Job Discussion Forums

[desert date]

I'm well aware that the good positions in the Gulf usually require MAs in relevant disciplines and years of experience.

I have nothing against getting an MA in applied linguistics/TESOL. I enjoy studying and excel at it.

However, most of the subjects that are offered in a typical MA course, viz, second language acquisition, grammar and syntax, phonetics and phonology, discourse analysis, intercultural communication, etc, I've already taken at the undergraduate level as part of a linguistics major. I also have a graduate diploma in education which covered teaching methodology, curriculum design, assessment, special needs education as well as extensive teaching practicums in English and ESL. The diploma is equivalent to a UK PGCE. I'm now teaching in a secondary school in Australia.

So, an MA in applied linguistics/TESOL would be somewhat redundant for me. What should I do? Unlike in the US where they have MAs for literacy education (again, with similar subjects as above constituting the bulk of the courses), I haven't come across many such courses in Australia. My former university offers an MA in CALL but it's a good 90 minutes by car from where I work and live. Is CALL big in the Gulf?

I'm posting this here instead of the general forum because of the Mid East angle and I enjoy reading the many thoughtful posts from VS, Cleo, Stephen Jones, et al.

[veiledsentiments]

Now that's a challenge... is it possible in the universities to challenge the MA courses for credit, and maybe get a fast track MA? I really know very little about education in Oz. I am assuming that you have already checked all around to see any interesting semi-related MA options.

Unfortunately the employers have little concept of your situation but only want to see the paper proving your MA.

And then perhaps Saudi is an option for you... (Stephen's area)

or I do hear of an Australian university in Kuwait who might see your problem more realistically and consider what you have equivalent.

VS

[Cleopatra]

Actually, at least in KSA, many of those places which supposedly 'require' MAs do not in reality require them. If you've got good, relevant experience and have a background in language studies (the latter is certainly true of you, but you haven't told us much about the former) then I'd say you're in with a chance in KSA. I know lots of teachers working in third level instituions who don't have relevant MAs and have little intention of ever doing one. Can't hurt to send out your CV if you're interested.

[Stephen Jones]

At present I don't know of a single institution in Saudi Arabia that requires MAs for EFL teachers.

[desert date]

Five years teaching English and ESL in an upper secondary school context to date (16 to 18-year-olds). More English than ESL as most L2 students entering my school are already quite proficient in the language.

I'm looking to go to the Mid East in a couple of years, not now. I'm considering an MA by research or a PhD but I'm interested in applied not abstract research so I will need a few more years' experience before I can come up with a suitable topic.

What is a third level institution in KSA? Second level, first level?

Is CALL widely used in the Mid East?

[Cleopatra]

[Afra]

Blended learning, the integration of online courses with teacher as facilitator, which the students can do anywhere (college, home, Starbucks) and classroom learning in the more traditional sense is THE thing in the UAE at the moment. No one talks about CALL anymore. Laptops or similar are commonly used and will be compulsory for all students at the HCT from next academic year - unless things have changed. Other places such as ZU have been using them for a number of years.

[moot point]

Interesting predicament...for a change. How about stating your original post on this thread in your cover letter? Most folks that are going to read your CV will be westerners and they will sympathise with your situation (I hope). In some cases, however, they may need to convince higher and more ignorant types of it in which lies the problem, I suppose.

[desert date]