Job Discussion Forums

[zenotype]

Greetings,

Please bear with me if my questions are a little inane, I am fairly new to this.

I've found it a little difficult obtaining information about MA's in TESOL, can someone here perhaps guide me towards a good organisation that provides them? Would a certification or diploma from Global TESOL be adequate for these programs?

Regards,

Arsalan.

[spiral78]

I'm not sure that I understand your question....maybe it's just me! But an M.A. is a regular master's program. I have an MA in TESL/TEFL from the University of Birmingham, England, and there are many other very reputable universities that offer MA degrees, both by distance and on-campus.

If you are asking whether a Global TESOL certification is enough qualification to enter a Master's program, I'd say definitely not. Although, if you have a first degree in something from an accredited university, you don't need a certification, though MA programs are usually best undertaken by those who already have some experience in the field.

Global TESOL is not generally considered to be a particularly desirable certification, because the course does not offer supervised teaching practice. On-line, distance, and short-term courses usually don't and this puts them in the lowest category in terms of employer recognition.

I am not at all sure that I've helped you! Maybe you could be more specific about exactly what you want to to - enter a Master's program at/through a university, or to get a basic qualification so that you can compete for entry-level positions in EFL/ESL teaching.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

What do you want to do as far as teaching is concerned? Where are you from? Do you have any teaching experience?

Once we know the answers to these questions, you can expect more advice.

[zenotype]

Thanks for the info! That is good to know, I had the impression Global TESOL was well reputed.

As for what I am trying to accomplish: I was thinking of getting the proper TESOL certification to work in South Korea for two years (to pay off student loans, and gain experience), and then follow up with an MA to teach in Saudi Arabia. I have (or will in a few short months) a BA in philosophy and a BSc. in Computer Science. Normally, two or three years of teaching experience is a requirement for most placements in Saudi Arabia, so this route seems practical. What I didn't know was that an MA for TESOL must be received through a University (The advert up above for "TEFL international" claims to offer it).

I think however, if I do an MA in this manner, it will be in Linguistics.

[spiral78]

Yeah, an MA in TESL/TEFL is a 'real' MA. Mine required reading for six different modules, each culminating in an extensive paper, and than a dissertation based on pretty extensive research I'd conducted. I spent three years completing the program, along with working part time. UBirmingham also offers a program for MA Linguistics, with the same requirements.
Since you've got a first degree, you most likely need an introductory on-site course, offering supervised teaching practice, to get your foot in the door. Then you'll be set to follow your plan - which sounds quite practical and feasible.

[tedkarma]

Particularly if you want to head to Saudi or the Middle East - you'd better get your MA/MS/M.Ed. from a reputable university - and distance or on-line degrees are not usually acceptable.

A short TEFL Cert won't do/won't help/won't make any difference there. It is a full-blown masters only - if you want a decent university or college job.

For heading to Korea and getting your feet wet though - a good TEFL course will be very helpful - in at least doing a decent job and having good job satisfaction. Very worth doing.

Take a look at: How to Choose a TEFL School for some ideas on finding what might work best for you:

http://phuketdelight.com/TEFL.htm

[Gordon]

Sorry to disagree with you Ted, but distance masters degrees are accepted in the Middle East. MLI was the only school that did not accept them and they are now defunct.

[spiral78]

Gordon wrote: Sorry to disagree with you Ted, but distance masters degrees are accepted in the Middle East.

And rightly so, in my opinion. I did my MA by distance, but after doing the reading for each module, I was required to write an extensive paper, often based on research I carried out in my own or colleague's classrooms. I found this very useful for exploring the transition from theory to practice - harder to do if you're a full-time student without your own learners to 'practice' on.

I have friends and work colleagues who have done MA degrees on campus, and in our discussions of our degree programs, they generally agree that there are some strong advantages of studying at a distance when authentic opportunities are available for putting theory into practice.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ I think we missed the OP's point.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Arsalan is

already commited to pursuing an MA / MEd TESOL,

but may not have an undergraduate degree.


i.e.,


the OP wants to know if a Cert would suffice as

a prerequisite for entrance into an MA program.


I don't really know the answer to that one.


2 on-topic resources:


http://www.matesol.info/

http://www.postgrad.hobsons.com/






Additional Thailand teaching and travel resources here ::: The Master Index Thailand :::


note:


The distance MA & TESOL certificate programs

are located waaaay down at the bottom

of the page in APPENDIX B, FAQ 11.1


~

[tedkarma]

Things may have changed since I was there . . . but I spent five years at the IPA in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - they didn't accept distance education when I was there.

As far as I knew at the time - distance education was not considered valid - by many schools there. Had also heard that from friends who worked in the region (MLI specifically) - and also at the Colleges of Higher Technology.

No longer true? Or speculation?

[guangho]

A Masters helps both the employer (to weed out the backpackers ) and the employees (to weed out the...oh....99.9999% of employers in this field who will take you to new lows in the realms of ethics and integrity.) As well, if you go back to the West (which can happen) a Masters is a minimum requirement for decent work there.

[Gordon]

Ted, perhaps things have changed (thankfully). The odd employer may not like distance degrees, but other than Taiwan immmigration and the defunct MLI, no institutions that I know blantantly say they don't accept distance masters.

[zenotype]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You get MAs from the same places that you get BA's.

It is not unusual to require a certificate in TESL (from a university- very often the same university in which you will do the MA in Applied Linguistics) in order qualify for application into an MA programme in Applied Linguistics. That's how you go about doing it if you live in Ontario (first do a one year TESL certificate. Then do a one and three term MA in Applied Linguistics- although you normally need some sort of experience between doing the certificate and the MA).

Other areas have MAs as an initial qualification to teach ESL, but may want you to have some sort of quick certificate and a few years experience before you are allowed in. That type of programme can be longer and include most of what you get in the TESL certificate course in Ontario as well as the MA programme in Ontario (it can also be about a year in length and be virtually the same thing as an Ontario certificate).

The advantage with the Ontario system is that for most people, they get an initial load of training, then they use it and then learn more, whereas if you've already got experience without any training at all, then you have to sort of try to remember things that happened.

The obvious disadvantage is that it means that if you do your one year certificate in TESL and then do not get into an MA programme in Ontario, then you are pretty much stuck (a certificate could mean a couple of weeks at a YMCA or it could mean a full time year at a university. Employers often don't bother to take the time to read which the applicant has and assumes it's some sort of two week ~ one month certificate) . You have to go to other schools trying to get exemptions for things you've already done (which usually just doesn't happen) or you have to just redo everything again.