Before studying the MSc TESOL, Makiko, from Tokyo, worked as a high school teacher and taught English as a foreign language in Japan. What drew me to EdinburghAs an English teacher, I wanted to improve my professional skill in an English-speaking country since my undergraduate degree was not directly related to English teaching.I had an opportunity to take an intensive professional training course about TESOL in Australia. Then, I started to think about studying TESOL at university.I started to look at various master programmes but the field of TESOL is extensive and the contents vary greatly from course to course. I checked the syllabus of TESOL courses from several universities and found that MSc TESOL at the University of Edinburgh contains a wider variety of contents including the area of my interest. Also, this course puts weight on applying theory into practice. Practicality is one of the most important elements for my selection.One of my career goals is to deliver world-class education to students in public education. The University of Edinburgh is one of the top universities in the world and it has long history and great reputation for linguistics. Also, a one-year Master's programme in the UK suited my time and budget. The final decisive factor was this historical and beautiful environment. I visited Edinburgh three years ago, and I was impressed by the scenery and the atmosphere. I did not know that I would enter the University of Edinburgh at the time, yet the impression definitely affected my decision. 'Great teachers and tutors'My best experience is the interaction with great teachers and tutors. They always stimulate us with their specialty and are on hand to give advice. I can proudly say that they are some of the greatest teachers in the world, and the experience with those who I truly respect as teachers and people will become my lifelong asset. Don’t be scared, just be prepared! More than I expectedNeedless to say, the learning experience, knowledge, and skills which I gained here will be practically utilized in my teaching profession, and a higher degree will open up career opportunities. However, what I gain is more than that.Before I came here, I just planned to study here and gain some specialty, that’s all I expected. Yet, during this one year, I noticed my hidden passion about my job, I found a new topic which I can be enthusiastic about and I discovered new ideas and fields of English teaching which I have never known previously.Moreover, everybody who I met here, including teachers and classmates with various backgrounds, showed me broader possibilities in the future. Now the scenery of the future is completely different from what I saw before I joined this programme.Alumni adviceDon’t be scared, just be prepared! If you are confident enough, that’s great. If you are not confident, or hesitate to start new adventures, just give it a shot! Maybe there are many challenges, but I’m sure that it will be definitely worth your time.Sufficient preparations such as learning basic English, studying skills for grad school or planning your year in terms of time and cost are VERY important so that you can overcome those challenges and make your adventure easier, especially if you are from different country or culture. However, nobody can be prepared perfectly, and nobody knows exactly what will happen, so don’t be scared, be prepared, and just jump into your new adventure! Interested in studying the MSc TESOL at Moray House?Our TESOL Master's programme is suitable for both experienced teachers and newcomers to the field. It's designed for students who plan to teach English as a second, foreign or additional language and is also ideal for those who plan to work or do research in the contexts of teacher education, management, course design, materials development, and language analysis and/or assessment. Explore the MSc TESOL programme Tags TESOL Publication date 05 May, 2026
