Job Discussion Forums

Norith · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I'm teaching in Korea now, but I plan on spending a year in China. I'm just wondering; if I spend a year or two working through an online M.A. in TESOL or Linguistics, what advantages will I have over simply having a B.A.?

My B.A. is in Philosophy, with an interest in Philosophy of Language (not that I believe that matters). I'll probably have two years experience by the time I make it to China...one year in Korea, and one year in either Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia (not sure yet).

I know a M.A. will take a while, and cost a good amount of change; and being an online-degree...probably won't hold much stock. Should I just scrap the idea entirely?

propertee · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 88

Listen to Moon, clearly DePaul dictates it all

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Not everyone can while away their time in a classroom. Non-traditional methods of course delivery by reputable institutions, particularly post graduate offerings, and particularly to mature age students with jobs and families to juggle, is very much the way to go.

To the OP: I found China ideal for what you are proposing. 16 teaching hours a week and supplied broadband gave me plenty of time to complete a distance TESOL post grad award. However, this will translate to very little in terms of your Chinese teaching salary! Move on to greener pastures once you're qualified. My parchment is identical to one gained on campus, and my current employer certainly drew no distinction. Many post grad awards in education are now taken off campus.

ps Retrospective editing of ones post does not help other readers of the thread.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

The University of Southern Queensland which offers great distance courses is not held in high regard here in Asia as it is recognized as a distance education University.

In regard to contact with your Uni teachers you are allocated a time limit so no different from regular Uni.

Most distance courses are half exams and half essays once again no different from regular a regular Uni.

The fail rate in what I did by distance ed was 85% so not a push over by any means.

BlakeinChina · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 8

This is my first post, here it goes...

Online M.A.s are just as good as regular M.A.s, but it depend where you get yours from.

For instance, Washington State University in the USA offers online M.A.s that have no distinction between it and a classroom degree. what i mean is the degree will read virtually indistinguishable from those earned in the classroom.

But, if you get one from an primarily online college such as ITT Tech, the diploma will say it is an online college which may be translated as not as good.

If i were you, and i was in your case at a certain point in my life, i would just call the college up and see what their diploma will read. If it will say online, scratch it, but if it doesn't, go for it.

Technology nowadays is so good that schooling online is actually done really well.