here at the University of Stirling.