Job Discussion Forums

[Kublakhan]

Hello,

Could somebody please tell me how the powers that be in Thailand view those with an online/distance MA in a related field?

I am sure some of you reading this have at one point or another contemplated furthering your education and online/distance learning is a cheap and convenient means of doing this. However, does this extra qualification come with its rewards in Thailand?

Are there any readers out there who have decided to do this and improved their salaries and working conditions as a result?

Have any teachers who decided to learn through this method have now left Thailand and secured good positions elsewhere in Asia with relative ease.

I know the consensus here is that anything done 'online' is usually frowned upon by some establishments but, for those who have, how have you found the job market and would you say it was worthwhile in that it has improved your marketability in Asia?

Thank you

[roguegrafix]

I think it depends on what university you do it from. I did an on-line masters from a "top 8" Australian university and so it's the uni's reputation that counts rather than the fact that you did the course on-line. A Ma-Pop University with no reputation would not be so well regarded as one from Harvard or Yale

Re increase in salary: Generally no (although there are exceptions). Most teaching positions, including those at universities, require a graduate degree only and will not pay you more just because you have a masters. The benefits of a masters as I see it are:

* A uni would probably hire you over someone who does not have a masters. And university conditions are generally a lot better than high schools.

* It allows you to teach post-graduate students (i.e Thais doing their masters) which are better paying jobs. Rules and regulations MAY forbid regular degree holders from teaching post-graduates (although this being Thailand, there will be exceptions)

* Some institutions, particularly those with International Degree Programs, require a masters as a pre-requisit. Again these unis are usually offering higher salaries (often substantially) from the norm.

* With a masters degree, you could probably guarantee a job at a university in Thailand (but maybe not at Chula or Mahidol)

Bottom line: why not do one? It won't hurt to have a masters degree. As you say, they can be quite cheap and are often very flexible--some can be done part-time. But choose your institution wisely. Good luck.

[tttompatz]

Bottom line:

The MA gets your foot in the door (one that may otherwise be closed to you).

It is what you do AFTER you get in the door that makes the difference in terms of wages, working conditions, benefits, etc.

You can have credentials coming out of your backside and a wall covered with pretty paper but if you don't interview well you are not likely to get the position (exceptions will always be make for those with specialist talents (the next Stephen Hawking perhaps?) and IQs over 160).

In terms of WHERE you get your masters; as long as it is NOT from a paper mill ("get your MA based on life experience - only $499") most schools won't care what institution it is from and your MA won't have "distance learning" written on it.

There are exceptions but by-and-large the vast majority of school's simply care that you have your MA/ABD/PhD.

It is what you do with it more than where it is from that matters to them.

(personal experience).

.

[Kublakhan]

Thank you both for taking the time to share your thoughts and personal experiences.

I will be mindful of my choice of University here in the UK when considering this degree, although - initial thoughts - it's interesting to hear that the pay doesn't necessarily reflect this academic qualification in Thailand?

But as one of you said, it is what you do after landing a position within a University that matters most.

When you said "University conditions are generally a lot better than high schools" what did you mean exactly? Also, is there more scope would you say to increase your salary every month through private tutoring at a University that a high school for example?

[roguegrafix]

Uni conditions: They vary of course from uni to uni but generally students are usually well-behaved as opposed to 55 screaming lunatics. Your teaching load is generally less (12-18 hours pw about the norm). Some unis only require you be there when you are teaching (which means you get 3 months holiday from March-June and do not have to be there 8-4.30 every day). And I find the teaching much more interesting as I'm in total control of the course as opposed to following a bland course book (but at other unis there is no course control--you do what they say).

At some unis there is a lot of scope to increase your salary with extra teaching, at others nil. Same goes with high schools -- a lot depends on location, attitudes etc. etc. It's difficult to give you a definite answer because Thailand, being what it is, is so flexible. There will always be exceptions to whatever anyone says.

[Kublakhan]

Thanks for the reply roguegrafix,

Now I can see one reason why the pay is lower than many high schools - the hours. 3 months off sounds fantastic and to be honest, one of the reasons why teaching appeals to me (lots of me time) and with it, the opportunity to travel more.

Aside from this however, it is the mentality of the students' that bothers me. When I taught at the Thai government school it was pure chaos. I will never forget one of the kids lit a ping pong ball and threw it across the room and landed nicely on a classmates back, which stuck instantly, and then began to burn away into the poor kids skin; I didn't know whether to congratulate him on the nice throw or hurl him out the door.

Teaching kids is not for me it has to be said! Far too unruly and I can feel the tendency to hurl them out the window which was never far from my mind, m5 level was much more civilized, m4 and below - forget it!

University and adults - a much safer option

[Nemodot]

Teaching in a middle tier Thai uni isn't much fun per one friend. He was handed in a masters essay that was a photocopy of another students work. The student just crossed the name out and wrote his! My friend was ordered to pass the student. You basically end up teaching thick rich kids who aren't fit to empty bins. But one day will be running Thailand! The clever rich kids study in western unis. It's a job I would only do if 55 and desperate.

As for online degrees it depends on subject and uni. An online degree from a good uni is as good as a campus one especially at masters level. Weaker uni degrees are worth less than stronger of course but somehow it just sounds weak to be online. It depends though on student. A person with a first from Cambridge in English who did a tefl MA from a real but lesser American uni online would appear to be legit and worth it. The MA in this case shows a commitment to TEFL and I'm sure that this person would have benefited from the MA in expanding their theoretical knowledge and skills. Obviously im assuming that they had a tefl cert and teaching experience first.

Master degrees in my opinion though are generally poorly taught and only designed to get cash for the uni.