Job Discussion Forums

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

For someone with potential long-term career ambitions in the higher-paying ME markets (Qatar, UAE, etc.), does having a PhD in Applied Linguistics offer significant advantages over just an MA in Applied Linguistics (I also have CELTA + DELTA + uni experience)? I'm interested both in terms of salary and in terms of job security/employability.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Not really if you just want to teach basic EFL/ESL... but it might get you out of teaching simple sentence writing and into academic level teacher training courses. That would be the only reason to get a PhD that I can see. And actually a good career path to move up if you have the interest...

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject:

Having a PhD will probably get you an extra few hundred rials or dirhams a month, but I doubt it would make a huge difference to your salary. As for promotion prospects, a PhD might give you a shot at being director or assistant director in the English dept of one on the unis, but at least here in KSA, these positions are increasingly being reserved for locals.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The demand is for people who can teach Upper Elementary or Lower Interemediate English to groups of 30 students with poor study skills. Will your Doctorate help you to do that ?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The demand is for people who can teach Upper Elementary or Lower Interemediate English to groups of 30 students with poor study skills. Will your Doctorate help you to do that ?

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

Thanks for the responses, all. That's what I'd feared. Sad

So, can I assume that there would be little possibility of getting a lectureship/assistant professorship (as a regular faculty member) in Applied Linguistics, Linguistics, English Language or a related field?

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: Don't show me the money

Dear ChrisV,

". . . he prestige of having a PhD might translate into extra dollars, despite its general uselessness for the task at hand."

I'd say that was much more the case 20 to 25 years ago than it is for most jobs in the Middle East nowadays.
A lot of employers finally asked themselves, "Why should I pay so much to a Ph.D holder when I can pay less to an MA holder who will do the job just as well (if not better)?
Prestige has pretty much had its day; the bottom line tese days is usually
money.
Now that's a generalization, so there ARE still some exceptions.
Regards,
John

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

Chris
If you have a PHd you can get a much paid position as a professor/Senior Lecturer in ELT especially at freshmen level. The PI for example in UAE expect new lecturers to have a PHd and pays accordingly. As was said before it also opens doors to Directors of Programs.

The Phd also allows you to move from country to country and gives a far greater choice around the world.

MGreen · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 81

With a PhD in Applied Linguistics, you can get a faculty position at UAEU teaching in the BA TESOL program. The salary starts at 15,000 (15,000-22,000). The contracts are 2 years.

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

Thanks again for the responses.

I should clarify that I don't have a PhD yet. I'll probably start next year, and if I don't get funding will have to decide whether to self-fund, so I want to get an idea of what kind of returns that investment might bring were I to head to the gulf afterward.

Oh, and me and management positions go together like broccoli and chocolate, so I'm thinking strictly in terms of teaching, training and research.

@MGreen,

Thanks for the hard figures. Could you give me an idea of how that compares to the salary for a standard (i.e. with MA) TEFL position?

Thanks again,

Chris

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

MGreen · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 81

The salary for EFL teachers starts at about 12,500. But everything I've said for UAEU is moot if you're talking about the future (+2009). They're restructuring the university to coincide with the new campus. 4 years from now, things (salary, job security...) could be very different.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

ChrisV,

I have to agree with most of what VS says. At my university here in the UK, a full-time PhD will take an absolute minimum of 3 years, but usually 4 years. That means 4 years of living costs with no income, plus the fees.

As for funding, I hate to disappoint you, but it is extremely difficult, nigh impossible in the UK, to get outside funding for a Linguistics PhD. You would have more chance with Engineering or Medicine where industry earns some money from your research.

The only student in my department getting external funding is someone doing research into phonetics for brain-damaged victims, and they were awarded �3,000.