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RustyShackleford
Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 449
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 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 12:43 am Post subject: Future Planning: MA in Teaching + 7 years experience will go |
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Hi everyone,
Kind of a general question I'm banging out to see what others may think. I've done five years on JET and one year teaching EAP college in Vietnam and this gig has made me realize that I need to expand my teaching skills. To that end I decided I will go to Spain to take on a Masters degree in Teaching with a practical teaching component.
For the longest time, my sights were set in the ALT/Eikaiwa world but realize that an MA may just help me break out of that mold but wonder how realistic this may be. Any insight would be appreciated. |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| RustyShackleford wrote: |
Hi everyone,
I've just been thinking about this. I'm currently in Vietnam and have been teaching English for six years total now (five in Japan, just finished my first year in Vietnam). I have only an online TEFL from ITTT but have made the decision to go to Spain for an MA in Teaching.
Now, my question is how much DOES the Japanese English teaching job market expand with an MA instead of a BA? Would a CELTA be something I should consider investing or would it just be window dressing (Japan never seemed too concerned with this but everywhere else around seems to strongly prefer one so the question linger on my mind.) |
| fluffyhamster wrote: |
Hi Rusty. Unfortunately I have no idea if hiring committees (i.e. beyond the entry level and demanding an MA) can or will overlook the lack of a BA (I'd imagine there'd be no shortage of candidates with both first and second degrees and perhaps even PhDs and/or quite a few published papers). Looking to the long term, getting a BA first would help you continue working in ELT beyond Japan, and outside Japan may be where the addition of a CELTA might come in too.
I see you've posted something similar in the Japan forum, but neglected to mention the lack of a first degree. It might help responses there if you included this information.
Can I ask how you got onto JET without a BA? (Hope you don't mind me asking, just curious). |
(from a somewhat duplicate thread in the General Discussion forum, entitled 'Ideal thought: CELTA vs MA': http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=107983 ) |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| RustyShackleford wrote: |
Oh frak! I didn't realize I actually posted that bloody thing. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll keep both up for the time because perhaps the General people can point out something I don't know.
I thought mentioning JET would make it clear that I did indeed have a BA. I meant to say "instead of <b>just a</b> BA." To be honest, I didn't even know it would be possible to get a BA without an MA! (Not that I'd trade those years for anything outside of a golden rocket house) |
| fluffyhamster wrote: |
Oh, I see! Sorry for the misreading LOL (it wasn't just the 'MA instead of a BA' part, but also the 'I have only an online TEFL from ITTT'). It's just there have been a number of queries over the years from people who've been hoping an MA could replace a BA for work visa purposes wherever.
I'd say go for the MA, especially as you seem leery of further AET or even eikaiwa work after JET. Just be prepared for the fact that an MA may be only a starting foot in the door for securing university work in Japan. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 7:36 am Post subject: |
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| Just a MA is not enough but teaching EAP will help. |
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