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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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 Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:36 pm Post subject: Directions for PD |
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Hi all,
A recent thread has made me think about what direction I would like my future to take. I'd very much appreciate your insight, as people who have been in this game a lot longer than I have.
A little background about myself:
25 (M)
CELTA
2 years in China (university)
Part-time EAP in the U.K.
I'm just finishing my MA AL/TESOL course (expected distinction) and have accepted another job in China for a year. However after that I'm not sure. Which is where I'd like your insight.
Option 1 is a PhD - I've a potential supervisor lined up and there's a chance of it being fully funded (it would have to be for me to do it).
Option 2 is to develop more in the classroom - so a DELTA.
Obviously, both options have their pros and cons. It helps me if I type them out so here goes.
Option 1
+ A route into academic teaching in the future
+ Get a PhD 'out of the way' - once it's done it's done.
+ Opens more doors into different ventures
- 3 years of hard work
- Being out of the classroom for 3 years.
- A sense of 'running before you can walk', after all, I've only 2 years full time experience.
Option 2
+ Get to stay in the classroom
+ Build more teaching experience
+ More practical and 'employable'
+ Quicker
- Not as 'prestigious' as a PhD
- No funding options
This may be a moot point as my grades haven't been released and no funding has been secured. But it has me thinking.
My main worry is that if I do the PhD, I'd be out of the classroom for 3 years and I'd like to go back to the classroom. I do enjoy teaching. Coupled with the fact that there are so many anecdotes out there of PhDs not being worth it.
Your thoughts are appreciated. |
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Mandrews1985
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Shroob, I willl suggest a third option:
Consider teaching another age group and gain more experience first.
I say this because, I suspect, your university experience in China is oral English only. Of course, if I am wrong please correct me though most entry positions here are and I'm in one too.
Teaching oral English here is great but I've never really had to test myself. No discipline problems and kids hang on my every word. It's been the most pleasant experience in my short teaching career.
However, my teaching abilities developed the most when I was in a middle school in Korea. My classroom management and motivational strategies improved (had to!) very quickly.
What I would suggest to you is test yourself out somewhere else with another age group.
1. An ALT position in Japan.
2. EPIK in Korea.
3. A demanding academy (like Avalon -Korea) where you need to teach reading, writing, listening and speaking.
You have a great set of qualifications and age is firmly on your side so there is no need to just get your Phd 'out of the way'.
Good luck on whatever you decide! |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Mandrews1985 wrote: |
Hey Shroob, I willl suggest a third option:
Consider teaching another age group and gain more experience first.
I say this because, I suspect, your university experience in China is oral English only. Of course, if I am wrong please correct me though most entry positions here are and I'm in one too.
Teaching oral English here is great but I've never really had to test myself. No discipline problems and kids hang on my every word. It's been the most pleasant experience in my short teaching career.
However, my teaching abilities developed the most when I was in a middle school in Korea. My classroom management and motivational strategies improved (had to!) very quickly.
What I would suggest to you is test yourself out somewhere else with another age group.
1. An ALT position in Japan.
2. EPIK in Korea.
3. A demanding academy (like Avalon -Korea) where you need to teach reading, writing, listening and speaking.
You have a great set of qualifications and age is firmly on your side so there is no need to just get your Phd 'out of the way'.
Good luck on whatever you decide! |
Thanks for the idea. I did think about a different age group, but I used to work in a primary school before and I know that's not for me. I could possibly do high schools, as I've taught 16/17 year olds before, but I prefer uni level students. As such I'd be hesitant to drop down an age range or two when I enjoy it so much where I am.
You're right in the fact that my experience in China was mainly oral English (I'd say 60%), the job I'm returning to in China is at an international uni, I know what I'll be teaching and it's a much more balanced curriculum.
One reason for the PhD is that I'm hoping it will open the doors to Japanese universities.
Thanks again though. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| With just two years' experience under your belt, it's way too short a time to be thinking about getting a PhD. At age 25, you really need to put in 4-5 more years of progressively challenging teaching responsibilities to hone your skills and gain new ones through continuous professional development. Besides, it doesn't seem like you have specific career goals in mind in terms of what you expect to do with a PhD. (Getting it solely for prestige isn't the best idea.) In fact, what would your doctoral major and focus be in if you were to pursue a PhD? |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| A PhD is like nothing else you have ever, or will ever, study for. It is primarily an endurance test rather than an academic endeavor. You are also unlikely to finish in 3 years, as most people don't. In the last couple of years it consumes you, and you live it, breathe it and dream about it. Finding the motivation and energy to finish is hard, even when you were passionate about your topic to start with. I cannot imagine how hard it would be if you were even somewhat ambivalent about it. It's absolutely not something you should start solely to get it 'out of the way'. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| A PhD is like nothing else you have ever, or will ever, study for. It is primarily an endurance test rather than an academic endeavor. You are also unlikely to finish in 3 years, as most people don't. In the last couple of years it consumes you, and you live it, breathe it and dream about it. Finding the motivation and energy to finish is hard, even when you were passionate about your topic to start with. I cannot imagine how hard it would be if you were even somewhat ambivalent about it. It's absolutely not something you should start solely to get it 'out of the way'. |
I'll add to this that a PhD is a research degree, and one should get a PhD if one is interested in doing research. I think it's a bad idea to pursue a PhD if you only want it as a way to get a better teaching position.
From what I understand, DELTA is a teaching-oriented program. So, to decide between Option 1 and Option 2, you should decide whether you are more interested in research or teaching.
My recommendation would be, as others have said, to get a few more years of experience. If you could get a university teaching position somewhere that would also support a limited amount of research, that would be ideal. You could then expand your teaching experience and also try to do a bit of research, and see if it's something you want to continue. I'm assuming your MA had a research component, so you'd be capable of doing a bit of independent research. You would then have a better idea of whether research (PhD) is a direction you want to go or not.
If I were in your position, I'd apply for fixed-term positions at Japanese universities. These usually only require about 12-15 hours a week in the classroom, and often give you a research budget. You probably wouldn't be competitive right now for the better positions, but you'd have a fighting chance at some of the less desirable ones (which still aren't too shabby). |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| With just two years' experience under your belt, it's way too short a time to be thinking about getting a PhD. At age 25, you really need to put in 4-5 more years of progressively challenging teaching responsibilities to hone your skills and gain new ones through continuous professional development. Besides, it doesn't seem like you have specific career goals in mind in terms of what you expect to do with a PhD. (Getting it solely for prestige isn't the best idea.) In fact, what would your doctoral major and focus be in if you were to pursue a PhD? |
If I did do the PhD, I could see myself at a university. I don't mean EAP/pre-sessional but lecturing, not for a good while though. |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| A PhD is like nothing else you have ever, or will ever, study for. It is primarily an endurance test rather than an academic endeavor. You are also unlikely to finish in 3 years, as most people don't. In the last couple of years it consumes you, and you live it, breathe it and dream about it. Finding the motivation and energy to finish is hard, even when you were passionate about your topic to start with. I cannot imagine how hard it would be if you were even somewhat ambivalent about it. It's absolutely not something you should start solely to get it 'out of the way'. |
I'm in the U.K., most PhDs are 3 years here.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to do one. It's just I'm not sure on the timing.
| rtm wrote: |
| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| A PhD is like nothing else you have ever, or will ever, study for. It is primarily an endurance test rather than an academic endeavor. You are also unlikely to finish in 3 years, as most people don't. In the last couple of years it consumes you, and you live it, breathe it and dream about it. Finding the motivation and energy to finish is hard, even when you were passionate about your topic to start with. I cannot imagine how hard it would be if you were even somewhat ambivalent about it. It's absolutely not something you should start solely to get it 'out of the way'. |
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