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Karla
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 12:43 pm Post subject: MA, MSc...is it really worth the pain? |
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Hiya All!
Am interested to know how you feel about post-graduate TEFL qualifications, bar the fact that it'll get you into Saudi? Are the payoffs, not only financial, worth it? Am thinking of signing up for one of these correspondence MA/MSc courses, which a fair penny as well!! Have a DELTA to open management doors at some point, so what's the point of going further?
Ahhhh.....dilemmas of TEFL... 
Take care!
Karla (in Poland) |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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Well I've done the MA and am considering doing a DELTA 
The MA is much much broader than the DELTA and with a good course you can specialise by taking some modules optionally. You can get really into the deep end in some subjects. You can do long-term research projects too if you do the MA part time and you learn so much about the process of learning as you watch your research "subjects" change as they learn. Of course, with an MA, you can work in all sorts of situations that you might encounter in teaching - not just adults at a language school situation.
The DELTA is worthwhile, as you said, for management and I believe for the practical aspects of teaching and teaching theory and translating that theory into the classroom.
If you do an MA and stick with it I don't think you'll regret it. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with shmooj. I have yet to see any financial pay-offs (quite the opposite, in fact--I am in debt up to my ears!), but when I compare how much I know now about teaching and language learning to how much I knew before, I am glad I went back for an MA. I can't put a price tag on knowledge & confidence. My program was more theoretical than practical (something that I've heard is true of the MA in general, when compared to the DELTA), but those theories have helped me plan sensible syllabi, write fair (I hope!) tests, teach strategies instead of just isolated bits of language, etc.
Of course, with your DELTA you're already starting from a knowledgeable & experienced place.
d |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:21 am Post subject: Re: MA, MSc...is it really worth the pain? |
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| Quote: |
| Am interested to know how you feel about post-graduate TEFL qualifications, bar the fact that it'll get you into Saudi? Are the payoffs, not only financial, worth it? Am thinking of signing up for one of these correspondence MA/MSc courses, which a fair penny as well!! Have a DELTA to open management doors at some point, so what's the point of going further? |
I'm seriously considering an MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics as well, in the next two years.
For me the cost isn't much of an issue, but the competition factor certainly is. At my home university in Vancouver, UBC they have an excellent MA TESL program. But looking at the admission requirements is frightening to say the least. They even discourage applicants by saying stuff like, "Entry into the MA program is fiercely competitive ..." My GPA in the final two years of undergrad wasn't so hot because I didn't like my major, and this is a setback.
However, all types of people are regularly doing MA programs and succeeding so there must be universities that I can get in to. I'm flexible as to location, but would prefer Asia. I've got 2+ years of teaching experience at all ages, completed a CELTA course, and have the necessary reference letters.
Is there a website that lists different types of MA programs, locations, cost, admission requirements, and compares and contrasts?
That'd be appreciated,
Steve |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:31 am Post subject: |
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Steve,
Looks like we have the same home town and are both interested in getting an MA. Maybe we could bargain for a group rate.  I believe the MA at UBC is centered around IT, not TESL. Here is a link you may want to look at, it doesn't compare but there are a lot of programs to peruse.
http://www.teaching-english-in-japan.net/directory/cat/17 |
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guru
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Indonesia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:18 am Post subject: |
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Macquarie University Sydney has an excellent course by distance: Master of applied linguistics .
It's not that hard to get into but the course is challenging and a lot cheaper than a Yank or Pommy degree. |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:34 am Post subject: |
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Steve,
Looks like we have the same home town and are both interested in getting an MA. Maybe we could bargain for a group rate. |
Cool, another Vancouverite  Thanks for the link, there are some great programs out there. Not as difficult to get in as I imagined, most need a bachelor degree and 2 years TEFL experience. Looks like my experience will qualify after all.
Many of the programs are Distance Masters, do people have experience with this?
Cheers,
Steve |
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Karla
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 9:21 am Post subject: ...the distance ones... |
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| Thanks for all that! Personally, I'm gonna have to go for a distance one, have to work and study to pull this one off as I think the majority of us would have to. I notice there are distance programs through Leicester Uni, Surrey Uni and sth called Aston. Difficult to tell what they're like from 'net, though at 7000 pounds for MSC from Surrey Uni, that is definitely a fair chunk of change. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:26 am Post subject: |
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Leicester was good enough for me. I finished it in 2002. Aston, I've heard is quite technical (though that was a few years ago) and I also think there was a written exam requirement.
The Birmingham one also has a good reputation too. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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Struelle/Steve,
www.tesol.org may also be of assistance. Check under a section titled "Starting your Career in TESOL." |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| I'm also considering getting a Master's. BUt in TEFL. Could someone please shed some light on this? What exactly is a Master's of Applied LInguistics and what's the big difference between it and one in TEFL? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| TEFL is sometimes an aspect of a Master of Applied Linguistics. Most Masters are not in TEFL. They are usually Masters of Education in TEFL or Masters of Arts in TEFL or Masters in Applied Linguistics in TEFL. All of these designations could be in TEFL or not, depends on the program. You choose what you want to focus on, education or linguistics. |
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Wolf
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 1245
Location: Middle Earth
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:33 am Post subject: |
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Mine will be:
MA in Applied Lingusitics (TEFL)
That's its proper name. There is a really big emphasis on the "Applied" part. Syllabus Design, Methodology, etc etc.
Check the program content to be sure, and to be sure if it interests you. (Well, that's what I did.) |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Wolf"]Mine will be:
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| Check the program content to be sure, and to be sure if it interests you. (Well, that's what I did.) |
Thanks a lot for your help guys, I'm now being pointed in the right direction.
Steve |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Am interested to know how you feel about post-graduate TEFL qualifications, bar the fact that it'll get you into Saudi? Are the payoffs, not only financial, worth it? |
What type of school are you planning to teach in, and for how long? People who want to come to Japan for a conversation school for a year or so, for example, don't need such college education. Universities here need a minimum of a master's in a related field, PLUS refereed publications.
If you aren't serious about the work (whether you consider the institution or the time you'll spend teaching), don't get the degree. |
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