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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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 Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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From my personal experience living and teaching in Mexico City for the past two and a half years, I would say that it's VERY important for newbies who are thinking about getting into the EFL profession to have the following.
CELTA
After this the experience and then one or even two masters that are in Education and or TESOL specifically.
Have advanced degrees from people who have actually accomplished something teaching you their wisdom is CRITICAL. Plus, having a CELTA and a masters or two shows serious employers (Asia and the Middle East) that YOU are serious about the EFL profession. True, long term goals but they will benefit you greatly in the future.
Keep your future in mind not just the next party. |
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killthebuddha
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 144
Location: Assigned to the Imperial Gourd
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| Professor wrote: |
From my personal experience living and teaching in Mexico City for the past two and a half years, I would say that it's VERY important for newbies who are thinking about getting into the EFL profession to have the following.
CELTA
After this the experience and then one or even two masters that are in Education and or TESOL specifically.
Have advanced degrees from people who have actually accomplished something teaching you their wisdom is CRITICAL. Plus, having a CELTA and a masters or two shows serious employers (Asia and the Middle East) that YOU are serious about the EFL profession. True, long term goals but they will benefit you greatly in the future. |
OUCH.
This hurts in so many ways that I must appeal to Steven Wright. When you get poison ivy on the brain, think of sandpaper.
| Professor wrote: |
Keep your future in mind not just the next party. |
Here's a novel idea...Why not have your students in mind and improve your English? I know it's only ESL and that the students don't require of us an in-depth knowledge of the subject (sarcasm), but how does this insignificant assumption jive with the insistence that we acquire an advanced degree from some wise mentor? Keep your students in mind and not just the next degree. Otherwise, how will you know whether all the theories and methods you learned for your MATESOL are helping you to teach anything, or whether what you think you're teaching is correct?
--ktb
Last edited by killthebuddha on Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:08 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| killthebuddha wrote: |
Here's a novel idea...Why not have your students in mind and improve your English?
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You can do the above AND work on getting advanced credentials. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| killthebuddha wrote: |
how will you know whether all the theories and methods you learned for your MATESOL are helping you to teach anything
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A VERY common statement made by people who have no advanced degree. |
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killthebuddha
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 144
Location: Assigned to the Imperial Gourd
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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My degree in English and my doctorate preclude me from knowing. What I do know is that you managed to say virtually nothing in your OP, and that you said it very poorly. Shall I break down your grammar and syntax for you?
--ktb |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| killthebuddha wrote: |
how will you know whether all the theories and methods you learned for your MATESOL are helping you to teach
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VERY common with some of the ones who have been in EFL for a LONG TIME. They have a bachelor yet no plans on getting an advanced degree so they knock the whole concept, yet SERIOUS employers will always look at one holding an advanced degree as one who is MORE SERIOUS about their career than one who doesn't have the advanced degree.
It's OK...as I said, VERY common among bachelor degree holders to knock the concept of higher ed. |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Depends on where you want to teach. Not all markets are set up to reward the advanced credentials.
If I understand correctly, a master's is crucial for those who wish to teach in the Middle East.
On the other hand, in China, it is generally not required. And if you have it, you may get an additional 500 RMB (US$75) per month. At that rate, you will never recoup your investment of time and effort in getting the degree (unless it's in terms of personal satisfaction -- and good luck with that one).
What about other countries? What other opportunities are out there for people with a master's in TESOL? How much do they pay? |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| killthebuddha wrote: |
My degree in English and my doctorate preclude me from knowing. What I do know is that you managed to say virtually nothing in your OP, and that you said it very poorly. Shall I break down your grammar and syntax for you?
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Say virtually nothing? Hmmm. Ahh yes, grammar and syntax. Those two things will help people SPEAK. If I said virtually nothing feel free to stop reading my posts oh wise one.
You sound like my friends in Mexico.  |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| SERIOUS employers will always look at one holding an advanced degree as one who is MORE SERIOUS about their career than one who doesn't have the advanced degree |
That's nice. How much more are they willing to pay the person with the advanced degree? |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| killthebuddha wrote: |
What I do know is that you managed to say virtually nothing in your OP
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It's OK buddha. Many who have been in EFL for a LOOOOONG duration don't like to hear fresh ideas. Scares them. Relax my dear friend and take deep breathes. You'll feel better and your classes will improve.
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| Quote: |
| [quote="Professor"] SERIOUS employers will always look at one holding an advanced degree as one who is MORE SERIOUS about their career than one who doesn't have the advanced degree. |
(You have posted/started this thread in two places, I have also answered in the newbie section)
Anyway ... I do agree with the above statement. Employers may consider advanced degree holders as being more serious. Im a strange one though perhaps...I care more about improving and learning as a teacher rather than impressing an employer. Although I accept employers would probably prefer an MA over a DELTA, I believe a DELTA is more likely to improve me as a teacher, so I will aspire to that long before I consider an MA. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Zero wrote: |
| Quote: |
| SERIOUS employers will always look at one holding an advanced degree as one who is MORE SERIOUS about their career than one who doesn't have the advanced degree |
That's nice. How much more are they willing to pay the person with the advanced degree? |
I would say pretty good in asia or the middle east. Latin America...forget it. The pay will always be LOW in that area.  |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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[quote="nickpellatt"]
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| [quotethough perhaps...I care more about improving and learning as a teacher rather than impressing an employer. |
Just because a person is working on an MA doesn't mean they aren't trying to improve and learn as a teacher. So much ANTI higher ed mentality here.
And your bachelor is in what? |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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My BA is in Advanced Troll Spotting. I had a first.
Seriously though, why is that relevant? Do you want to patronise or insult me with regards to it, as you appear to have done so in the other thread, to another poster?
I do have a BA, and also a Trinity ... and as I have stated, I do aspire to a DELTA (or perhaps Trinity DIP), but the jury is definitely out for me with regards to an MA. It would appear to be more relevant to employers than it is to me, so I couldnt justify it really.
Im not against learning at all though. Im actually studying a Mandarin Chinese course with the Open University at the moment. Partly because I want to learn the language, partly because I want to better understand language learners by being one. |
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killthebuddha
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 144
Location: Assigned to the Imperial Gourd
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Advanced degrees & Credentials |
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| Professor wrote: |
VERY common with some of the ones who have been in EFL for a LONG TIME. They have a bachelor yet no plans on getting an advanced degree so they knock the whole concept, yet SERIOUS employers will always look at one holding an advanced degree as one who is MORE SERIOUS about their career than one who doesn't have the advanced degree.
It's OK...as I said, VERY common among bachelor degree holders to knock the concept of higher ed. |
Dear Professor,
(May I call you that? Should I call you that? Are you tenured?) Your generalizations amount to nothing more than an uninformed bigotry. Maybe it's easy to be a good shot when you're aiming at the sky, but how can you expect anyone to take notice? The only reason you caught my eye is that you are an excellent representation of the vicious cycle of the mine-laden ESL field. To wit, your English is poor and your reason fails because of this. To guarantee (to employers) your superior teaching abilities you probably obtained an "advanced" TESOL degree without improving your English, and you obviously expect this degree to cover a multitude of sins. This fault has created hubris in you and has rendered your pronouncements empty and your judgments unsound.
No doubt you are, by now, in charge of hiring for your institution. The fact that you eschew any help with your English may indicate that you fancy yourself an administrator, or as someone who is otherwise "above that." Congratulations. I bow to your superiority. You deflect and avoid very well. To borrow from Rodney Dangerfield, "You care a lot...about what I have no idea." You are a true master. Please take me as your disciple. My first task will be to help you with your OP, as originally offered. Will you consent?
--ktb |
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