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Sealed
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:41 pm Post subject: What to major in |
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Hello
I am currently in the Middle East, but I would like to return to the US to finish my bachelor's degree for the purpose of teaching in the Gulf (Saudi would be my first choice).
From the information I have gotten, a teaching position can be found with min. quals. in Saudi ie: bachelor's degree (of any kind) and a teaching certificate, and that an English degree is merely recommended.
My two questions are:
1. If I seek to complete a major in General Studies, would that be a bad idea?
I ask because if I choose this major, I would be able to complete many of the courses online (and overseas) and the rest I would have to move back for. Whereas another major would be more on-campus.
2. Would a major in Education be better than a major in English? Are the job prospects for Westerners limited to just teaching English? Or is it extended to other subjects as well? |
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pooroldedgar
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Even if an English degree isn't required, it helps. And the arc of creditals are bending towards tightening up, so even if an unrelated degree is accepted in 2015, it very well might not be a few years from now.
That said, a BA in education would likely open at least as many doors as one in English. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Online is not often accepted by employers in KSA or the other Gulf States. |
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Sealed
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Online is not often accepted by employers in KSA or the other Gulf States. |
I became aware of that only recently.
But this degree would be on campus... just a good number of courses I would be able to complete online. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| English would be good. General Studies too. Try to include a foreign language and Linguistics.. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Sealed wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| Online is not often accepted by employers in KSA or the other Gulf States. |
I became aware of that only recently.
But this degree would be on campus... just a good number of courses I would be able to complete online. |
You really need to complete your entire BA on campus; even a few online courses would get your degree rejected. See http://www.sacm.org/pdf/DistanceLearning.pdf |
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Sealed
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Sealed wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| Online is not often accepted by employers in KSA or the other Gulf States. |
I became aware of that only recently.
But this degree would be on campus... just a good number of courses I would be able to complete online. |
You really need to complete your entire BA on campus; even a few online courses would get your degree rejected. See http://www.sacm.org/pdf/DistanceLearning.pdf |
Hmm. This is a big bummer.
Thanks very much for posting that.
Any other thoughts on General Studies? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Sealed wrote: |
| Any other thoughts on General Studies? |
A general studies degree is unrelated to TEFL. Anyway, instead of just asking on this forum, look at actual job ads to see what employers prefer: http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/ |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 3:13 am Post subject: |
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If your goal is to teach, why not get the degree that is the most related to your profession?? If you wish to teach children, get a degree in elementary education. If your goal is to teach English to adults at university level, get a degree in ESL/EFL education with supervised teaching. Get your teaching license for the state where you are studying.
This would prepare you to teach anywhere in the world.
VS
(Do it all on campus... KSA in particular will not accept any online courses) |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| If your goal is to teach, why not get the degree that is the most related to your profession?? |
I second that. What kind of professional teacher shows the kind of attitude to education that basically says, "I don't care what I study as long as I get a bit of paper that gets me the job I want."
Actually, on second thoughts, you'd fit in really well here. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:51 am Post subject: |
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| English or Education is what to go for. Avoid Distance and/or Online. Pray to The One Who Sees All for guidance. |
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Ironic...Saudi offers online classes to their own kind in-country....yet they refuse to accept any credentials from outside that include online studies.
Eventually, they will come to realize that online work is equal to traditional study in reputable universities. The number of nontraditional students studying online will soon surpass those of the traditional study in many US universities.... Brick and mortar is no longer the best option for many students.☺
Saudies will come around to realizing that online is no longer inferior.....about the same time they allow women to drive....I'd imagine.
Just one more of the many contradictions of KSA. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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| BajaLaJaula wrote: |
| Ironic...Saudi offers online classes to their own kind in-country....yet they refuse to accept any credentials from outside that include online studies. |
However, the only degrees currently offered online in Saudi universities are Islamic studies and I believe either business or computers. |
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Sealed
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| English or Education is what to go for. Avoid Distance and/or Online. Pray to The One Who Sees All for guidance. |
Do they also not accept an online CELTA/TEFL certification? That has to be in-person also? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Sealed wrote: |
| Do they also not accept an online CELTA/TEFL certification? That has to be in-person also? |
No online anything. |
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