Job Discussion Forums

[james_baldrey]

Having completed two years teaching in Thailand and then my CELTA in the UK i am now working for a Korean university for the next year. When my contract finishes, i have myheart set on doing an MA in TESOL somewhere in Thailand. I have done some research, and the only place i can find is Payap Uni in Chiang Mai. It seems like a good price at 4200 USD, but was wondering if any other universities had the course.

Also has anyone done the course? Is it possible to work part time to pay the bills, or is it flat out studying? Also i have a masters in International management, so am i wasting my time? I really want to do it to be the best possible teacher i can and to be able to apply for the top jobs and DOS jobs around the world. It would be nice to be able to say i actually was somewhat qualified too! Any advice would be most welcome!

Cheers guys!

[Sheep-Goats]

Bad idea, unfortunatly.

Even in Thailand they frown on degrees issued in Thailand. This problem will compound itself if you try to take your MA back to Korea or to Japan, for instance, where Thai people are often seen as good cooks and good hookers and little else.

Get it from a western school. This doesn't mean you have to go home for two years -- lost of folks in Tokyo take a MA TESOL course at Temple University's branch there (Temple University is an okay US institution). Others do the degree in correspondance, and given the nature of the EFL field correspondance degrees aren't really frowned upon. Also, most correspondance degrees nowhere say on the diploma that they are such -- which means that only by looking at your timeline would an employer be able to tell you took it that way rather than in residence.

Ask about MA TESOL degrees in the Japan Forum. Paul H and a couple of others in there know a lot more than I do about them.