Job Discussion Forums

[nlogax]

Hi-
I'm a 2nd-year public school teacher in Korea, and having decided that I enjoy teaching ESL, am now looking into entering an International Masters program somewhere else out in the world (MA in TESOL or equivalent).

I'm a US passport holder, but have no desire to return to the US or Canada to study, and DO NOT wish to do distance learning, but actual on-campus instruction instead, which I simply feel will be more valuable.

As such, I'm looking into either Australia (for example University of NSW), or possibly taking my degree somewhere in a non-english-language country that has an International English-language MA TESOL program, for example Payap University in northern Thailand.

All things being equal, I'd prefer not to go into debt to finance study (probably $16000 USD/year) and living expenses (probably $10000 USD/year) in a western country like Australia.

That said, here's the question: What employers, regions, and countries will recognize an MA degree from a university in a non-English country, and which won't? Must I go to a US/Canadian/Australian/British MA program to have it recognized and accepted as a professional qualification by prospective employers? Would a degree from Payap, for example, be accepted in Asia? In Latin America? In the Middle East? Does anyone have direct, first- or second-hand experience with this?

Thanks for helping me to sort out my options.

[Chancellor]

[spiral78]

You didn't ask, but probably not in Europe, or Canada.

[nlogax]

To clarify, yes: I have little intention of teaching in the US, Canada, or Europe with this.

[santi84]

I'm pretty sure the Middle East is a big no on that one, but you may want to clarify on the Middle East subforum.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Unless the university has a very strong local reputation, then it won't be much use outside of the country in which you got it. And even if it DOES have a very, VERY strong reputation in that country, it will likely be of diminishing usefulness the further away from the university you go. A degree from a SE Asian university will likely only be useful within SE Asia (for EFL positions, it would be worth nothing at all in Japan, and in fact it's possible it would actually be detrimental to you because it may come across like you were trying to pull a fast one. I would guess that it wouldn't be much different with the better universities in Korea).

Why do you refuse to go the distance route? Don't you think you could be disciplined enough to do it? "Valuable" is a strange word. It means a lot of different things to different people.

Sorry, but I gotta say, IMO it seems like very odd choice to be thinking of a university in Thailand over a distance degree from the UK, Australia or New Zealand, unless you plan on working in Thailand and the surrounding countries for the rest of your career.

[AdrianG4]

Would the ma in tesol I'm Puerto rico be any good in america ?

[Chancellor]

[naturegirl321]

I spent three years getting an MA from Spain and another year waiting for my degree to be issued and in July am goin to be starting another MA from Australia this time. I've learned my lesson. If it's not from an English speaking country, some places won't accept it.

That's not saying that schools or unis won't. I've got a very very good job with my Spanish MA, but having one from an English speaking country would open up even more doors.

Like you I have no plans after nearly a decade abroad of going back to the US. BUt unis and schools abroad also want degrees from English speaking countries.

Also, you get what you pay for. If you're looking at Payap becuase of its price, the quality is probably just as low.

I'm guessing you're young and may say that you don't want to go back to the US now, but things may change in the future. I'm only 27 and don't see myself going back in the foreseeable future (in fact we're planning on having kids in Korea soon), but in 10 or 20 years, who knows what things will be like? Having to choose between staying in Korea and being a foreigner with no control over my visa, going back "home" to Peru, or back to the US, it looks like the US would win, even with all its problems.

[scintillatestar]

Expenses may rule this out - but Columbia University does have an M.A. TESOL program in Japan. The tuition is cheaper than it is at the NYC campus.

[Sadebugo]

Other posters have already implied this, but you get what you pay for. If the MA is not from an English-speaking country, EFL employers especially MAY reject it outright. Why take the chance?

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/