Several children and a teacher look at materials

Why this course?

E-LINGO is a blended-learning programme combining online coursework with 5 x 2 days of face-to-face teaching sessions at the University of Education (Freiburg, Southern Germany). Starting 2022, these sessions will be offered in a hybrid format and can be attended fully virtually, if necessary, although we strongly recommend students to attend in person.

A two-week placement in a language classroom also forms part of the programme.

E-LINGO is an attractive post-graduate study programme for people with heterogeneous backgrounds interested in English at pre-school and primary level.

Whatever your BA degree specializes in you may now embark on new careers related to the teaching of English to young learners. 

All over the world children start learning foreign languages at an increasingly early age. E-LINGO qualifies you to teach English to young learners. It is an excellent form of professional development if you are already working in early years education or in a field related to the English language (e.g. translating, publishing).

What makes E-LINGO stand out is that it not only qualifies you to teach English to young learners but also opens up an academic path in the field as the programme allows you to develop research skills as well as to gain practical experience. This combination gives access to a wide range of job opportunities, for example:

  • in nursery schools and play groups
  • in kindergartens and pre-schools
  • in language courses for children offered by private institutions (language schools, community centers etc.)
  • in primary and bilingual schools
  • at universities (post-graduate research, teacher education, doctoral degree [PHD])
  • with publishers (materials design)
  • in school administration (curriculum development, in-service teacher education).

What Our Students Say

"The combination between face-to-face meetings and virtual learning was interesting."

- Sofia Borja Estupinan (graduated in 2012)

"The concept of blended learning enabled me to study without quitting my job."

- Marleen Peschke (primary school teacher)

"I'm very glad that I met many people from so many countries."

- Julia Chen (primary school teacher, graduated in 2012)

Renate Sauter

"I’ve been working at an International Preschool in Hesse, Germany for the past 7 years and every day I greatly appreciate the knowledge that I gained from my E-Lingo course work

I worked in the travel business with children for more than 20 years, but then, when my children were older and we were about to move house 300 km away, I was forced to think about my professional career. This was why I started the E-Lingo long-distance course while working with young language learners at the same time.

I had a lot of fun working with a mixed group of students coming from all over the world. The program was straightforward with essays and assignments, however, each of the modules was carefully thought out and always relevant to learning a new language.

I think that this MA course was instrumental in helping me obtain my position at the International Preschool. I was given the job even before my boxes had been unpacked in our new house in Hesse."

Evaluation of the programme

E-LINGO has qualified students from all over the world since 2005. Students' evaluations have been excellent throughout.

Two evaluation studies have confirmed that E-LINGO successfully qualifies students for the teaching of young learners: