Job Discussion Forums

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Nature Girl, I didnt really agree with the earlier definition to an honours degree. I cant offer a full explanation but can offer an observation that most of my social circle (who do tend to be a little younger than me) graduated from their traditional universities around ten years ago with their well recognised, standard degrees, which are all without honours.

Honours degrees tend to be the norm with recent graduates ... but I tend to think not much has changed but the name really.

I may investigate a bit more and Ill add to the thread if I can find anything.

Mozzar - yes the trainee teacher is a valid option, places on that scheme are few an far between though! Personally ... I like the sound of your plan, and if you do get QTS, I think that will supercede all the qualifications that lie before it. I would go the distance learning route even if it does carry slightly less weight with some employers. As you have noted ... this allows you to work whilst you study, which gives you the added bonus of experience as well as easing the financial situation.

I think there can be too much focus on the place of study. This does apply to those of us in distance learning, but even if you have studied at a bricks and mortar uni, someone else has studied at a better one. I have a very good friend who has just graduated with a Masters from Imperial London ... and she is unable to get a job due to a lack of experience, despite her masters (with high grade) coming from a 'good' uni.

I really wouldnt worry ... you (potentially) will hold a Masters, a BA, a TEFL qualification, and several years experience in the field .. PLUS QTS. That will make you highly employable IMO...regardless of where you studied the masters.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

From Wikipedia

Under the new British system, and those influenced by it, such as the Canadian, Irish, Jordanian, Indian, Malaysian, Maltese, Sri Lankan, Singaporean, Hong Kong and Australian systems, undergraduate degrees are differentiated either as pass degrees or as honours degrees, the latter sometimes denoted by the appearance of "(Hons)" after the degree abbreviation.[citation needed] An honours degree generally requires a higher academic standard than a pass degree, and in Maltese, Singaporean, Australian, New Zealand, Scottish, Sri Lankan, Malaysian and some Canadian universities an extra year of study.

Previously in the UK Polytechnics, an honours degree took one more year of study than an ordinary degree. This applies in Scotland with ordinary MA and MA(Hons) degrees (which are the equivalent of English first (BA) degrees). In England now, most first degrees are assumed to be honours as Third Class honours are actually a relatively low standard.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

To get a BA (Honours) there is a requirement that you have to know how to spell "Bachelor".

johnslat · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

"To get a BA (Honours) there is a requirement that you have to know how to spell "Bachelor"."

But not, thank goodness, that you have to be one.

Ah, it's good to see that you're holding others to your own high standards.

Regards,
John

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

I tend to believe that there is a bit of a meltdown in higher education. A degree doesn't necessarily mean you will get a job. So I would advise getting the bare minimum and then try to get experience. A bunch of degrees is sadly becoming rather common in our society. And like anything else the higher the number the lower the importance attached to it.

txmsk · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 58 Location: The World

I am probably going to go back either this year or next to do an MA TESOL on the ground.

I am considering the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. I've heard many good things about them.

However, I am looking for positive and negative reviews about them, but can't seem to really find either.

I tried an online MA TESOL course through a UK university, but dropped it. It was more of a 'correspondence' course in my opinion. I have taken a distance/online course (statistics) before it:

1) was interactive
2) filled with weekly assignments/readings
3) had a clearly laid out syllabus
4) had a clearly defined textbook

The MA TESOL course I tried to do:

1) was far from interactive
2) did not have a clear syllabus
3) did not prescribe weekly assignments or readings
4) did not have one text or a set of texts, but rather recommended reading lists... upwards of 50 different resources
5) was based on the 'module' system

That said, I'd rather have one class that I take or go to, whether it be online or in an actual university, rather than the modules that throw things together.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject:

Interestingly, I've worked with SIT on TESOL training courses for a few years now, and am pursuing a Masters at distance from a UK university.

I chose the distance course for a variety of reasons, though I looked into, and nearly chose, the MAT at SIT. A lot of my colleagues have that degree, and are thrilled with the work they did there.

I chose against SIT mostly because of career concerns- as a working teacher trainer, it's harder than it needs to be to get the necessary time off. I was also vaguely concerned that, having done a teacher training qualification through them, and having worked for them, I was building a very SIT specific resume, and I wanted some more variety.

THat said, those I know who did choose the SIT MAT have had many career options afterwards, usually very appealing ones!

I have to say that some of the elements you identify of distance study, such as no fixed weekly assignment dates, are positives for me. I guess I got lucky, though, as the degree I'm doing is certainly interactive and the sylabus is clear and demanding.

Best,
Justin

PS- your email has been forwarded...

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Ok, so a UK BA Hons would be either

cu m laude, "with honor" (direct translation: "with praise")
magna cu m laude, "with great honor" (direct translation: "with great praise")
summa cu m laude, "with highest honor" (direct translation: "with highest praise")

And a UK BA would just be a BA?

gungediana · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82

egggwww how embarrasshking, I have a Bachelors degree and I can't even spell the word bachelor

I've just lost the little remaining credibility I had left amongst fellow forum members.

Guys I can assure you that my spelling is usually much better than that.

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

gunged diana?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

But do they use "Baccalaureate" anymore? Mine says "Bachelor's"

gungediana · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82

Naturegirl

I have a friend who screwed up his degree a bit. I think a 40% score or more would be an honours degree. 35%-40% is just a degree with no honours and less than that would be a fail

Chancellor · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

There is no such distinction in the UK. As the text suggests, in the UK honours used to mean a 4 yr degree. Now its just a 3 year degree. Its the 'dumbing down' of our education system Im afraid.

An honours degree holder graduating now ... would arguably struggle to reach the same grades as a standard BA holder from 10 years ago. Its happen with our A levels and GSCE standards too. Goverment targets are the key these days in the UK.