Job Discussion Forums

[Deicide]

world of TEFL?

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Sure they are. But unless you have courses in second language acquisition etc., then they are a bit better than other arts degrees, but in themselves they aren't going to get you a job that requires a specific qualification in applied linguistics (it's not the same thing as a degree in applied linguistics any more than a degree in applied mathematics isn't a degree in theoretical mathematics). If you are going for a job that requires some sort of quick TESOL certificate, like a CELTA or whatever, and there are two candidates, both of whom have a CELTA and an undergraduate but one has an undergraduate in theoretical mathematics and one has a degree in theoretical linguistics, then the one with the linguistics degree will probably get the job (unless the way they deal with people comes off as a little abrasive or like every person they teach is actually a linguistics experiment instead of a person that wants to learn English... IME that kind of thing is actually not uncommon with recent graduates of linguistics degrees, unfortunately).

[Shan-Shan]

Only if your students are Linguistics majors. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter.

[fluffyhamster]

The following from recent Language Log might be of interest (for those theoretical linguists who aren't thinking of working in the field of TEFL only):
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1082

[wildchild]

Applied Linguistics is what you want. which happens to be heavily based on theoretical linguistics. so, yes. and no.