Job Discussion Forums

[Vince]

Have you contacted a Thai consulate or similar office? They should be able to give you a definite answer.

As other posters have said, I'm concerned that you'll run into problems when applying for teaching jobs. My impression is that many universities (not necessarily Thai, but universities in general) are quick to disqualify applicants whose education doesn't fit the traditional mold. I'd bet that even most universities that offer non-traditional programs prefer traditionally educated teachers. I know that isn't fair, but keep in mind that universities are in the education business (I'm not condoning it, but just forwarding the observation). That isn't to say that you couldn't possibly be of value to a TEFL class, but that preconceived notions in the job market might be a formidable challenge for you.

[bulgogiboy]

Bear in mind that within the UK(Scotland at least) you can do an MA as a 3 or 4 yr undergrad degree, and it is in fact the equivalent of your BA/BSc. I have one of these MAs and it was a mild amount of hassle when trying to get a work permit in Turkey, but had no problem at all working for 4 different employers in Korea. I just recently got an MLitt, which is another postgrad degree peculiar to the UK(as far as I know), so that'll add to the fun if I take up employment abroad again i'm sure...


But I just want to make clear that an MA as a first degree/bachelor equivalent, or even as a masters degree on its own, can be perfectly legitimate.

[Pauleddy]

Is it not the case that graduates of Oxford and Cambridge receive an MA rather than a BA? Or is that because they undertake a further year?

For example: MA (Cantab) or MA (Oxon). You see these, but you don't see BA (Cantab)...do you?

The other route, as stated, is to get a non-BA/BS qualification. I obtained an RN (Nurse) qualification in the 1970s. It took four years in all, and was tougher than the BS of today. Later on, I did a master's in another field, but I had to argue that my RN was "better" than a BS. It was the same with music, arts (some fields) and even physical therapy back then.

These days, I am "unsure" of people who have no BA/BS or else lack a background like mine. Call me old-fashioned or myopic, but you can now get an MA in Golf Course Management, so I hear. Sure, there may be excellent people out there with no BA or BS, but getting a formal qualification when you are 18-23 shows that you have been subject to higher education/rigour (as stated above using better words than mine).

I feel that the trend is part of a general devaluation. My father obtained a regular old National Diploma (HND) in Electrics (1957). Back then, that was much harder than a current BS, it would seem, despite being "lower". I still have his books, with the calculus and stuff. He studied most nights for three years. If you had an MA back then, you were very special indeed. Cream. There were no MAs in Golf. Then, everybody started to get bachelor degrees, and my father became "lowly". Now, "everybody" wants/ gets an MA (in a year), and the MA seems "lower" than a BA used to be 30 years ago. That's my impression, for what it's worth.

Eddy