Job Discussion Forums

[Time Tourist]

Hello all,

I am in the process of beginning a career transition. Currently I am in the field of sales, based throughout Southeast Asia. This precludes me from attending any in-person university in the US (where I am originally from). I would like to pursue an online BA, preferably in Linguistics or TESOL. My question is what options are out there for me, and which of these would likely be the best option? I'd like to complete the degree in three years or less if possible (I already have nearly two years of college credits completed in the US, but I am unsure how applicable these will be). I plan on completing a CELTA within the next few months (most likely in Bangkok), but won't begin teaching until after I have completed my degree.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[nomad soul]

You need to state your preferences in regard to location---that is, the country the university should be based out of. Otherwise, you're bound to get suggestions for unis in Australia, Canada, the UK, etc., which may not appeal to you.

[Time Tourist]

[spiral78]

I've never heard of a BA in applied linguistics or TEFL - maybe there is such a programme in Canada, actually, though I believe the one I've heard of requires a fairly extensive hands-on classroom component (a good thing).

Basically, I think you'd want a degree from an Anglophone country.

[santi84]

There is no Canadian university that offers a BA in Linguistics or TESOL online (and there is no BA in TESOL period). BEd in TESL, absolutely, but those programs are geared towards public school certification and are almost entirely on-campus. All Canadian BA/BSc in Lingustics programs are done on-campus as well (some universities offer some coursework online but the majority still on campus).

Believe me, I spent a lot of time hunting!

Trinity Western University in Canada offers an MA in TESOL online (or on-campus if you prefer). Normally, it requires a previous BA but it does take applicants into consideration if they do not meet standard requirements (you must do some upgrading beforehand). I'm not sure if that's something you are interested in but I thought I'd mention it. You can also keep it in mind for later on if you wish to do more coursework after your degree is completed.

http://www.twu.ca

[Karesta]

A lot of the Australian universities have good distance education degrees. If you're doing it to satisfy the visa requirements, you may be disappointed. A lot of countries won't accept online degrees.

My friend is currently completing a Master of Applied Linguistics (distance) from the University of Southern Queensland. Check it out

[nomad soul]

[Gringo Greg]

If getting a BA is your goal but not a BA in Linguistics or TESOL, then I suggest checking out two different universities.

1) Excelsior College in Albany, New York. It's the granddaddy of all distance programs. They offer a unique way to get a Bachelor's degree. Basically, you can combine classes from many difference sources as well as CLEP and DSST exams. It's great if you have some years of college and just want a degree. It can be a very cheap way to get a 4 year degree and you can do it quickly. Not as quickly as in the past when you could get 30 credits for a GRE subject exam, but fast enough. It took me about 1 week of exams to go from 84 credits to a BS degree using just DSST and CLEP exams. It's accredited of course by one of the regional accrediting bodies. The degrees are issued under the University of the State of New York.

2) Fort Hays State University has a very good and cheap online program in many different areas. Check them out. You can get US federal student aid with them if you are US citizen, meaning pell grants and loans.

If you have no college under your belt, then Fort Hays might be a good choice to get some credit and then you can take exams for the rest. You could probably go from zero to a Liberal Studies degree in a year or so if you are good at exams. And you could do it all on borrowed money.

[thesuitthatdidnt]

Happy to say...that online degrees are not considered valid nor worthy in any decent place of employment.

An online degree will guarantee jobs in China and Thailand for the rest of your life.

That goes for online CELTA or others....

Spend your money wisely.

[santi84]

[thesuitthatdidnt]

Well, I wonder what you mean by 'respected', and by whom ?

I am often on the hiring end of Teachers/ Management etc..and we toss anyone's CV who has 'online' anything into the bin.

After speaking with other bigger companies and management, they have a similar perspective on the online anything.

In addition, I have colleagues who have done and or are doing their online Masters and so forth, and it's rather a joke in terms of content, and marks.

The marks always seem incredibly 'high'. And I am quite sure, if you pay you pass.

Let's agree to disagree, but anyone doing an online anything is throwing their future out the window, along with their dosh (money).

[santi84]

I will certainly have to agree to disagree because that is not the situation here in Canada. Athabasca University is accepted by many employers, in fact it is encouraged. Trinity Western University in British Columbia offers an MA in TESOL online (or on-campus) which requires only a two week on-site attendance.

I agree that some places in this world, such as the Middle East, will throw those CV's in the trash but that does not mean that everywhere in the world does, and yes, those degrees can be accepted in North America. Many progressive employers are realizing that distance education is just as valid as on-campus education, and it is more realistic for someone who is older with a family.

My degree is from a traditional university, but now with a mortgage and two children, I will certainly consider an MA in TESL that allows for most, if not all, distance coursework. Not all TESL instructors have the benefit of just being able to go off to another university in another country (or are near one at home) in order to further our education. I would have to leave my husband and two children (under three years old) to do so. Not going to happen! Fortunately Canada recognizes this. It's a shame that others don't.

I did a few courses online through my traditional university and I found them to actually be more difficult than on-campus courses.

[Kiwi303]

Some Universities also offer a sort of middle ground.

The University of Waikato Management school videos all lectures and makes them available in the student section of the website so students can attend their lectures virtually at their own convenience for a several week period before deleting them. Instead of having to be there for every lecture, a student can be busy elsewhere and view the lectures after getting home, from the comfort of their home. Great for those working their way through uni.

Of course you still have to physically front up for Lab classes and group sessions, but instead of having to schedule in 8 to 10 or so lectures, you only have to schedule 2 or 3 lab/group sessions around your work schedule.

Not much use to a TESOLer in a difference country, but for those who either live a couple hours drive from campus and can schedule to make the trip once a week instead of every day, or who are working most days to live while studying, it can be a godsend.

Given technology like SKYPE conference calls, eventually the Lab sessions with a TA going over the lecture info in further detail can be done virtually someday.


"Online" does not automatically equate to "Crap" these days unless you refer to the $199.95 Credit Card Sheepskins...

[thesuitthatdidnt]

Well, my journey in life has taught me one thing that is certain. People will believe anything they need to at the moment of need. No matter how obviously irrational.

This goes from familial relations, personal love relations, work, studies, countries they are in (that is not their home country) and so forth.

Online degrees can not verify who has written the papers, or submitted the work and so forth. The quality of teaching involved with online degrees and or certificates is not of the same standard of that as in person.

Skype and online live lectures are far far from development, I have been active in researching this with several companies. The problems is that the speed of the network of a company (Uni etc) in contrast to that of an individual living in a small town/ village/ 3rd world country/ an area that does not have good high speed access. This testing was done in Europe, with various regions involved and is at this time unsuccessful.

This was one issue, but there were many other issues too complex to explain here. Let's just say it's at least 10 years away from being successful in some places. But the world doesn't develop equally, thus in reality this might never see 'widespread' success.

It is a reality, that you need to study at home due to personal reasons. But the fact is the same, and I know that online degrees in Canada are in fact not widely accepted. As in other parts of the world.

I wish they were...how easy it would be for us all...and less expensive.

[santi84]

Thesuitthatdidnt,

Okay, if you wish to believe that only China and Thailand accept online/distance coursework, go right ahead. There are many employers in other countries, including Canada, that do not share your archaic attitude towards distance/online coursework. I'm curious, have you ever completed a distance/online course yourself? Have you ever spoken on the phone with your professors? Engaged in daily forum conversations?

Why do you equate a distance BA/MA from a reputable university with some internet credit card scheme?

I have done plenty of distance/online coursework as part of my degree. My university was ranked 25th in the world (and 1st in Canada from 2009-2011 under comprehensive status). If you think that is invalid, well....? Okay.