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Depending on their study ability and conditions for the thesis, final-year TESOL students can be assigned to conduct a research project under the guidance of a personal thesis supervisor. This project involves a step-by-step process from shaping a research focus, formulating research questions, developing data collecting instruments, analysing data in coherent qualitative and/or quantitative models, and discussing and highlighting findings relevant to the field of second language teaching and learning. The thesis must be presented at a public oral defence. The course will help students practice the skills of doing independent research, collecting, analyzing and synthesizing materials, and develop their critical thinking.

Senior students who satisfy all the requirements aforementioned can undertake a graduation paper with an experienced supervisor assigned by the faculty. They have to adhere to every step of the procedure to do a thesis such as choosing the topic, tailoring the research proposal, adopting certain methods of collecting and analyzing data as well as presenting their research paper. After the course, students’ skills in independent research, information searching, analyzing and synthesizing, critical thinking are reinforced.