Job Discussion Forums

spyrothedrago25 · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 13

Hi everyone,

I wondered what any MA TESOL graduates have gone on to do after graduation. What kind of positions can you get with an MA? I'll have 5 years experience in Korea by graduation, 2 of that at university level. Which jobs pay the most $$$? I'll be going onto getting either a Ph.D or a D.Ed sometime after graduation too, so perhaps a role that would help prepare me for that?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

If you want the $$$$ and a nice pleasant life, then the Gulf. But don't expect excitement.

zorro (2) · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Newcastle, England

Show me the money!!
I'm interested in people's ideas here.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

There might be money in the Gulf but be warned ... many have come here with thoughts of pursuing a PhD ... only to turn their thoughts to retraining as a plumber ...

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Don't do it Sheikh. There's too much competition from experienced Polish plumbers nowadays. Stick to investing in Olive farms on the Agean Coast. Either that or buy an English football club. I hear that is what your fellow royals are doing.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Don't worry dmb ... it's just a pipe dream for me ...

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

What's wrong with a chip van?

I guess you have to work evenings in order to serve EFL teachers after their lessons at 10 o'clock at night.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

I'm all for people reaching for the stars, but I thought it was only PhD's that managed to get a chip van ...

Is that what you've been busy planning this last fortnight?

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Potential earnings in the Gulf aren't necessarily higher than in some of the North-East Asian countries like Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Base salaries in North-East Asiian countries may be lower, but are easily topped-up to Gulf salary levels by taking on part-time teaching.

Also, North-East Asian countries offer a lot more freedom and choices than in the Gulf for dating, boozing and safety.

I'm starting to think the Gulf is now overrated as a TEFL'ing destination.

Different strokes for different folks, though.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

But it's all about savings ... can singles in Asia save 75% of their gross salary? ... and we're not talking 300 or 500 club here ...

Married couples can save near or over 100% if the missus or hubby finds a job like teaching in high-schools ... not forgetting the kids schooling is free ...

And if they're a fully qualified TEFL couple .. very nice ... and if the TEFL income is the lesser of the two even nicer still ...

And if neither are in TEFL !!!

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

But every day walking into a classroom and seeing nothing but a sea of sausage! Leaving the school, it's sausage on the streets, go out and about, again more sausage. Really, how many people can take that for more than a year or two?
I'm a married man and the Mrs has put an end to any thoughts of high jinks, but still, I couldn'tt imagine living in such a place.

Just out of curiosity, what percentage of TEFL teachers in the Gulf would you guess were gay?

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

There are a few different post-MA options.

1) I don't know where you're from, but if you're from the US, an MA will allow you to enter the community college and university ESL job scene. There aren't a lot of stable, full time contracts available, but without an MA you really can't even compete for the part-time jobs.

2) Go to a country/region that doesn't require MAs and have access to the better jobs there. You might not always get a higher salary, but you should at least get a position in a more academic environment, not a language "school" that really just cares about money. And theoretically, post-MA, you should be more interested in academic environments, and less in the youthful, partying TEFL scene anyway.

3) Go to a country/region that typically requires an MA--the Gulf. I just started in Oman. My job doesn't require MAs, but the pay scale is different for BAs, MAs, and PhDs. And many schools do require MAs. True, as mentioned earlier--it's not the liveliest of places in terms of expat party scenes, but again, if you go for an MA it should be because you're actually interested in teaching more than partying. And the money is better than in other places, good enough for you to be able to save money. And good benefits, too.

d

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School