Job Discussion Forums

[Zimmerman]

Hi. If I can ask everyone for just a bit of their time to possibly answer a few questions. I understand that experience is the most important thing to have to be a qualified ESL educator. Unfortunately, I have none. But I never considered teaching abroad until recently and I am wondering if my masters degrees would help me in getting a position in Japan, S. Korea or Taiwan, teaching English.

Aside from my Bachelor's in English Literature, I have a Masters in Library and Information Science, which doesn't appear to me to be very relevant to the profession of ESL. However, I am about 15 credit hours away from a Masters in English Literature, which seems a bit more relevant. I don't intend to downplay anyone's experience actually teaching, which I know is invaluable, but would my post graduate degrees offer any sort of competitive advantage, if I can get teaching experience as well?

[Surfdude18]

In China it really makes nob-all difference.

[naturegirl321]

It might be able to get you some uni jobs.

[Zimmerman]

Forgive me if I'm doing this wrong. I don't have a lot of experience with message boards.

Thank you for responding. Actually, I was thinking about uni jobs but every time I do research about this I get a ton of info about masters degrees in Education, Applied Linguistics , or ESL but nothing about a degree in English Literature. I'm just wondering if having a masters is worth anything if it is not in those three fields specified above. Naturally, I'm not expecting doors to fly open because of my degrees. I'm just wondering what I can do with what I have, or almost have: 1 bachelors in English Literature (relevant), 1 masters in Library Science (probably irrelevant) and a pending Masters in English Literature (relevant? worth completing?).

[spiral78]

I can't speak for universities in the regions you mention. However, for what it may be worth, in Europe and Canada (where I have personal experience of university jobs) literature MAs are not often/usually considered applicable for ESL/EFL teaching.

While a background in English literature may indicate that your awareness of use of the language is high, studying literature does not apply to either education in general or language education...

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

[Zimmerman]

[spiral78]

I don't think an MA in lit is likely to get you into any university teaching positions in a language department.

There are growing numbers of people with MA TESL/TEFL or Applied Linguistics competing for positions that open relatively rarely...

Obviously, it's only possible to make a general statement here!! I'm sure there are many past exceptions and will continue to be future ones as well. In fact, I personally know of a few exceptions - though, to be entirely honest, all were hired over past years when language teaching was less distinct as a field, and none of them are considered anything like top-flight teachers in ESL/EFL.

But I think that it's safe to say that openings for university ESL/EFL positions are relatively less common, and usually require the related MA.

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

[Zimmerman]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You would probably be able to get a university job in Korea after finishing your MA in English Lit. The job itself could end up being something very similar to conversation school type of work, though.

You would be able to get a job in a university in Ontario, Canada (if you had permanent residency or citizenship in Canada) after doing a one-year (full time) TESL certificate from a university.

[Justin Trullinger]

With regards to the "age thing," at 33 you are one of those young people. But even if you weren't...I'm a year older than you, doing well at this and having a nice time. The median age of teachers where I'm working is 44.


Best,
justin