Job Discussion Forums

zignut · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area, CA

I am considering application to what seems a very strong and well-regarded MA TESOL program here in the States. It's at San Francisco State U for the curious. Though I believe I could scrape together the funds to return to full-time student life for another 2 or 2.5 years, I'm almost certain I would emerge from that reinstituted scholarship more or less broke. Despite the fact that I have no one but myself to support at this time, the idea of reducing my savings to nil is not exactly an inviting one. As such, I am trying to garner more information on MA TESOL degrees generally as I weigh this cost benefit analysis here in San Francisco. The Master's is in English, but with a pronounced focus on pedagogy and linguistics.

A little background: I spent a year teaching eikaiwa in Tokyo and Aomori-shi. Since I returned, I've been working in educational publishing here in the States, though not in the field of EFL unfortunately.

My goal after graduation would be to teach in a 4-year University in Japan, but I am worried that my limited teaching experience and the lack of a PhD will force me to return to the realm of McEnglish. This is not an option I'd consider at this time. My question to you forumgoers is whether a MA TESOL is necessary or sufficient to teach as an entry level (e.g. Visiting/Associate Prof.) but full-time teacher in colleges and universities anywhere in Japan.

Thanks.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Yes, an MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics or a related degree is a pre-requisite for most Japanese uni jobs. You could also work on getting some papers published as well, perhaps some papers you write in your masters program (that's what i did). You will then have to come to Japan and work your way into a uni position, it's quite rare to get hired overseas especially if you don't have postgrad teaching experience.

wintersweet · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:39 am Post subject:

The SFSU program looks and sounds good to me. I'm in another Bay Area program and I wish we had a few of the classes SFSU does--education research methods, etc. You can make connections by meeting people at the CATESOL conference, getting in touch with the intensive English programs in the area (I think SFSU has one, but I'm not sure--anyway, my campus' IEP has many Japanese students and its faculty/director have connections at Japanese universities). It's fairly easy to get a presentation accepted at CATESOL's regional or state conferences (though I'm not sure if this counts as a publication by Japanese hiring committees or not).

( http://www.catesol.org/ )

Good luck!

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

The Chronicle has many university job postings as well as the English link on http://jrecin.jst.go.jp

1. EFL, ESL and Other Teaching Jobs in Japan at http://www.jobsinjapan.com
2. Information for those seeking university positions (not a job list) at http://www.debito.org/univquestions.html
3. ELT News at http://www.eltnews.com/jobsinjapan.shtml
4. JALT Jobs and Career Enhancement links at http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/jobs/
5. Teaching English in Japan: A Guide to Getting a Job at http://www.wizweb.com/~susan/japan/
6. ESL Cafe Job Center at http://www.pacificnet.net/~sperling/jobcenter.html
7. Ohayo Sensei at http://www.ohayosensei.com/
8. NACSIS (National Center for Science Information Systems' Japanese site) career information at http://jrecin.jst.go.jp
9. The Digital Education Information Network Job Centre at http://www.edufind.com/index.cfm
10. EFL in Asia at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/7947/eflasia.htm
11. Jobs in Japan at http://www.englishresource.com/index.html
12. Job information at http://www.ESLworldwide.com
13. Hokkaido Insider at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hokkaido/kenhartmann/
14. World English Jobs at www.englishjobmaze.com

zignut · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area, CA

Thank you very much for the replies - I will certainly check out these links.

Chris21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 366 Location: Japan

SFSU has an excellent program. I've run into a few SFSU grads here in Japan, and I think graduating from that program adds some extra credibility to your resume. An alternative is that you could complete your Masters in Japan at one of the foreign universities here (i.e. Columbia, Temple). When you do graduate, you'll certainly be able to get part-time uni work, and I would guess full-time work is likely (although a doctorate is becoming more and more common with full-time applicants). There are some unis that actually prefer hiring out-of-Japan (i.e. Kansai Gaikoku Daigaku).

Anyway, I think you should do it. You'll make your savings back in a year or two, and have many more career options. It's a big committment of time, energy, and money, but worth it if you want to make TESOL your career.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

If at all possible go and study full time. You'll get far more out of the course and will be finished quicker.

If you plan to study by distance program then look at various UK universities. Many are held in high regard and the fees are significantly lower than at US universities. I know that Manchester has a pretty good distance course. You'll have full access to every journal and publication online and will get tutorials and online lectures & discussion groups.