Job Discussion Forums

skarp · Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 50

I am contemplating doing an MA while working in Japan.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on this.

I am especially keen to hear from people who have done a distance learning and part time course and who have found it useful, interesting and 'bankable'

I am looking at the prospect of having a solid university job within 5 years. Something I can build a real career on.

An alternative is to be DOS of a smaller Eikaiwa.

Advice/comments please.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I am starting a masters in applied linguistics from USQ (University of Southern Queensland) in a couple of weeks. I've looked at 25-30 schools in the past 2 years and found that this was the best for me.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I did a MEd with Temple University at their branch campus in Osaka and am now full time at a university in Kyoto.

http://www.tuj.ac.jp

Am now enrolled in a distance phD in Applied Linguistics with Birmingham University in the UK. 3rd year of the course, no lectures. I know one other in Okinawa doing a Masters by distance with the University of Leicester in the UK.
See my list of accreditted distance degrees
http://www.teachinginjapan.com/continuinged.html

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Danny · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 20

I'm doing my Masters in Applied Linguistics online at University of New England in Australia. You do have to do work but I think it is easier than a normal Masters course should be. You could do about half the workload over two years. Also, pretty much the only requirement is a Bachelors degree (not related), your previous grades don't matter. If you are Australian you can get it on HECS so it will only cost about A$4,000, deferred. Otherwise I think it is A$12,000.
D.

Danny · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 20

Oh yeah, the address is:
www.une.edu.au
D.

skarp · Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 50

Much appreciated. Thanks all round.

Skarp

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Man Skarp you sure spend a lot of time planning Rolling Eyes

MA in Applied LInguistics TESOL from Leicester Uni in the UK was very reasonably priced and worthwhile (if you are an EU citizen).

Take it from me, if you are going to put in three years of hard work for an MA you are not going to be satisfied being DOS of an eikaiwa. I know because I was. It was a dead end. Your MA is useless there, hamstrung by the pitiful requirements eikaiwa English demands. That's why I'm no longer in Japan.

BTW, if you want to be DOS of an eikaiwa, find one, work there for ages and you will be DOS. Having an MA is really not going to get you that kind of position in Japan.

ambernz · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 27 Location: HCMC but soon NZ

I've just completed my MA in Applied Linguistics at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, but they also have an MA TESOL (and Linguistics) and all of the courses are run as distance courses. The staff are amazing, and I can't believe how much I have learnt in a year (the programme is a calender year if you are full-time). All od the details are available on the Vic website www.vuw.ac.nz Very Happy

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

What does DOS stand for?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Thanks.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

One point that needs to be made on some of the Distance MA's is that if you are planning to persue a Doctorate in the future, some of those MA's will not be enough to get you into various Doctoral Programs. Uni of New England mentions this in part in their FAQ I do believe.

Make sure you look into that if it is a concern.