Job Discussion Forums

Gosta · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Tamworth, UK

Dear all,

I'd like to do an MA TESOL next year, but am a little confused by the sheer quantity of courses available. Could anybody recommend a course? I'd be willing to study in any English-speaking country.

Many thanks,

Dino

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Birmingham, Leicester, and Surrey are all highly regarded.

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

SIT and MIIS in the US are good too.

Gosta · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Tamworth, UK

many thanks for your help, that will narrow down my search a little! SIT looks particularly impressive. it is a well-regarded school?

SahanRiddhi · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 267

I'd probably go with one of the American programs. Throughout the world, people know that if it was done in the USA, it is reputable because of the country's "name brand" value.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I can vouch that the UK's programmes are similarly recognised worldwide.

SahanRiddhi · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 267

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think that, if you did some research, you would find that UK programmes are respected worldwide as highly, and in many cases more highly, than US ones.

True for Europe, for certain, and I've got quite a few friends in the Middle East whose UK MA degrees were specifically sought-out by good schools. University of Birmingham, England, has an extensive network of MA students and alumni throughout Asia - the degree is sought-after.

They're not just 'adequate.' They're desired and in some cases preferred.

tttompatz · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:42 am Post subject:

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

SahanRiddhi · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 267

I've always believed in "going with a known quantity." Of the world's top 10 universities, the top 9 are all in the USA. Point being, USA higher education in general has a certain "sheen" worldwide.

http://www.4icu.org/top200/

So when you have a degree from a good USA school -- I would avoid the for-profits -- you can rest assured it's going to be known and respected. That said, I'm sure some of the other programs mentioned are good, too, so if they have a curriculum or price point that appeals to you, then by all means go for one of them. I am just saying that personally, I always like to go with a 100 percent sure thing when possible. It's a subjective thing, so obviously some of the other posters have their own take, and that's fine.

Edit: Changed non-profits to for-profits.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The top ten in the world don't necessarily all offer MA TESL/TEFL or Applied Linguistics.

The top ten in the world in ESL/EFL are not all in the US. They include four of the big British universities, and at least one in Australia. I'll find the official list and post the link, but this is definite.

(thanks, nomadsoul, for your post in the Current Events forum)
Here is a start, but again, it's specific only so far as Arts and Humanities. I'll find the narrower parameters for TESL/TEFL and App Ling asap:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/arts-and-humanities.html

I think your parameters are too broad.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

I have to agree with tttompatz. Although diploma mills operate worldwide, the US leads in the number of "educational" entities providing bogus credentials. Unfortunately, there isn't any federal legislation clearly prohibiting these fraudulent businesses mostly because the law is rather murky when defining what a diploma mill is. Plus, it's easy to become a "university" or "college" in states with loose standards or loopholes in their laws. Change is in the works, albeit slowly.

Wherever you choose to study---in the US or otherwise---do your research when looking at any degree program and stick with accredited, established colleges and universities. If a degree program sounds too good to be true (quick, cheap, and you don't have to break a sweat), then it's a program that's best to avoid. Caveat emptor!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'll put it simply: in the case of a CV with University of Birmingham, England, or Edinbourgh, Scotland, or Leicester or Surrey (also UK) versus

a resume with the University of Alabama/Mississippi/West Virginia/Montana.....etc, etc...

The UK qualification will get the job, because these universities, along with MacQuarie and New School (NYC) are known in the field of ESL/EFL.

Further, I agree that the international impression of degree mills operating in the US is indeed prevalent.

Sure, if your degree is from Harvard or Yale (or New School) it will be respected. But from some internationally unknown US university or - worse - college - NOT NECESSARILY. The term 'college' in particular is NOT respected in all parts of the world - it sounds dodgy.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

SahanRiddhi, I think you mean avoid for-profit universities. I'm not a fan of the for-profits. Some of these universities have run afoul of the law and have been heavily fined for unscrupulous student enrollment practices and for improperly acquiring federal student loans. Also, some US employers won't accept certain academic credentials from specific for-profits because they don't regard the particular degree program standards as being up-to-snuff. However, not all for-profits are bad. But if I were looking for a strong TESOL degree program, I'd stick to nonprofit universities.