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ebooktrial0001
Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156
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 Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject: Interlink + MA TESOL Marlboro University? |
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Hello Everyone,
I got a job with Interlink. As part of their program I applied to, I can get an MA at Marlboro University online, with some summer classes. Interlink will pay half of this (expensive) program.
I'm skeptical about two things:
a. Interlink's pay is on the low side... $3200 a month
b. Is this partial-scholarship any good?
Thanks |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
I got a job with Interlink. As part of their program I applied to, I can get an MA at Marlboro University online, with some summer classes. Interlink will pay half of this (expensive) program.
I'm skeptical about two things:
a. Interlink's pay is on the low side... $3200 a month
b. Is this partial-scholarship any good? |
In regard to the salary, it's rather late to be wondering about the pay since you've already agreed to their offer. But considering you don't have a related MA, it's likely fair. Plus, you're employed by Interlink and not as a direct hire at Yamamah.
As for your other question, you're referring to the following teaching fellowship:
| Quote: |
Teaching Fellowships Available
Marlboro College Graduate School and INTERLINK Language Centers with its partners are pleased to announce teaching fellowships for 2014-15. The fellowship is designed to prepare qualified and innovative teachers of English who base their instruction on learners and learning, communicative use of language, cultural understanding, group learning, and reflective practice.
Fellows enhance their teaching effectiveness by completing Marlboro’s MAT in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MAT – TESOL) and teaching an INTERLINK curriculum. Fellowships consist of two summers of full-time study in Vermont, USA, which is complemented by online study between summers and two years of full-time teaching in Saudi Arabia.
Source: http://eslus.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=554&Itemid=156
Also see http://www.marlboro.edu/community/graduate/partnerships |
Marlboro College is accredited and has sound programs; however, I know of nothing about this teaching fellowship. You could certainly contact Marlboro with your specific questions and ask for a couple of email addresses of others who have successfully completed the program. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Marlboro College is accredited and has sound programs; however, I know of nothing about this teaching fellowship. You could certainly contact Marlboro with your specific questions and ask for a couple of email addresses of others who have successfully completed the program. |
This. One of my colleagues just completed the program this past semester while continuing his normal teaching load at a community college here in the U.S. It has its pros and cons but, overall, is a worthwhile program that allows you to keep your day job while upgrading your credentials. It's similar to the program at SIT, utilizing an experiential, inductive teaching approach. There are no letter grades. Assessment is done via portfolio and projects on a pass/fail basis. If you intend to stay in the Middle East, however, the one drawback is that online or partially online degrees are not accepted by many employers. My colleague mentioned, by the way, that many of his classmates during the summer session were instructors from Saudi Arabia. My guess is that some of them were likely from your school. |
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ebooktrial0001
Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:50 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that.
Two things:
1. I haven't accepted the job offer yet. How would I negotiate when people say "the job offer stands as is"?
2. What is the value of the MA degree, if it won't help me get a better job? |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
| 2. What is the value of the MA degree, if it won't help me get a better job? |
An online or partially online may not open many doors for you in the Middle East, but it can help you get better jobs elsewhere. What are your long-term career goals? If you're planning to stay in the Middle East for the long haul, you'll still want to get an MA, but you'll want to be sure to get it from a brick and mortar school. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
1. I haven't accepted the job offer yet. How would I negotiate when people say "the job offer stands as is"?
2. What is the value of the MA degree, if it won't help me get a better job? |
An "as is" offer means it's nonnegotiable. In other words, what you see is what you're gonna get. Besides, you don't have anything to offer in terms of negotiating a higher salary.
In regard to the MA in TESOL, why do you believe an MA won't improve your chances for a better job? Better yet, has your current academic degree led to offers from some of the better employers? Regardless, an MA's value is based on your specific teaching goals. So although this MA in TESOL wouldn't be accepted in KSA, Qatar, or Kuwait, if would be fine for the rest of the Middle East. Otherwise, save up some money and plan to spend a couple of years in your home country completing an MA on campus. Or don't upgrade your education at all. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:44 am Post subject: |
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My experience was that employers in kSA would not negotiate on salary, or terms and conditions. They make an offer and you take it or leave it.
Other posters may have had different experiences and I expect the usual suspects will come forward and tell us that they get a gazillion riyals a month because they are indispensable. |
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ebooktrial0001
Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:53 am Post subject: |
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1. I think I mostly agree with you guys in terms of salary. To my knowledge, there's never much negotiation.
2. Why would Interlink have a program where you do your practicum teaching in Saudi Arabia, if that Master's is not valued/recognized in Saudi?
Thanks |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
2. Why would Interlink have a program where you do your practicum teaching in Saudi Arabia, if that Master's is not valued/recognized in Saudi?
Thanks |
If the only choice is having an online MA or not having an MA at all, then an online MA, especially from an accredited USA university, is better than nothing, especially since online MAs are now generally recognized world-wide except in a few places in the Gulf.
This would be especially true if your sojourn in the ESL field is going to be "temporary" (less than 5 years). If you plan to make it a career, then I still strongly urge readers to get a residential MA, especially since there are now many places in the US where you can get one in 1 year.
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
| 2. Why would Interlink have a program where you do your practicum teaching in Saudi Arabia, if that Master's is not valued/recognized in Saudi? |
Not sure. You might inquire with Interlink regarding what opportunities that Marlboro's online MA will give you for advancement within their company, both in Saudi as well as other countries, if any, where they might work. Using Marlboro as an in-house training program to prepare entry-level teachers for advancement to senior teaching and/or administrative positions seems like the most likely reason to offer this opportunity. Alternatively, if the partnership with Marlboro costs Interlink little or nothing, perhaps its just a good way to insure retention of teachers for the 2-3 years it takes to earn the degree. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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It is a way for them to get cheaper teachers that are then trained in their rather esoteric system.
VS |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
It is a way for them to get cheaper teachers that are then trained in their rather esoteric system.
VS |
And, perhaps, a means of retaining those instructors who choose to stay in Saudi Arabia as their online credential won't be of much use elsewhere in the Kingdom. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| ebooktrial0001 wrote: |
| Why would Interlink have a program where you do your practicum teaching in Saudi Arabia, if that Master's is not valued/recognized in Saudi? |
Who knows. That's a question to pose to Interlink and Marlboro if you're truly interested in this MA teaching fellowship. Again, see about getting email addresses from former Marlboro students who completed this particular program. Otherwise, look elsewhere for your education. |
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