Job Discussion Forums

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

Hi everyone.

I'm a big fan of Hong Kong, and would really like to work here at some point.

I've completed some undergraduate credits through Athabasca University, though this has been slow going and costly - not to mention not related to what I want to do.....teach!

There are some universities in the UK as well as Australia which allow relevant work experience as a substitute for the typical BA entry requirement (for the MA TESOL specifically, not usually for other MA programs).

This route makes a lot of sense to me, though would many employers stick their noses up at my lack of a BA? Would I even be able to get work?

Tough question perhaps...

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

Not really sure my example helps but I have an MA in TESOL without a degree. However I qualified as a teacher way back in the 1960s when the course was only 3 years and led to a Teacher's Certificate.
I worked in main stream education in the UK for 17 years before working overseas in PNG, Ghana and Hong Kong.
If I was you I would get the teacher qualification first and some exerience and do a CELTA or similar before going overseas.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

I think I answered this on another forum. IMO, many of the top employers will NOT overlook the "missing" first degree. By top employers, I mean state or government primary and secondary schools, international schools etc. Take a look at the required quals for such posts - a degree (ie. BA, BSc or equivalent) is nearly always the first thing mentioned. It's not want you want to hear I know but I think that's what you'll find with many, but perhaps not all, of the best employers, especially in quals-obsessed HK.

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

anninhk - sorry I forgot to mention that I already have 6 years of teaching experience. Now I'm at the point where the only 'advancement' I have to look forward to is an extra dollar an hour per year. Time to get more qualifications! I do already have a TESOL certificate (albeit not a CELTA).

May I ask which 'teacher qualification' you were refering to me getting?

Perilla - thanks for the reply. I guess - as you mentioned - that these schools would be top schools. Would slightly lower level work be more obtainable?

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

I realised after I had posted that you were only referring to getting a BA.
A BA and a TESOL cert plus experience is probably better than an MA.
It certainly counted for nothing for me as a NET

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

Thanks a lot guys.

If I were to pursue a BA, which one would you recommend? Applied Lingsuistics? Would an English degree be of higher standing than most other degrees?

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

In the UK I'd say the top undergrad degree to do if you're convinced you want a career in ESL/education would be a Bachelor of Education, specialising in any (or a combination) of English, TESOL, TEFL, linguistics, modern languages.

A BEd means that after three years you have a degree plus QTS (because you study teaching as part of the course), whereas if you do a normal BA it will take you four years to reach QTS (three year degree plus one year for a PGCE). (QTS = Qualified Teacher Status).

Outside the UK I dunno the specific names of quals, but I'd still recommend you look at specialist teaching degrees rather than generic arts degrees followed by the teaching qual, as the latter takes longer.

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

perilla - I'm surprised to hear that it would be possible to reach QTS in 3 years. Sounds promising, though would this take a lot of extra work comparted to a 'regular' 3 year BA?

Didn't realize that it would be possible to foucs on TESL as an undergrad. Sounds promising

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

I think I'm right (though not 100% sure) in saying that BEd's are less common nowadays in the UK. There is a belief that a regular 3 year BA is more "academic", as you focus purely on the subject and are not "distracted", as you would be with a BEd, with teaching practice. So, if you're not sure you want to become a teacher, a regular BA makes the most sense. And of course, most undergrad students are young and have time on their side, and are happy to keep their options open, even if that means spending an extra year to get QTS. However, so long as you are sure you want to teach, the BEd makes good sense - you get quality learning time as a trainee teacher (a whole 3 years!) and you get your QTS-plus-degree in the shortest possible time. Schools certainly do not look down on BEds - rather they see it as an indication that the holder has a vocation for teaching. And with the explosion in TESOL etc. in the last twenty years or so, all sorts of study options and specialisations are now available in UK universities (and elsewhere of course). Is a BEd harder than a regular BA? I don't think so, except in the sense that it does involve "real" work (ie. teaching practice) that wouldn't be involved in a normal BA.

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

Thanks for the reply!

I'll have to do some more research on programs which would offer this. I looked at York Universitiy program (in Canada), and it looks like a whopping 5 years to complete the full program. A little bit too much of a time commitment for myself (3 years sounds reasonable).

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

Would anyone know of any reputable universities offereing full distance Bachelor degrees in Linguistics?

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

Hello again guys, just a quick follow up...

After dismissing the MA only option for a while, I've been hearing - from people who have went this route - that it can still be quite effective.

Sure, there would be schools which would not overlook the missing BA, but I've been hearing that this generally isn't the case. I've heard of people getting respectable positions in North America and the Middle East (two of the more discerning countries) which just the MA.

Perhaps HK is different though...could anyone else add to this? I would like to work there one day.

BTW I'm quite interested in doing Nottingham's program (they have a campus in Malaysia). More affordable than these distance Athabasca classes I've been taking, as well as convenient as far as my current location is concerned. They found my experience and my TESOL certificate to be sufficient enough to obtain the MA through the 'non-standard' route (sort of a long explanation).