Job Discussion Forums

[Nabby Adams]

I am thinking of doing a MA TESOL, but the costs

Anyway, is it much use in Thailand?

I hope to teach adults. Less than 25 hours a week teaching. More than 3 weeks a year vacation. Much more would be better. A liveable salary.

Now I am 40 with a BA and TEFL cert. Would the MA be worthwhile?

[Pauleddy]

IMHO

An MA would help but if you have a TEFL plus BA and experience, I wouldn't spend a couple of years more getting the MA, especially at 40....unless you really want to make a big career of it and climb the ladder. Many places would be pleased to take you without. Some of the top unis would take you more readily, of course, with the MA Tesol.

I have a different and non-TEFL masters...but I had it already (years ago) and felt that I didn't want or need to do any more stuff when i left the UK.

P

[Extraordinary Rendition]

My MATEFL helped me get a job at a Thai university, I'm sure, and I'm sure I was paid more there because of having it. But I had at least one western colleague with only a BA and experience. The MA was certainly a huge help in getting a high-paying (for this trade) job in the Middle East later.

The Thai university students are quite immature compared to those in the Middle East (or probably anywhere else), but they're not a discipline problem, they're just silly, chatty Thais. Uni work has the advantages of good hours and decent pay. Disadvantage - huge classes. I heard from colleagues this is true at the universities they had worked at in Thailand before, as well (30, 40, 50, or more, in a class).

To keep costs down check out Australian universities, although I did mine by distance through a British uni and the cost wasn't horrific (the American ones are really expensive). I truly believe that I learned a huge amount, by the way, which is really helping me now.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[lterrys]

I've taught 23 years in Southeast Asia in universities in Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Mexico and more...a BS or BA with experience is more than enough.I think it's more experience that they are looking for and attitude. It still very easy to get a job at the University of Bangkok with just a BA/BS.

[Extraordinary Rendition]

[Vince]

[mandalayroad]

[Vince]

[PattyFlipper]

[Thwartley]

I'm surprised at Extraordinary Rendition's claim of being paid more because he had an MA. Was this at a private university perhaps?

I can confirm beyond any doubt that an MA is essentially useless in Thailand in terms of getting you a better salary. As for professor designations, it isn't going to happen. I know of numerous 20 year plus foreigners who are still on the one year contract renewed annually with no title beyond "foreign instructor."

Here's the only benefit it will bring you: if the number of foreigners seeking employment in Thailand ever increases and there is competition for certain job openings. If you had an MA and other candidates didn't then it would be of some use (i.e. you would likely get the job.)

The top universities here have trouble finding people to stay beyond a few years though many of them have a handful of long-termers who are unemployable anywhere else in the world. These universities will literally hire people with any degree, even from practical colleges, bible colleges etc. Keep in mind, this is for the English departments and language centres.

No doubt there are examples of westerners fluent in Thai and teaching proper academic courses who are rare exceptions to what I have stated here.

[Vince]

[Thwartley]

[roguegrafix]

The only advantages of having a Masters Degree at a Thai university that I can see are:

1. If two people were going for the same job, equal in all other respects, the Thais would probably employ the person with the masters degree.

2. There are some courses where for regulations sake, you have to have a masters degree to teach. At our university, any master's degree course or above requires the instructors to have at least a masters degree themselves. These courses are often profit-orientated and consequently are paid at a "special" rate. For example, at my uni, the normal teaching rate is 300 baht/hr; a special ordinary degree course is paid at 600 baht/hour while a masters degree course (for which you need an MA yourself) is paid at 1,500 baht per hour. Needless to say, you'd be very lucky if you were ONLY teaching MA students.

Some institutions, such as Mahidol Salaya, seem to "require" you to have an MA before they look at you but it might be like a dress code in an Australian pub--designed to keep the riff-raff out and not really law. Their pay scale, however, is better than most Thai Government unis so I hear.

[Vince]

Another advantage for career EFL teachers is that, when they move on to greener pastures, they can show that they applied the MA to their work in Thailand. Having the degree is a good first step, but having built experience on it is important for more advanced opportunities.

[WhatsGrammar?]