Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Grad assistantships for MA TESOL in the US

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Concepcion780



Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 32
Location: United States

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 1:38 pm    Post subject: Grad assistantships for MA TESOL in the US Reply with quote

I am looking into MA in TESOL programs in the US, and would really love to figure out a way to get this level of education in an affordable way.

If I could find a school that offers initial teacher certification in ESL (or bilingual education) AND graduate assistantships covering all or most of my tuition, that would be ideal. I haven't discovered any, and realize this might not be possible. I am also considering MA in TESOL programs (or applied linguistics) that won't lead to certification.

My goal is to teach ESL in the US in either a public school or college setting. At some point in the future, I would also like to spend a few years teaching at either an international/bilingual school or university in Latin America (maybe somewhere else too) but my primary concern is being able to work in the US.

If anyone has any ideas, or can offer information about specific schools that offer graduate assistantships, I would really appreciate it, since I am having a hard time finding this information online.

Thank you!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you try an Internet search on graduate degree tesl teacher assistantship? It brings up quite a few relevant results.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
timothypfox



Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 492

PostPosted: Thu May 09, 2013 4:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you want to teach at a public school, the most economic way to get a master's degree in TESOL is through Teach for America or several cities such as New York have a Teaching Fellows Program. You may not get a teaching assistantship this way - but you will get a full time job as a classroom public school teacher and Americorp Grants to cover about 3/4 of your tuition. Your remaining university tuition will then slowly be subtracted from your teacher pay. You will basically be going to school to do an MA and get teaching certification at the same time as you work.

When I did the New York City Teaching Fellows Program, I think my university was all covered except for about 2000 dollars. They took about 200 dollars a month or so off my pay until it was paid off.

Alternatively, you could go the Peace Corps route and after 2 years of volunteer service get admitted to a great school and get big discounts on education. But watch out! If you decide on a big name school like NYU and they offer you 80 percent tuition reduction, you may still be out another 10 grand a year of educational expenses!

If you want to go the college route, these days in North America scholarships generally go to people with financial need or are a minority. There are also scholarships for academic merit and women.

I believe the Teaching Assistant thing is more of a British type of university model. You will still see this in Canadian universities, but it is getting rare in American universities. Obviously, the super expensive competitive schools such as and not limited to NYU or Columbia University would have ample adjunct type of jobs for graduate students to get college experience.

University jobs from what I understand in North America are now a hard nut to crack in terms of getting full time positions. Many teachers spend their years at college as adjuncts paid by the course without a permanent salaried position. Not to say it can't happen. But being flexible on where you ultimately end up will help (in this case I mean an anglo country such as Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand etc.) If you get a university job in Korea, that is not necessarily a cause for jumping up and down for joy. Many university jobs in Asian countries are contract and term limited. You also will probably not receive many of the benefits - not to mention salary - of local nationals.

Ok - maybe this is far too much information....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JN



Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 214

PostPosted: Fri May 10, 2013 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I got my MATESOL, only the doctoral students got to teach classes. I was lucky enough to be chosen to tutor, but it wasn't an assistantship and didn't pay much. I don't know if there are assistantships for MATESOL students. If there had been, I'd have probably found one.
Also make sure you have it in writing that there is teacher certification. I was misinformed, but decided to stay at that university anyway.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ms01



Joined: 14 Oct 2012
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri May 10, 2013 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try Fordham University. They have a master's program in TESOL that includes NY state teaching certification. They do have some assistantships, but I really have no clue how far that would go towards tuition or how hard it is to get one.

The application deadline for this scholarship program has passed, but you might want to contact them anyway. If they haven't filled all of the slots, maybe they will still consider your application. Here's a link: http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/graduate__profession/education/admissions__financia/financial_aid/gse_school_based_aid/scholarship__grant_g/teacher_residency_sc_81289.asp
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
timothypfox



Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 492

PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2013 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Again, Teach for America or Teaching Fellows Programs such as the New York City Teaching Fellows is the cheapest way. You will get a full-time job a cap of maybe $4000 on your entire educational expenses - which will then slowly (quite slowly) be deducted from your paychecks until paid off.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rtm



Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US

PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2013 5:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

JN wrote:
When I got my MATESOL, only the doctoral students got to teach classes. I was lucky enough to be chosen to tutor, but it wasn't an assistantship and didn't pay much. I don't know if there are assistantships for MATESOL students. If there had been, I'd have probably found one.


There are actually quite a few universities in the US that offer teaching assistantships to (some) MA TESOL students, usually for teaching in an intensive English program at the university, or occasionally for teaching freshman composition courses. Sometimes tuition is fully waived, sometimes partially waived, and sometimes reduced to in-state rates (at public universities). There is often also a stipend paid (barely enough to live on -- often around $1000-$1500/mo). The other benefit is that you get a couple years of experience teaching EAP and/or in a university IEP, which helps a lot when you are looking for your first post-MA job, especially if you are looking for a job in the US or in the Middle East. It's a pretty good deal, really. When I finished my MA, I had paid nothing out of pocket, and had zero debt.

Of course, not everyplace offers such assistantships, so if that's what one wants, that should be one of the criteria they use when deciding where to apply to.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Concepcion780



Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 32
Location: United States

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 2:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your ideas and responses!

Timothypfox- I had applied to some teaching fellows programs and found out I got into one a few days after posting this, so that is most likely what I'll be doing.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China