Job Discussion Forums

[jijor]

Does anyone have suggestions on where to teach to get a master's while teaching? It doesn't have to be the school that I'm teaching at, and it should not be a online master's degree.

Comments from people that have done this, or are doing it now, would be especially useful.

[nomad soul]

There are several variables that make your situation tricky.

You need to be specific about the degree major and from what country. The problem with the latter is that it may be difficult to find a teaching position in a language school or college setting in a particular country if your qualifications don't meet the minimum. Obviously, there also needs to be a nearby university that offers your target degree program since you don't want to study via online. Moreover, keep in mind that employers generally want to see TEFL-related degrees obtained from an Anglophone university, which limits you to the US, Canada, UK, etc., if that's important to you.

That said, many US universities have work study programs for those who qualify, but those positions definitely don't involve teaching. There are also graduate assistantships offered through many US universities (an easy Internet search). You might also look into something like a fellowship in TESOL from the American University in Cairo, if that's the field you're interested in.

[jijor]

I need to reflect on what you've said.

The logistic side of it all is what I'm grappling with.

I've received several job offers from Saudi (I'm supposed to be interviewing for one tomorrow), and ironically the Master's options there are primarily online, but I just can't do it. Not after seeing articles and pictures about shredded hands because people read the "wrong" book. So, I've been reconsidering Asia.

Finding a school that offers a Master's in the English language is quite a challenge in itself. Getting a low key job near that school is even more challenging. (I suppose you could source a job on location, but I was hoping to have a proper work visa to avoid entering on a tourist visa.)

Since I have two BA's in liberal arts, and teaching English is one of the only ways to earn a living in today's economy (despite IT certifications and experience), I guess I'm stuck with linguistic oriented degree's as my choice. Sadly, I've wanted to change over to environmental conservation and restoration for years, but can't do it without going through the whole undergraduate system again.

As far as Western universities, I simply can't afford the tuition.

I do need to think about what you've written; it's all food for thought.

[rtm]

[suphanburi]

OP's been watching too much CNN.

In Asia you can earn a respectable MATESOL / MATEFL / M.ED TEFL/M.Ed at a number of universities and they ARE accepted as legitimate in most other countries on the planet. You can also do an MBA

Seoul National, Chulalongkorn, The University of Hong Kong, University of the Philippines (UP Dillman), Hong Kong Institute of Education to name but a few in Asia that are respected globally and offer post graduate programs in English.

As an American with a Bachelor's degree you can find legal work in Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong while you are working on your MA/M.Ed/MBA.

You'd be looking at US$12-15k (books and tuition) for a decent master's program. Many post grad programs are run on the weekends (Fri evening, Sat, Sun) to accommodate working professionals so you can work and learn at the same time.

I know that SNU and Chula often fly in visiting profs from US, and UK uni's for specific programs, as guest lecturers and for workshops/symposiums. HKI has a number of well respected researchers who also lecture at the post grad level.

HKU, SNU and Chula are also respected research uni's and you will be expected to publish as a requirement for graduation.

.

[nomad soul]

[ttxor1]

[spiral78]

[rtm]

[rtm]

[suphanburi]

Having been on a number of research projects with a number of international researchers from a broad range of countries (including North American and Western European researchers) my personal experience has been that it is more about what you have done, the work you are involved in and who knows about you and your work than the name of the Uni you studied at.

There are a number of well respected, internationally recognized, research universities all over the planet (including Asia). Their standards are certainly no less than and often equal or superior to those found in your average American/Canadian/UK/European uni.

If you are qualified and well published in peer reviewed journals then, in my experience, employers usually don't care where your MA was from. This is doubly so if your undergrad was from a "G7" country.

If they, an employer, think that an MA from Podunk-U in the USA is more prestigious or even of better quality than an MA/M.Ed from SNU, HKU, U.P. or Chula then they are not likely someone I would want to work for anyway (ignorance in an employer does not equal bliss for the employee).

HOWEVER, with all of that said, IF you are only looking at a leg up to teaching at the tertiary level then take what you can find and know that lots of uni's in Asia are NOT going to get you to the big bucks jobs (not that teaching has ever been a way to get rich).

IF you want to make teaching (as compared to becoming a lecturer) a career, then a PGCE or dipEd (1 year) is probably money that is better spent and will go further; leading to licensure and decent teaching positions in international schools all over the planet.

.

[johnslat]

Dear suphanburi,

You may not give a hoot, but you can cross the Middle East off your list of possibles.

Regards,
John

[suphanburi]

[rtm]

[johnslat]

Dear suphanburi


"Considering the simple fact that the OP had already done that... no worry."

Um, yes - which is why I was addressing you and not the OP.

"There is still a lot of planet left to choose from outside of the ME."

OK, Europe's out, the America's are out, the Middle East is out, so what's left? Well, some of Africa, maybe, and China, Anyplace else?

Regards,
John