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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| True, doing a bit of research on the school beforehand in no way guarantees that you'll be a good teacher, but it is still a factor that could affect their decision to hire you--would they rather hire somebody who actually took the time to learn about them, or somebody who just waltzed in for an interview without knowing exactly what they were interviewing for? (going beyond the obvious answer of "a teaching job") |
Maybe people in the Middle East are more professional but in Taiwan and Korea some directors do not even bother to read the enterviewee's CV before the interview. Others can comment but in the EFL world there are plenty of employers who don't know what position they are interviewing for or about the experience of who they are interviewing. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe it's time to drop this point (seems to be going in circles), but I was referring to the job applicants, not the employers. A responsible job applicant will do his or her "homework" or research--look into the school so that he/she can sound intelligent and well-informed during the interview. Whether or not the employer/interviewer even looks at the CV is really beside the point. Just because the school is unprofessional doesn't mean that the applicant should relax his/her standards of professionalism--regardless of the country. The most you can do if you think the school is unprofessional is not take the job.
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| If I had the chance to do it all over again and the money, which I did not, at the time, I would go that route as a globe trotting Tefler. GET THE MASTERS FIRST, if you can. Get the experience second, Vietnam or Thailand. Go for the cash in the Middle East . Start a small business to fall back on. Relax. Then go for experience again, cash, the world is your oyster. |
ESLhobo, that is good advice with hindsight but what if one get's the Master's in TEFL and ends up not liking to teach TEFL. Of course then it would just be like getting a B.A. for most people. |
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:58 am Post subject: |
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Well like I said,
My friend knew exactly what he wanted.
The OP said he wasnt sure what he wanted because there are so many options open to him.
My 2 cents worth points out the value of making a solid decision and sticking with it.
One thing the OP seems to desire with certainty is to Travel the world and work/live in other countries. There aren't a whole lot of jobs that afford this kind of opportunity. Being a Tefler is one of them, so I would say get the Masters, if not in TESOL, then in Applied Linguistics, which is more flexible and can be used in a variety of fields if one decides they dont like tefling.[/b] |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| Dumb question: But is a Master's is TEFL that much more valuable than a good cert and some experience? At least in the countries where I want to go - Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, China? Japan? |
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dirimini
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 74
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| ESL Hobo wrote: |
| ...then in Applied Linguistics, which is more flexible and can be used in a variety of fields if one decides they dont like tefling.[/b] |
You're referring to the MA in Applied Linguistics, correct? If so - and this is a serious question, not a snarky, rhetorical one - could you give some idea of what other sorts of doors this degree might open?
Thanks. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| dirimini wrote: |
| ESL Hobo wrote: |
| ...then in Applied Linguistics, which is more flexible and can be used in a variety of fields if one decides they dont like tefling.[/b] |
You're referring to the MA in Applied Linguistics, correct? If so - and this is a serious question, not a snarky, rhetorical one - could you give some idea of what other sorts of doors this degree might open?
Thanks. |
I'm curious, too. Mine is in TEFL, but I always thought they were basically the same. Am I disadvantaged by not having an Applied Linguistics degree?
As to whether an MA is really more valuable--when you're just entering the profession and not sure you want to make a career of it, no. A certificate is enough. An MA becomes valuable when/if you decide you want to stick around and aim for better jobs. In your case, adamthejohnson, since you're not sure, I'd hold off on the MA. I think you can even get university jobs (generally considered "better", when compared to private language institutes) without an MA in some of the countries you've listed.
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:22 am Post subject: |
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Well,
You can google it and get a lot better info on what one can do with a Masters in Applied Linguistics. But off the top of my head their are several fields. Research and Developement, government jobs like being an analyst for ef.bee.eye, etc, in the field of Law they need linguists to help defend people whose native language is not English and be expert witnesses for them, Linguists who are fluent in other languages find employment as interpreters or translators.
From what I understand "Applied" Linguistics pertains mostly to teaching but it does have a broader scope than a Masters in TESOL. And is therefore more flexible. |
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:34 am Post subject: |
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In my opinion if Adam has the time and money to get his masters he should do it first. Experience in life tells me that it would be better to go for it NOW. Putting it off could very easily derail the chances of ever doing it. People get married, have kids and then don't have time or money to get their masters. Some rugged individuals can swing it but it's the exception to the rule.
If Adam wants to take a year out just for to try it, I would suggest at least getting a TEFL Certificate to go along with his BA, no matter where he teaches. But during this year he should be determined not to get married and keep his Masters option on the table. Don't do like I have done making survival wages for 25 years. It's been great fun but the only thing I would change about it would be to get my Masters, first. |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:23 am Post subject: |
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Yeah I think I would prefer to hold up on any Masters in TEFL. I need to get my CERT anyway it can work double duty on my CV for the peace corps. I need to look into getting Certs again, I was overwhelmed last time and havent looked since.
On a side note. I dont plan on ever getting hitched and settling down. If I settle down hopefully it will be to a bigger tent with a better sleeping bag. |
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Bigger tent and a sleeping bag!!!
Sounds great! Where do I sign up!
Peace Corp will look great on your CV.
My first teaching gig was volunteer work and it helps a lot. It lets people know you care about giving something back to the global community.
It's easy to be overwhelmed with the choices for EFL/ESL certification.
From what I have read of your posts, I would say a good place to start out for adventure and fun would be to do a well recognized TEFL certificate in Thailand, that should narrow it down. In my opinion the best place would be in Chiang Mai, which should narrow it down further. Of course you may never want to leave  On your first time out I would give north east asia a pass. The culture is very complex and imo is not as friendly to newbies.
Living the life of a single person is custom made for a Tefler. I love my kids but sometimes I pine away for the single life, I guess that's natural.
Whatever happens don't get discouraged. You will find a lot of support here from friendly people who really care and know a few things about being in the ESL biz. Above all, live your dreams, take risks, otherwise life can be boring.
With warm affections remembering the "old days" when there wasn't a Dave's ESL Cafe forum.
Keep the questions coming! |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| ESL Hobo wrote: |
Bigger tent and a sleeping bag!!!
Sounds great! Where do I sign up!
Peace Corp will look great on your CV.
My first teaching gig was volunteer work and it helps a lot. It lets people know you care about giving something back to the global community.
It's easy to be overwhelmed with the choices for EFL/ESL certification.
From what I have read of your posts, I would say a good place to start out for adventure and fun would be to do a well recognized TEFL certificate in Thailand, that should narrow it down. In my opinion the best place would be in Chiang Mai, which should narrow it down further. Of course you may never want to leave On your first time out I would give north east asia a pass. The culture is very complex and imo is not as friendly to newbies.
Living the life of a single person is custom made for a Tefler. I love my kids but sometimes I pine away for the single life, I guess that's natural.
Whatever happens don't get discouraged. You will find a lot of support here from friendly people who really care and know a few things about being in the ESL biz. Above all, live your dreams, take risks, otherwise life can be boring.
With warm affections remembering the "old days" when there wasn't a Dave's ESL Cafe forum.
Keep the questions coming! |
Is that the path you took? |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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Bigger tent and a sleeping bag!!!
Sounds great! Where do I sign up!
Peace Corp will look great on your CV.
My first teaching gig was volunteer work and it helps a lot. It lets people know you care about giving something back to the global community. |
If you have the money you might try to get some experience by working at a summer camp during the summer. The only thing is your pay will likely on be equal to the price of your flight ticket from the US to Asia. Anyways it is another way to get your feet wet. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| ESL Hobo wrote: |
From what I understand "Applied" Linguistics pertains mostly to teaching but it does have a broader scope than a Masters in TESOL. And is therefore more flexible. |
Nope. An Applied Linguistics degree in language education / SLA etc is the same as a masters in TESOL. The actual subject matter of both varies greatly depending on the country and university that you do it in.
If you google 'applied linguistics' you'll see possiblilities other than what you see with a Masters in TESOL because those are different applications of liguistics, and therefore require different degrees. Translators don't have degrees in Applied Lignusitcs (language teching) they have degrees in Applied Linguistics (translation X lang to/from Y lang).
The real difference (if it's 'real') is that Applied Linguistics degrees are housed in linguistics departments. TESOL degrees may be housed elsewhere (faculty of education, English department) as well as in the linguistics department. |
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Hi badaBOOM,
Sorry I can't write out your whole screen name,
I agree with what you are saying. But I believe if a person is truly bi-lingual or multi lingual a degree with "Linguistics" in the title will make a difference. I do understand that there are other linguistics degree, things are so compartmentalized these days, but if a person shows a natural talent for something and has a degree in a related field it's not that hard to cross over into a job other than teaching.
Plus, the Applied Linguistics course I was taking had some basic Linguistic components not as directly related to teaching as a TESOL degree. So there is a difference.
Degrees don't always match jobs they train you for. It's just my opinion that a masters in any field of linguistics might help you to cross over into non teaching fields, rather than a straight TESOL Degree.
So we can agree to disagree if you like. |
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