Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I just actually posted about my two MAs on the Saudi board. First was from Spain. Red tape galore. Second from Australia. I figured if rules change and I needed an MA from an English speaking country I should have one.

First was TEFL. Second professional education and training. Totally related. I transferred a bunch of credits for the second. Looked at doing an EdD and delta but I'd like to get out of TEFL so I'm doing training in that area, which will still allow me to work the same hours and make the same or more.

You can work at unis without a masters. Rules depend on countries and employers. I've worked at some without an MA. There are plenty of ways to move up in TEFL. You don't need an MA. You could do a delta. Or get work experience and make connections and be in the right place at the right time.

You could be
A DOS
An ADOS
Curriculum writer
Teacher trainer
Exam prep teacher
Examiner
Test writer
Private tutor for EAP or ESP
And the list goes on. I saw that you are an electrician. That could help you at tech colleges.

Respectable career could vary person to person. For some it's a doctor. For some it's doing the best they can with what they have. People in vocational fields can also have respectable careers. They help the community, are honest, and family orientated people.

I think you really need to think about what you want. I've known TEFL teachers who have become in schools teachers and have never looked back. They love it. I also know those who hate it and wistfully wish they were a TEFL teacher again. I also know school teachers who have become TEFL teachers and love it and those who hate it. Gets more complicated. What works for you NOW may not work for you in the future.

It's never too late. You could always go back to school. With the internet it's becoming easier to do things online. Heck even Harvard has degrees like the ALM which can be mostly done online.

For intl schools teaching English may not give you much of a leg up as teaching science or math, for example. You might also want to look at getting certified In a couple of subjects as well

Few people stay at entry level jobs forever. Even those who work at a place considered entry level would move up. Better pay, better schedule, less hours, more vacation, more chance to do outside work. There are people in china for example who make 6000rmb and teach at a uni. Some have been there for years. While you may consider it entry level they may love it due to the lifestyle I mentioned above.

Hardwork is one thing if you're single. I'd work 12 hour days Monday to Friday and half days on Saturday when I was single. Now? I have a hard time working much less because it's time away from my daughter.

As it's been said you never know when you'll go home. I'm abroad but it's home for now

[suphanburi]

Along the same vein but slightly different...

I hold 3 totally unrelated undergrads (comp.Sci, business management and economics), 3 masters (MBA, MA (TESOL), M.Ed), along with a PhD(ABD) and another PhD in a different discipline.

Even with all of that wallpaper I typically only put 1 undergrad on my resume when looking for "teaching" jobs.

AFTER I get where I want to be then the rest sort of come out naturally (usually when I place them on the wall of my office).

BUT... big but here....

The point of it all is that the paper credentials only get you as far as the interview. It is what you do during and after the interview that makes all the difference. To quote an old adage, "the cream always rises to the top".

and I no longer work at the entry level.

Tale:

After retiring from IT work (SAP/ERP consulting) back in the late '90s
I took a job and was working in the education technology center at a small uni in Canada.

I was invited to go to Korea by some of my students.

I landed in Korea and was offered a position at the National Police University (KNPU).

I was asked to help a friend at his kindergarten and really enjoyed the work. I worked my way down from a uni job to public schools in Korea.

From my work there I was given the opportunity to take on a role in curriculum development and was part of the P.E.N. project in Gyeonggi Province.

After that was completed I retired again and I then took on a role as a consultant to 2 different POEs and retired to a farm in the Philippines (bought and paid for).

After a couple of years watching coconuts grow (and getting bored doing it) I was challenged by an ad from a small school in Thailand who was advertizing for a "25-40 year old, female teacher to teach conversational English to students in grades 2-6". The base salary was 32k thb/month (about 580 quid)

I thought that sounded like fun so I, a 50+ year old, fat guy, applied for the job.

I wasn't what they were looking for but I pushed the right buttons and was asked to come to work for them.

I implemented changes, starting in my classroom and ending up with a new school.

I am now the administrator of 5 schools on 2 campuses with an enrollment of just about 3000 students this year. (Oh, and I no longer work for 580 quid/month).

It took 4 years to go from "teacher" to "head". (or more truly, about 20 years to go from an honest entry level position at a uni in Canada to "head") or 35 years to go from college grad to "the boss".

Bottom line:
It is what you do AFTER you get into the work force that defines who you are and where you will go.

We all have to start at the bottom of the ladder and it takes time to get to the top. The paper on the wall won't do it for you.

Life has a habit of changing your direction for you; sometimes in new and exciting directions.

And finally, learning does not stop when you graduate with your first degree/PGCE/etc. Professional development truly is lifelong or you end up by the wayside.

(climbs off of his soapbox and retires to the coffee room).

.

[SunShan]

[natsume]

A cautionary tale;

After my years in Japan I returned to the states to an MA/credential program. I had been on the fence about going in either the credentialed (PGCE) route or the MA TESOL (+) route, and decided I would try the MA/cred. to (hopefully) eventually work in international schools. The promise of money and stability being the deciding factor, despite some serious ambiguity about whether or not I really wanted to actually do this.

That ambiguity never went away, and after student teaching here in the states, and finishing roughly half of that MA/cred. program, I realized that I had made the wrong decision. For me. I don't want to be relegated to working just with kids, and I really was not liking the reality of working in American high schools today.

I'm shifting gears, and entering an MA TESOL program next year. If you go the credential route, particularly if you are an American, make sure you are very close to 100% clear that that is what you want.

[Dream_Seller]

To the OP as you can tell suphamburi IS an Academic. He doesnt seem to have chased the " earnings ". Nevertheless, over 20 years he has become a master of the craft and has been rewarded handsomely.

I hope you do what makes you sing in the end. Ask yourself after achieving all the GOALS in your life how much happiness did they actually bring you? I'm sure suphamburi chased his passions and pursued several degrees for his own personal fullfillment (or ego). I think there is wisdom in doing what you are interested in and in what fits your character. If you dream of teaching in the UK, go for it. If you dream of living in Asia you can do it right now

Why is it in the West we think we always have to chase the money and never question why we couldnt live off of $1500 (USD) in a 3rd world country?

[Dream_Seller]

Thanks natsume. I'll TEFL for at least one year then decide on a MA TESOL.

[suphanburi]

[naturegirl321]

I'm with suphanburi I want a doctorate for me. Not for career progression. It's a personal goal of mine. I just can't justify paying 40k for one at the moment.

[suphanburi]

Why would you pay for it?

You work at a uni.

Talk to the committee responsible in the graduate school about doing a research PhD while you are there.

If your proposal is sound it should cost you nothing and depending on several factors you may actually get paid a stipend or get a research grant while you do it (in addition to your teaching salary).

At that level it is more about your research and publications than about the school who issues the parchment
AND
there are ample questions in multiple areas for research in the field of TEFL / TESOL or English as an International Language (EIL) - more than enough to keep you busy for the next 50 years if you are so inclined.

.

[rtm]

[naturegirl321]

Rtm. I agree. But I as it is if I want to do it now it has to be done online. I've looked at ones in Netherlands and Germany but have t found anything in the field I want to study.

[Shroob]

I'd be interested in knowing how you find out about PhD scholarships, something for the future. I know the website 'find a PhD', but that seems to be limited to the UK. They only list 4 funded PhDs in the USA.

[rtm]

[Shroob]

[rtm]