Job Discussion Forums

[igorG]

The last poster and i seldom agree, but i find it difficult to disagree on the previous statement. It's so true. I have taught in one of the cultural centers for immigrants in Canada before.

[Miles Smiles]

Is an MA TESOL even worth pursuing?

It depends upon where you intend to teach. In Canada where immigration is still strong, I'd say yes, provided that you really want to do that for a living and are willing to go with the changing fluctuations allowed by your domestic government.

From where I sit, I don't think that an MA TESOL is worth much in China OR in in the USA. I am American. Immigration to America has slowed considerably (legal and illegal), so my chances for career advancement in that area wouldn't be very good at the moment (perhaps for the next twenty years).

MA TESOL for China? Geez, I don't think that your opportunities for high(er) pay are much better than those whose native language is English and who have an MA in any subject. You might be better off studying something that you really like and then getting a job doing that. It's possible that you might score a job in a private school and draw a very good Chinese salary, but you should compare it to what you'd make in your home country should you decide that China isn't your bag.

Is 5,000 rmb per month standard for an MA? Not where I teach. I make considerably more than that in a partially privatized college in eastern China. I have an MA in English.

If you have the time and are so disposed, I'd go for an MFA in English. It's worth almost as much as a PhD.***

***YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY

[Non Sequitur]

Have a look at the recruiting section of the Clifford International School (Guangzhou) website.
Only interested in experienced certificated teachers it seems.
As I mentioned prev get yourself here in the least hassle way and then see what emerges that will use your MA.

[Miles Smiles]

[SahanRiddhi]

[Non Sequitur]

Sahan should note that the OP already has an education and intends to come to China.
Your comment might be helpful to someone just out of high school.
Sorry to say, but from my experience of public unis and colleges, plus what I read of the requirements of international schools, OP is overqualified for the public sector and under qualified for the international school market.
Sure OP will get a job in a public uni/college but there will be little margin for the Masters over and above a Bachelors or just an ESL qual.
Besides curriculum development in a school chain there are companies that have in-house English teachers who also design site-specific training.
These companies provide back office services to US businesses. Accounting. claims processing - that kind of thing.

[SahanRiddhi]

I misinterpreted, then. For some reason I thought the OP was considering getting MA TESOL.

Given that you already have or are close to getting the MA TESOL, I'd be more in line with the other posters -- come give it a try and see what happens. For someone just now considering an MA TESOL, I'd say don't do it if China is your main destination.

At raoulschinasaloon.com I believe there are some people with the MA TESOL in China who have latched onto pretty lucrative jobs. I would look for jobs paying 16k and above, preferably with housing, and I would not even consider the 5000 RMB/month university posts. Be persistent and very choosy, and I think you'll turn up with something good.

[Non Sequitur]

You could be right Sahan.
Hope OP clarifies.
If he/she hasn't yet embarked on the study I agree MA in TESOL isn't the best expenditure of effort for China.
Pearson Longman now own Wall St I think. With the MA maybe get some China exp in a Wall St outlet and the go corporate.
Also I think Disney is going to go gangbustas here over the next few years. The franchise sector for the kindergarten/primary age group needs a tidy up given the variable EF quality. Provided they can keep the quality up, it it could be one to watch.

[Adeem]

Someone mentioned it earlier, but it seems to have got lost in the mix.

An MA TESOL will probably not help you in the Chinese University, Middle and High school, or international school sectors.

However, there are quite a lot of foreign collaborative diploma programmes, companies like Kaplan and others that actually do recognise higher qualifications and pay accordingly (20000+).

Look up these kinds of programmes and see what you can get. No use scraping around at the bottom when you can actually get a well paid job, and also get some satisfaction teaching somewhere where results actually matter.

There is plenty to be made from teaching students whose aim is going abroad to study, and the sector is still strong, so take advantage while you can.

[kona]

Thank you very much everyone, I really appreciate this feedback, its very informative and helpful.

To clarify my original post, I am getting the MA TESOL no matter what (currently mid-program), what I was looking into was what type of opportunities are there for me in china beyond the 5000 rmb oral english uni jobs. I figured there was other possibilities outside of this, but was hoping something beyond DOS positions at language mills.

In-house corporate training would be great! I would definitely be interested in doing something like that, and if it comes with 16,000 rmb + housing, all the more better. Should I try to hook up with companies in the US or still use the hit-the-pavement approach? Thanks Sahan for the link, I'll be sure to check that out.

Adeem, I will also look into those foreign collaborative diploma programs. Could you tell me more about them and how to get those positions?

[Non Sequitur]

My personal experience of in-house was not fulltime, but last year I did see a US company looking for a fulltime in house trainer in Qingdao.
Not sure of salary but RMB16000 pm doesn't seem unreasonable, and the MA might have more weight in that situation.
You might not get the full expat deal but rather some locally hired expat situation as they seemed to want to recruit in-country.
Check out the American Chamber of Commerce - I'm not American so haven't used them myself.
I expect that the big coastal cities from Dalian south will have some representation, or maybe their HO in US can give you leads or let you attend schmooze sessions on China near where you are currently studying.
I'd love to see more of this type of role opening up mid way between full expat deals and local uni rates.
Give the unis an incentive to raise their games.