Job Discussion Forums

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

I am soon to complete my MA in English Literature, and I definitely regret not doing an MA in TESOL or even a PGCE. But, there is no point crying over spilt milk, and I am trying to find out where in the world an MA really does make a difference, and would get me a better job than other candidates who might have a BA and CELTA (I also have both of these).

For example, do some places in the Middle East requite an MA, and the same question for China? Will my MA allow me to teach at a higher level (Like Universities), in some places?

All my MA seems good for, is that I can call myself a Master of Literature ..... you gotta admit that sounds pretty cool, and it impresses the ladies.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject:

Dear daniel_hayes,

Having a similar MA (my BA is in English Lit. and my MA is in English Education) and having worked for about twenty years in the Middle East, I think I can answer your question for that area, at least.

These days, in almost all places in the Middle East, the GOOD jobs require an MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics.

So, how did I get my GOOD job in Saudi? Well, I started there in 1980, back when the requirements weren't so specific or codified. And I stayed with the same employer there for nineteen years. But later on, when I applied for jobs in the UAE, for example, my MA in English Ed. made my applications non-starters.

Regards,
John

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I can speak for universities in Europe and to some degree in North America - the lit degree isn't often considered relevant to teaching and probably won't help you much. Not to say it would be impossible to get a university job in either region, but it'd take some luck on top, I'd think. You'd be competing with a very fair number of MA TEFL or MA applied linguistics holders (there are lots around and more every year).

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

I don't have an MA and will never do one. Well done on getting yours though. What is a good job?

I work almost exclusively for oil companies these days and they pay much better than most uni gigs in the Middle East, particularly if you can get direct hire. However, the students can be challenging.

If you want an easy life, the MA will help you get into a uni in the Gulf region. It pays less but the students are better.

There are other good jobs out there like BAe Saudi, who pay really well and Nazerbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. An MA will surely help for them.

As I said, I don't have an MA but have worked with loads who do. Seemed like a waste of time and money to me. It certainly didn't make any of them 'better' in a classroom although I must say, many of them felt superior and very entitled.

All that theory-how dull!! You end up teaching the same old books anyways.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject:

Dear sharter,

I have to disagree regarding the Middle East - an MA in English Lit. won't get anyone a GOOD job in a university there.

However, I'd be glad to hear from any other Middle East teachers who might disagree (or, for that matter, agree with me).

Regards,
John

MotherF · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject:

An MA in anything will get you higher pay at most Latin American Universities. An MA in English Lit won't necessarily get you the job though. You would still need revelent training (like a CELTA) and experience.

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

Great info, thanks. It's not that I need to work at Uni level; nothing like that. It's just that I want to see how I can best make use of my qualifications. I have a CELTA, BA, and two year's teaching experience (teaching adults mainly)

I guess I want to find out about jobs and countries that actually require a MA. Do you know any of these?

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

It probably won't help you much in Italy (if you were interested in Italy). I've got a uni teaching role (support English, not literature or anything like that) and it was contacts that got me the work - not my qualifications.

My advice - for what it's worth - is to go for the places which are actually investing in public education and which will see your MA as evidence of your general awesomeness (irony intended). They might pay you more, or try harder to attract you to working there than the places that couldn't care less (i.e. Italy). Don't discount the fact that your MA in English might even get you directly related teaching work - i.e. coaching uni students for their degrees - than the more ELT type stuff.

Don't kick yourself for not doing an MA in TESOL if it was an MA in English Lit that inspired you... If you enjoyed your course and thought it was value for money, good on you! Sure, it might not get you a job in Saudi, but a) you might be able to do some sort of conversion module in the future that gives you that MA in TESOL, and b) it's not always about what makes the best commercial decision. I'm sure that if you thought about the angle, you could even "spin" the usefulness of what you did into an ELT context.

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

Maybe I've just been lucky John. It can't hurt that's for sure but I've had some pretty good gigs without one. He still hasn't answered my question, so I'll repeat it here.

WHAT IS A GOOD JOB FOR YOU?

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

johnslat · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:11 pm Post subject:

Dewar sharter,

A GOOD job - ditto to the above comments - and I'd add 1. management that stays out of your way, let's you do your job, and (usually, anyway) backs you up; 2. students who are not all hopeless jerks.

My job had all of that.

Regards,
John

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

John....I think we can agree that ticking all those boxes is quite a feat out here.

Currently I've got a great boss who trusts us to do what we're meant to do and that means a lot. In Gulf jobs the local management can be in your face constantly about meaningless things. I had a boss in country X who used to report me for being absent if I didn't answer the office phone even though I was actually in class. FUBAR.

I've been lucky with my students in Kuwait, Saudi, Qatar and Libya as the vast majority have been nice people, even the hopeless ones Smile

.

A good job for me is big money and lots of holidays; that's oil field rotation.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject:

Dear sharter,

I agree completely. And it took me a little while to fully realize just how lucky I was to be able to tick all those boxes. Very Happy

Regards.
John