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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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 Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
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| I would like to know which MA/M.Ed. TESOL progam has the best international reputation I apologize if you thought my question was too general. |
To those people such as Paul and others with a lot of experience, does the average foreign employer even know which schools are better? I am sure that in your home country that employers know what EFL M.A. programs are better. Does the average employer in Asia or the Middle East actually knows whether MIIS, Temple in Japan, Queensland University, Open University, University of Michigan, University of New England, or Purdue is better? |
In Japan,all the employers I have had are Japanese, and are not foreigners in their own country. Actual non-Japanese and foreign-born employers are few and far between here and are usually owners of small language schools. Even many of those dont have Masters or graduate degrees to do what they do.
If you are referring to employers that are 'foreign' to you then the answer would generally be no. They know of universities overseas that offer TESOL programs, they know where teachers graduate from, but they have nothing to go on about quality, and why should they? They graduated from Japanese universities which have a different education system and purpose than universities in other countries. Most employers here (at universities at least) are not TESOL related. I am hired by the department faculty to teach English. They dont know care what is the "best" degree. As long as its the cat that catches mice.
The professors at my school have degrees in things such as Literature and English. Particular knowledge about the courses one takes, the reputation of professors who teach you, the standard of work produced as a result of ones degree and its international reputation are not really discussed. At my university no one even knows or cares what university I am studying at or where it ranks in the world. If I had a Japanese or a local Masters degree then local employers would have some idea if its a good school or not as universities here have their own reputations.
I sometimes work with foreign-born professors (not really employers but permanent faculty members) who have graduated from Temple and other foreign universities, but no one makes a big deal about which is 'better' (better than what- what are the bench marks you use to judge quality?) but simply accept the degree for what it is, a Masters or a PhD (Q: what do you call a PhD candidate on graduation? A: "Doctor"). Unlike others, people here dont make a big deal about the name or status of the university you graduated from, as long as you can do the job you are being asked to perform. As long as you dont fail too many students, you turn up to classes and hand your grades in on time no one complains.
Last edited by PAULH on Mon May 02, 2005 11:09 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| In Japan,all the employers I have had are Japanese, not foreigners in their own country. Actual non-Japanese and foreign-born employers are few and far between and are usually owners of small language schools. Even many of them dont have Masters or graduate degrees. |
Paul, by "foreign" I meant foreign to us. Maybe I should have called them locals or non-native English speakers. If they are native English speakers no matter if the are Asia-American or Asia-British they probably have an idea of what universities are better.
The only point that I was trying to make is that if you plan on living abroad for ever that it might not be so important where you get your M.A. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
[Paul, by "foreign" I meant foreign to us. Maybe I should have called them locals or non-native English speakers. If they are native English speakers no matter if the are Asia-American or Asia-British they probably have an idea of what universities are better.
The only point that I was trying to make is that if you plan on living abroad for ever that it might not be so important where you get your M.A. |
I can only speak for myself, but my main consideration was not wherher I would be living overseas long term or moving back to an English speaking country, but whether a particular degree is attainable, and suits my needs. In my case I was married, have children and a full time job. I can not take two years off to study in England or the US with no income.
I am doing my degree by distance which means I also have to travel to the UK on a regular basis for a residency. You do the best with what you have. Employers here (I actually worked for a national university with salary paid by the government) recognised my foreign qualifications without regard to name value.
If you wait till you decide to repatriate to get a better "quality" degree it may already be too late. Working in an English speaking country on local wages it may not be possible to afford an expensive Masters degree studying full time while working as well. I am thinking of Australia where salaries are $40-50,000 a year for someone with a Masters and taxes are 30%. Less if you have no graduate degree and trying to get through a program. I think the brand name or "quality" recognition becomes less an issue when you are simply trying to make ends meet or support a family. |
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