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robbie_davies
Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Posts: 133
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 Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| robbie_davies wrote: |
| It is an Education degree and they stress this pretty thoroughly in the adverts I have seen about what they want - TESOL or Linguistics. |
I have two colleagues (direct hires) with MA Ed degrees; however, both are career teachers with related BAs and years of ESL teaching experience mostly gained in US public schools. So, I'd argue it's possible to get hired with an education degree, but there better be some solid goods behind that degree. I would suggest those with a master's in ed also indicate their specific TESOL coursework on their CV so that employers can determine their qualifications on an individual basis. |
That's fair enough.  |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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| soheeb16 wrote: |
Yea that is true for my end on if its useful, but the embassy isn't going to look past the degree. Maybe the transcript, I wouldn't know.
As for my own benefit (and maybe for the inquiry by a potential employer)... I looked at it and it seems general. It doesn't specify. |
Well, I also looked at that degree program and it very much specifies that it's for teaching primary and secondary school students---not adults in an EFL situation. What you refer to as a concentration in ESOL, is actually an ESOL endorsement (i.e., bilingual education endorsement), which means you're only awarded the endorsement upon passing the half dozen ESOL courses in addition to the ESOL Praxis exam. Then there's their graduate school admissions; I suspect you'd struggle to get through the required statement of purpose addressing why you want to be in their ESOL track program.
That degree program won't cut it and is contrary to your first post where you stated you wanted to "impress employers while also meeting the new visa requirements." Anyway, as I suggested, look at the content and not just the degree title (and low cost). |
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robbie_davies
Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Posts: 133
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| Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Beaker wrote: |
Does the world really care or understand which university you got that MA from in the majority of cases? If not, then there are some cheap fees and local living costs near certain universities I'm exploring already. |
Interesting, where do you come from? If you are British, there are loads of great programmes for less than five grand, (domestic fees.) |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| robbie_davies wrote: |
| Beaker wrote: |
Does the world really care or understand which university you got that MA from in the majority of cases? If not, then there are some cheap fees and local living costs near certain universities I'm exploring already. |
Interesting, where do you come from? If you are British, there are loads of great programmes for less than five grand, (domestic fees.) |
most don't cost more than 10 grand even if you are international |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 4:52 am Post subject: |
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Well, I also looked at that degree program and it very much specifies that it's for teaching primary and secondary school students---not adults in an EFL situation. What you refer to as a concentration in ESOL, is actually an ESOL endorsement (i.e., bilingual education endorsement), which means you're only awarded the endorsement upon passing the half dozen ESOL courses in addition to the ESOL Praxis exam. Then there's their graduate school admissions; I suspect you'd struggle to get through the required statement of purpose addressing why you want to be in their ESOL track program.
That degree program won't cut it and is contrary to your first post where you stated you wanted to "impress employers while also meeting the new visa requirements." Anyway, as I suggested, look at the content and not just the degree title (and low cost). |
Fair enough. I was already bothered by the fact the degree was Education, not TESOL, so I guess this is reaching for what is only a semi-relevant degree.
It seems a degree in TESOL aimed at adults is what I should be after then, right? I would really appreciate any suggestions for online programs with U.S based institutions. Also, should FHSU still be my backup at least, or is it just a bad idea if I am looking at Saudi? |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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robbie_davies
Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Posts: 133
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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I think your thread has come full circle.
If you do it online and want to live and work in Saudi Arabia, then you are asking for trouble. There is no sign that the requirements are going to change anytime soon.
If you want to live and work in Asia or wherever else - then they will be OK - I suppose.
I don't think anyone is going to advise you to take an online MA TESOL if your goal is to work in Saudi Arabia.
People slip through the net sure.
I would rather have the peace of mind that comes with having what they want. We are all different though so make your choice but you have had good advice here so don't say you weren't warned.
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robbie_davies
Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Posts: 133
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| sicklyman wrote: |
| robbie_davies wrote: |
| Beaker wrote: |
Does the world really care or understand which university you got that MA from in the majority of cases? If not, then there are some cheap fees and local living costs near certain universities I'm exploring already. |
Interesting, where do you come from? If you are British, there are loads of great programmes for less than five grand, (domestic fees.) |
most don't cost more than 10 grand even if you are international |
Indeed, fantastic value, I don't know how long the fees at that price are going to last though. |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think your thread has come full circle.
If you do it online and want to live and work in Saudi Arabia, then you are asking for trouble. There is no sign that the requirements are going to change anytime soon.
If you want to live and work in Asia or wherever else - then they will be OK - I suppose.
I don't think anyone is going to advise you to take an online MA TESOL if your goal is to work in Saudi Arabia.
People slip through the net sure.
I would rather have the peace of mind that comes with having what they want. We are all different though so make your choice but you have had good advice here so don't say you weren't warned.
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Okay, lets put it this way: If we forget Saudi Arabia and the debate about online degrees, can someone please tell me if the above two programs look good for someone who wants to teach ESL overseas? (As I said, Saudi isn't my only option, but unfortunately, an online MA is.) |
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intrepid traveler
Joined: 06 Feb 2013
Posts: 48
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| soheeb16 wrote: |
| Sorry, I meant it is viewed as inferior, especially in Saudi. I also understand that some employers care if its online while others don't. If there weren't Saudi employers that accepted it, I wouldn't go for it all. Really, my only concern with the online degree is that the embassy would give me trouble. I was reassured that as long as its from an accredited school and doesn't say "online" on it, they won't create an issue; but the embassy is not known for its consistency. |
It is possible that, once they receive your degree and transcripts, the embassy will call your university to enquire about online vs face to face. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:22 am Post subject: |
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| soheeb16 wrote: |
| If we forget Saudi Arabia and the debate about online degrees, can someone please tell me if the above two programs look good for someone who wants to teach ESL overseas? |
A suggestion: click on the links you provided and start reading. If you can't determine if these programs are suitable for teaching EFL overseas, then you seriously need to reassess your ability to handle graduate school. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| A suggestion: click on the links you provided and start reading. If you can't determine if these programs are suitable for teaching EFL overseas, then you seriously need to reassess your ability to handle graduate school. |
spot on |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:15 am Post subject: |
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Its not the grad school I can't understand, but how reputable/relevant they will be perceived by the hiring schools. Besides, I am posting them because I have read them and have concluded they are good programs based on what I know. I was just hoping to get a confirmation on that from those who know better.
Please understand, I am pouring hours into research to determine which programs are best, but I also know when I am not experienced in a field, and that I should refer back to those that are. So I apologize if I ask a lot of questions, but I understand these are serious decisions with lifelong consequences, and I think it would be foolish of me to just second-guess. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Only people who would could give you advice on a range of Master's degrees are people who....er.... took a range of Master's degrees.
Unsurprisingly few of them on this forum.... or... er... anywhere. |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Well I am not asking for advice on a range, just on what is the type of degree I should be after. To be more specific, one thing that confuses me is that I see is that everyone mention TESOL degrees, but when I actually look up TESOL degrees, there are all actually MED or MAT degrees. Some of them include "in TESOL" or something like that in the degree title and others don't. So are all these TESOL degrees everyone speaks of actually Education degrees? |
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