The Monterey Institute Graduate Program in Language and Educational Linguistics balances theory and practice, preparing its graduates to take leadership roles in the areas of teaching, curriculum design, testing, research and teacher training. In addition, language teaching professionals receive training in materials development, curriculum design, technology, and program administration. Within a MA program, courses go beyond the general study of language to specific courses in language structure and its relationship to the culture which surrounds it. Language analysis courses develops a deeper understanding and awareness of language and its various aspects, such as phonology, morphology, syntax, discourse, and pragmatics. Those who have learned another language may have an intuitive understanding of what their students' experience, but courses in second language acquisition provide a specific understanding of how language is learned, the influence of variables on the learning, and the strategies that learners employ.
Students explore the activities which enhance language learning.
These are the kinds of questions students in the language teaching programs will examine and explore. Our new technologies have created additional questions. Computers offer endless, non-judgmental patience for repetitive learning tasks and the Internet can supply a wealth of authentic language samples. Questions like these demonstrate the new pedagogical issues language teaching professionals will be attempting to answer in the future. Courses on pedagogy in several languages are also available.