Job Discussion Forums

[pabo]

I've been reading people's post on this forum from months back, and got some really good information about AUC. i'm considering applying for the fellowship for the m.a. in tefl next fall, and had a few questions. (i may have already sent a personal message to some of you reading this. sorry if you're reading this again.)

i read about AUC's Tefl program being a little "lightweight." does that mean its easy, or not as academic as a master's program should be? of course i'm interested in the education, but i'm just as interested in what kind of weight the AUC master's holds in getting good teaching jobs in the middle east, japan, tawain, korea. and does its american accreditation help in getting ESL jobs at the secondary level, or even university level in the states? any graduates from the program have any luck with this?

the fellowship requires 8 hours of teaching a week. what kind of classes do you teach (conversation, reading, writing, etc), and what are the levels of the students?

was it too much work studying for a master's and teaching part-time?

i also read the stipend is not enough to live on very well, but i heard its possible to pick up private lessons? i like to go out once in awhile, and travel a bit. is it possible on the stipend? is it difficult to get extra income?

what's campus life like? is there some kind of feeling of camaraderie? either with the other TEFL students, or other majors?

housing? i don't expect too much, but is the location okay, and does it have air con?

i'm an american male and have been working at a university in korea for 3 and a half years. i enjoy big cities, noise, culture shock, excitement, all of it. but of course i'm a little concerned about safety. what's the recent vibe in cairo towards americans? i know that many places are never as dangerous or bad as the media portrays them, but i'm a little nervous to live in the middle east at this time.

what's the night life like? i assume there's quite a big expatriate community in cairo. is it easy to meet other foreigners?

last question: the auc program seems like a great gig for getting a scholarship for an m.a. in tesol overseas. are there any other universitites in the middle east, asia, or europe that offer similar programs? (i found one in poland--American Academy of Education.)

sorry this is so long. any help would be great. many of you have already helped me alot with the previous posts.

cheers,

pabo

[veiledsentiments]

Pabo,

I answered most of these question in response to your PM. You added some questions here, so...

Is the degree 'lightweight'? How does one define that? What does one expect? Who decides what should or shouldn't be included in any MA program? Some would say that an on-campus degree immediately makes it more acceptable than an internet degree. It ain't Harvard. But, then getting an education degree from Harvard won't make your paycheck any larger wherever you teach. It's accredited and that is really the key question. IMHO, these advanced degrees are mostly just to get that piece of paper. Every teaching job is a bit different and what you learn in an MA class may or may not be transferable to the real world (just like every major).

I had no problem teaching and studying at the same time. Your teaching assignment would depend on where they needed you to teach. But, I can pretty much say that it is highly unlikely to be a 'conversation' class as those are rare in the Middle East. Arab students will talk your arm off already. AUC's courses are mostly academic oriented though there is some Adult Ed work.

I doubt that any Fellowship stipend anywhere in the world is actually enough to live on. Since I was old enough to require private housing (sharing is for the young... ), it barely covered my rent. My other living expenses I covered with savings for the first year and private lessons the second. You have the choice of taking a room in the hostel (dorm) or the larger stipend. If you take the stipend, you are on your own to find your own flat. Some share with another grad student. At your level of income, it will likely not be airconditioned. Not really a big problem as you are gone in the summer. So for a few nights rather than sleep, you sit on your balcony with a cold Stella beer.

There is plenty of nightlife and social life in Cairo. It is a big crowded noisy city- lots of pollution - lots of tourists - lots of expats. If you can't find a social life there, you couldn't find one anywhere!! And there is plenty to do that is cheap. I enjoyed the atmosphere on the campus. And as to safely, even with the current worldwide loathing of American policy, I think that your biggest danger in Cairo is the traffic. Though if you are a flag-waving, card-carrying W-lover, you could get yourself in trouble.

The slots for these Fellowships are very competitive, especially now that there is great interest in the Middle East. It may already be too late to apply for this year. Check out the AUC website. Applications will go the New York office.

VS

[deessell2]

Do you have to be an American citizen to get the fellowship? I'm a New Zealander and this program sounds right up my alley.

[veiledsentiments]

deessell2,

I know that they will consider non-Americans. But, I 'suspect' that there is a certain amount of priority given to them - experience and educational background being the same.

Now, if you had something special to offer... such as a few years of teaching experience in university IEP programs or academic writing say... to Arabic speakers - that would give you a better chance.

Now would be the time to apply, and you wouldn't know for sure until March or April of next year to start next September. All you have to lose is the cost of postage...

VS