✓ Learn to teach a Language other than English (LOTE) in a variety of educational settings

✓ Suitable for students with no prior experience, plus a fast-track option for those with experience

✓ Teach LOTE in Australia, internationally or online

✓ Teachers upskill your teaching qualifications with a Languages Teaching specialisation to teach in schools*

✓ Research-driven learning

*Eligibility for teacher registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is required to take the Languages Teaching specialisation. Contact the VIT to determine eligibility if you do not already hold current registration.

Gain the skills required to start an exciting career teaching a Language Other Than English (LOTE) with our internationally recognised Master of Modern Languages Education course. This course focuses on LOTE curriculum, pedagogy and language as they apply to classroom instruction. You will gain insight into the nature of language and its role in human learning and expression, while developing your communication skills and intercultural awareness.

Who is the course for?

The Master of Modern Languages Education is suitable for students of all backgrounds, with no prior experience in the field required. The course provides options for those who want to teach a Language Other Than English (LOTE) in a range of educational environments around the world, ranging from mainstream schools* to language centres. Existing teachers (with eligibility for VIT registration) may upskill their teaching qualifications with a Languages Teaching specialisation.

*Please note: the Master of Modern Languages Education does not provide an initial teacher qualification to register with the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a school teacher in Australia. For information on becoming a teacher, please visit the Become a Teacher page.

Watch our Education sector in review: Optimising technology in education webinar recording. Our panel of academic experts and alumni discuss how we can best optimise technology in the education sector. We explore opportunities and barriers that exist for students, staff and practitioners, and how technology can be used to foster better education standards.

Why choose the Master of Modern Languages Education with us?

In the Master of Modern Languages Education, you’ll be taught by a number of internationally recognised education experts. As students of Faculty of Education researchers, you’ll experience research-led learning, focusing on concepts and findings. As well as strong leaders and educators, the course has also been built for practical application in the real world. Our teacher placements are an integral part of the course which allow students to experience real-life teaching in primary, secondary or adult education environments.

The reputation of the University of Melbourne is strong and globally recognised, particularly for education in Australia being at the cutting edge of teaching and research.

Support while you learn

We take pride in the excellent support we offer our Master of Modern Languages Education students from enrolment, throughout their studies, and beyond. Our students are successful because of the support and guidance they get when leading a class for the first time. You will receive ongoing support both on campus and while on placement. If you are an Indigenous student, we offer a range of support services here at the University of Melbourne via Murrup Barak. Find out more.

In the Master of Modern Languages Education, you will learn how to effectively teach a language other than English. This course focuses on the curriculum, pedagogy, and language as they apply to classroom instruction and the provision of Languages education within educational settings.

Study Structure

The Master of Modern Languages Education is comprised of both supported teacher placement and face-to face learning. Entry points to the course are in both semester 1 and 2, designed to suit most schedules. For flexibility around professional or family commitments, we also offer the Master of Modern Languages Education on a part-time (domestic students only) or full-time basis.

Standard program:

• This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience
• 200 points of coursework
• Year 1: 4 x compulsory subjects and 4 x electives chosen from the Master of Education. Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their chosen electives. All 4 compulsory subjects and 4 electives must be completed before students enrol into any additional languages electives for Year 2.
• Year 2 is comprised of either:
  • Capstone professional project option, 6 x additional languages electives and 1 x capstone professional project subject; or
  • Research pathway option, 4 x additional languages electives and 2 research pathway subjects.

Fast-track program:

• Up to 100 credit points of advanced standing will be given to applicants who have either: A four-year education degree, or equivalent; or an undergraduate degree in any discipline and at least 100 credit points, or equivalent, of graduate study in education.
• Year 2: Either the Capstone professional project option or the Research pathway option, as detailed for the Standard program. Alternatively, see details of the Languages Teaching specialisation option further below.

Please note: Applicants who have completed the University of Melbourne Graduate Certificate in Modern Languages Education may be eligible to apply for entry to the Master of Modern Languages Education with 100 points of advanced standing, plus receive 50 points of credit for the ‘Languages Teaching’ specialisation subjects.

Also available: Graduate Certificate in Modern Languages Education

How will I study?

The delivery mode of our course is face-to-face classes on the Parkville campus, plus supported teacher placement in primary, secondary or adult educational settings. The classes on campus are held in the evenings and on the weekends.

The Languages Teaching specialisation requires 22 days of supervised placement at a school or similar setting during school hours (this option is available in the fast-track option, and requires eligibility for Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration. Please contact the VIT to determine eligibility if you do not already hold current registration.

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With the Master of Modern Languages Education, you can supplement or advance your existing qualifications so you can take on more responsibility in your current teaching role.

Depending on your studies, you may be able to teach one or more languages other than English. You'll also graduate with the skills to manage a curriculum that's culturally and linguistically appropriate to language programs and resources.

Industry connections

Through your education studies, teaching placements and research projects, you will develop strong professional and personal connections with community and industry that will open doors to an outstanding future.

Learning outcomes

The course will prepare you to:

• Manage culturally and linguistically appropriate language programs and resources
• Manage and teach one or more languages other than English
• Use research to improve student learning and address language education-related issues

Highly employable 

Finish your course confident of gaining employment, thanks to the excellent reputation of the Faculty of Education. We have been consistently ranked as #1 in Australia and in the world's top 15 for Education, meaning a degree from us is a globally recognised achievement.

A three-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, AND A major in a language other than English (or provide a statement of equivalence).

IELTS (academic English Only): Overall 7.0 (with written 7.0 and no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 94 + ; Writing 27; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 65 + written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 185 + no less than 185 in Writing and 169 in each other skill