Job Discussion Forums

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

Hi all.

It's all in the OP really. How much difference if any does your classification of degree matter for visas or gaining work? This is presuming you have a Cert. Tesol (which I don't yet but I plan on getting soon).

I'm midway through an Open Uni English Language and Literature degree and i'm tempted to try to find some form of Tefl employment while I finish my degree in the next year ideally. I feel like doubling up final year courses for reasons of speed and working for reasons of sanity lol might mean I potentially won't do as well I could next year. I'm just trying to guage how much it would matter if the WORST was to happen and I did rather poorly in my final year. I've ~6 months before I need to make any decisions but I just wanted to get the lie of the land so to speak. Thanks.

P.S.
I was looking at working in China whilst I finish my degree. Doable or madness? I'd be a new teacher, first time in China (although well travelled lifetime). Would I be in a mcjob mill hating my life due to lack of a degree and be overwhelmed by the China experience or would it be ok? It's probably impossible to answer right enough Smile

Thanks again.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Hey Jimmy - I only have a BA (open) and it hasnt been a problem so far. I should also point out I havent really applied for any jobs where it is likely to be a problem though. I could be wrong, but I think quite often, an unrelated degree is always going to be just that. I dont think it will make much difference.

Get the right job in China...it would be easy to finish up the OU course there. I did my first two modules whilst in China.

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

Thanks again nick, it was a post of yours that got me to look at the OU again after rejecting it before. I can't believe i'm almost at 180 pts already (should I pass my two course exams for the lv.2 courses in June fingers crossed).

It would be two level 3 courses I'd have to do to claim my named degree I think. I don't know if the workload for them would be a good deal harder than your first two modules though. I'm likely much thicker than you too lol. Having said that folk do distance masters all the time so I should probably stop whining.

It feels like i've been on here forever saying i'm going to get a cert. and teach. This year surely Smile

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

It might depend on the country. If China is the only one you're interested in, I'd say post in the China forum for better responses pertinent to your situation.

Otherwise, I could give you details on Japan...essentially, as long as you have a BA or equivalent (no certificate needed), you are eligible for a work visa (there are 3 types here for FT teaching work, and a few others that permit PT work with/without any degree).

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

No tbh I thought that might be the case. So I can soon to blag a third class degree, kick back and chillax for the next years study Wink

joking btw

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

As long as you have a BA, you should be fine

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I remember chatting to you ages ago jimi ... sounds like you are a lot closer to your goals now, so well done.

ps - if you are really keen to get going, you do realise you can take a 300 point degree without honours? Thats what I did as they dont then get any classification like first class, 2.2 etc.

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

TY sir. Yeah I did know nick. I thought you have to have taken a certain number of course at each level though (I may and hope I'm wrong tbh).

Y'know the sort of thing "120pts at lv.3, 240pt above lv.2" and all that. As it stands, if I pass my exams I will have one 60pt lv.1 and two 60pt lv.2 courses completed. I thought I would HAVE to take the last two lv.3 to get my degree. I'm going to phone up and find out for sure I think. One lv.1 and lv.3 would be a MUCH better prospect. Here's hoping Smile

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

I double checked on the OU website for Open degree without honours.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Just double check any issues surrounding the 'named' degree. You're 300 points BA wont be named, but you can top it up later if you want the honours part. I keep telling myself I will do that one day.

Im not 100% sure you can accept a BA Open (300 points) and then top it up to a named honours degree though. It may be that you can only top it up to a BA Open Honours. That may or many not be possible, it may or may not be important to you.

jimi1999uk · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 63

Ok, I got an email back from the OU about this.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I did e303 Grammar in Context as my L3 course. I had also done U211 Exploring English (I think that was its name).

e303 was OK, a little boring and not really too relevant to an EFL setting TBH. It takes a little time to get your head around some of it, and at times I found it hard going but I did quite well on it. Actually, I did OK on it, an L3 pass, but I might have squeezed an L2 pass if my ECA was better.

If I wasnt studying it for the purpose of passing a course, it would be interesting. Lots of the books cover how language is used in positioning the reader in newspaper articles etc. Its quite cool to see how grammar is used to create a viewpoint etc.

If I go on to complete an honours, I will do 'the art of English' to complete my degree. With regards to the OU comments, I think my problem may have been that I didnt study modules towards any named degree initially, and I claimed a Diploma in English Language studies along the way too.

Im still studying with the OU, and doing Beginners Chinese ATM, but thats for fun rather than counting towards anything.