Job Discussion Forums

Guerciotti

I toyed with the idea of an MA/MS in linguistics or TESOL, but I have a BS in accounting and I'd rather study accounting, economics or finance if I'm going to grad school.

I'll have two years teaching experience in China as of June and various other experience back home. I have an online TEFL certificate (woohoo!).

In which country would a masters in accounting, finance or economics be useful? It seems marginally useful in China but I don't know about the rest of the world.

Thoughts?

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

What are your career goals?

EFLeducator · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:48 pm Post subject:

Get a degree in accounting and get into the business world. Think long term. Think about having enough money to be able to buy the basics in life.

Guerciotti · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies.

Goals? I don't want to teach oral English for 10 years. I have a BS in accounting and an MS would top it off nicely. I could teach accounting ... somewhere?

Yes, a masters in accounting might bring me back into the business world. I should say, teaching English for 10 years, well one could do a lot worse, right? But I like accounting/economics/finance and I'd love to teach these subjects. Bottom line if I throw down $15,000 and all that work for a masters it helps if I'm interested in the subject. I can work a jump to the business world later.

Perhaps I can look for jobs on different websites. I'm looking on ESL oriented websites and it just occurred to me that may be a waste of time. Surprised

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you want to take your accounting career into a classroom, you'd better be in a country that has classes taught in English, or you'd better be fluent enough in that country's foreign language.

Japan has a few (darned few) universities that have non-language courses taught in English. I expect the competition is even steeper than for language course positions.

Guerciotti · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:43 am Post subject:

kona · Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 188 Location: USA

I'd imagine that you could easily be picked up by a JV program in China that pays considerably more than what a regular ESL teacher would make. HK and Singapore may also have english language universities that might be interested in your quals, maybe look up a few uni's websites and check their jobs sections; business related positions seem to always be in high demand in china and I would venture to guess that its the same in other countries as well.

Also, check the university where you want to do your MS and ask them if they have an international component of their masters program, or if any students that have worked their before are working in another country. if your dead certain on making accounting a career (or the teaching thereof), then state your career goals firmly to the graduate department and ask them how they can help you reach those goals. if I had to put money on it I would wager that a masters in accounting would ultimately mean a higher salary in asia (minus japan; tough market) than one in ESL. but i could be wrong.

best of luck to you and your endeavors

Guerciotti · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks kona. I have surfed for days and I need to rest and wax down my board.

Yes the JV programs look good as well as certain opportunities in a few other countries. There are also a few interesting universities in China and possibly high schools.

Thanks for the suggestions regarding international components and teaching intentions. That did not and probably would not occur to me.

Now I shall prepare for the GRE like a few of my students.