This module enables you to make your own contribution to the field of materials development. You will do this by developing your critical awareness of language acquisition and pedagogy at a theoretical and practical level and the criteria for evaluation and adaptation of language learning materials. You will investigate different aspects of materials development and work both independently and in a team to produce a variety of language learning materials, justifying their principles, objectives and procedures.
This module carries 30 credits
" The teaching was inspirational - not just in terms of content, but also classroom management and the teacher training activites. "
Licia
Is this course for you?
18 - 29 August 2025
Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or MA awarded by University of Chichester
Homestay (half-board): £560
Residential (half-board): £672
Residential (self-catering): £560
More information
Course content
Assessment (written after completion of the course and supervised at distance by tutors):
Assignment 1 (50%):
A criterion-referenced evaluation of two comparable units of materials in relation to a specified context and a principled adaptation of one of these units for the same context.
Assignment 2 (50%):
The production of a unit of materials together with a theoretical rationale justifying and exemplifying the principles and procedures of the materials.
" The course was excellent. I achieved all the goals I set before coming here. There is a good combination of theories and practical application and the tutors were excellent. I have taken a lot of teacher training programmes and I can definitely say that the Materials Development course at NILE is the best! "
" Excellent support before and during the course. The tutors are second to none! "
Ahmed
Timetable
This course consists of 50 hours of tuition, delivered between 09:00 and 15:30, Monday - Friday. You will also take part in cross-curricular workshops on a variety of topics, and each course includes a free evening and weekend programme of social and cultural activities and trips.
Further Information
Specific course content comes from feedback you and other participants give us through pre-course questionnaires, identifying your needs and priorities.
Time will be built into the course for reflection and for you to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to your classroom in your own professional contexts.
NILE offers various accommodation options, including homestay with carefully selected hosts and residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. NILE’s dedicated student welfare team can be reached 24 hours a day.
All NILE courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or the development of language awareness.
MA Module Leader
Helen joined NILE as a course tutor in 2020, after spending 15 years as the CEO of a large educational organisation in South-East Asia, with branches in Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong. She began her teaching career in 1990, working as a teacher of young learners, and spent the next 30 years working as a teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum developer and education manager.
Helen holds a Master's Degree in Teaching English to Young Learners (6-16 year olds) with specialisms in materials design, teacher development, literacy-based language teaching and education management. In addition to tutoring at NILE, she works as an International Consultant for UNICEF, focussing broadly on curriculum development and teacher/trainer training projects in both formal and non-formal settings. Helen has recently opened her own small education publishing company and is a published author.
Helen has worked as a Consultant Teaching Fellow on the University of York’s MA in TEYL programme for more than 10 years.
In her spare time, Helen enjoys baking, painting, authoring and spending time with her two grandchildren, who often serve as inspiration for her writing.
Available dates:
| Course dates | Location | Course length | |
| 18 August - 29 August 2025 | Norwich | 2 weeks |
