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Zimmerman
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
Location: New York
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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject: Would a Masters offer me an advantage? |
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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? |
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Surfdude18
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 651
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| In China it really makes nob-all difference. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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| It might be able to get you some uni jobs. |
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Zimmerman
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
Location: New York
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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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?). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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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... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 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. |
Your near-master's in literature might be acceptable in a few institutions here in Japan, but by far you will be competing with people holding degrees in the above field.
Face it. Most foreigners are expected to teach English, whether grammar, oral communication, reading, writing, or listening courses mostly for skill building, not for the enjoyment, comparison, or understanding of literature. Heck, the uni kids can barely read/write/speak English as it is. How would you expect them to appreciate a language they can hardly communicate in?
Does this mean there are zero course in literature? No. But, how are you going to teach it if the kids have a hard time understanding what's on the paper and what comes out of your mouth?
With the flood of teachers on the market right now, you might do better than the average person (BA degree in a non-teaching field) for entry level jobs, but if you want uni jobs, you're going to need more. Language skills, contacts, publications in TEFL, and experience teaching here are usually the accepted norms. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| With the flood of teachers on the market right now, you might do better than the average person (BA degree in a non-teaching field) for entry level jobs, but if you want uni jobs, you're going to need more. Language skills, contacts, publications in TEFL, and experience teaching here are usually the accepted norms. |
And don't forget doing workshops or presentations at congresses and conferences. Those look great on a CV. |
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Zimmerman
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
Location: New York
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
Face it. Most foreigners are expected to teach English, whether grammar, oral communication, reading, writing, or listening courses mostly for skill building, not for the enjoyment, comparison, or understanding of literature.
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Actually, I didn't mean to suggest teaching literature. I was just asking, down the line, if I gathered experience teaching and was eventually able to write publications and things, if I could use the masters in lit to get into a university to teach ESL, considering that universities demand advanced degrees, and perhaps the Lit degree would help me 'get in the door,' so to speak. I'm not bent on universities. I just want to know the possibilities.
| Quote: |
With the flood of teachers on the market right now, you might do better than the average person (BA degree in a non-teaching field) for entry level jobs, but if you want uni jobs, you're going to need more. Language skills, contacts, publications in TEFL, and experience teaching here are usually the accepted norms. |
But of all the things you list as necessary, to teach at a university....is one of them a masters degree in TEFL or Applied Linguistics.....no exception? I just don't want to hear, years from now: 'If you would have finished that degree in lit, along with the experience you have gathered since you first started teaching ESL, you would have been able to apply to this University job. Oh, well. Too bad.' Does anyone have any ideas on this?
This leads me to another question: Could I even get a job at all on the strength of just my Bachelors? From what I'm reading, despite the over-saturation, it seems possible. But I'm 33 years years old and many Japanese entry level openings I look at request young people (and women). With all this competition, I'm wondering if I even stand a chance. I'm not afraid of failing. I'm afraid of wasting time. Does anyone know anything about this age thing? Do I stand a chance? Or should I get with reality and try something else? Would I have more luck trying ESL somewhere else?
And by the way. Thank You everyone for your information so far and appreciate your expertise. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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