Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Trullinger]

Erm, yeah.

If only I could laugh- I WILL find a way to do this! (Could borrow, I suppose, but even with the additional income it will generate, would have a hard time paying it off without leaving Ecuador.)

So I think it's a case of tightening the belt, and putting aside a few hundred every month...

I hope this amuses somebody. Depresses the heck outta me.

But I'm looking forward to the course, whichever one it turns out to be. All that reading and writing to keep me busy on the Fridays and Saturdays that I spend at home, broke...

Best,
Justin

[lozwich]

I'm thinking I might start studying soon, and I think the lack of life means I won't be spending money, which means I can use that money to help pay for the course, right?

Really specific to your case Justin, but does your organisation have some kind of scholarship you could ask for? Or is there any way you could do something SIT-like via distance? Casting my mind way back here, but I have a vague recollection of SIT being connected to your crowd???

My favourite kind of education: the one my boss pays for.

[MELEE]

[Justin Trullinger]

The organisation I work for has sort of a tenuous shared history with SIT, and I'm a licensed trainer on their TESOL cert, so I'm connected with them that way as well. So yes, there would probably be some help available in that arena, but it looks unlikely to be enough help- The SIT MAT program is well respected, and priced accordingly. They also don't seem to have a total distance program, which is what I'm looking for, with my current job.

The Otavale�o idea could work. Except that they probably have family members who could do it cheaper and better. In any case, I'm trying to manage this without having to visit the campus. Or the market.

The Aston program seems to have a decent rep, but I'm not going to Birmingham unless I REALLY have to...


Best,
Justin

[Justin Trullinger]

And thanks for the website link, Gordon!

Great site, to which I will now refer everyone who asks me about teaching, especially in Asia.

Good list of MAs and good info on training in general.

Best,
Justin

[Gordon]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Which modules?

I hoovered up as many language based modules as were going - Text & Discourse Analysis, IIC (Socio-Linguistics), Lexical Studies, Grammar of Modern English ... (with Course & Syllabus Design, Materials Analysis & Production, Methodology, & the FND to fill it out) ... returning to TDA and Grammar for the dissertation ...

Interesting in their own right and all very handy for EAP and those jobs with long holidays ...

It always amuses me when people without an MA drone on that an MA means diddly squat in terms of teaching ... it's especially amusing when that person is someone whose insight into the English language stops at Headway ...

[thrifty]

I also did:

Text & Discourse Analysis, IIC (Socio-Linguistics), Grammar of Modern English ... (with Course & Syllabus Design Methodology, & the FND and Language Testing, Management of ELT.

[dmb]

^ So nothing useful like chip van management?

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Have you encountered much in the way of management since studying that one?

The stories that abound in the ME would suggest there's a separate chapter for the region ... a one page chapter that reads -

"That which kills them makes you stronger"

[Justin Trullinger]

Other factors added on- I've never done a long course at distance before, and I'm aware that it presents some additional challenges. (I did the first stage of my teacher training cert at distance, and found that I tend to procrastinate, but that I can fight this tendency by remining myself how much money I might waste by missing a deadline.But it was only six months. A 2 year course will require a lot of effort.)

I was also advised by a kind member of this forum that it's a good idea to do a course that other people are doing locally, so you can talk about it not only online, but also down at the pub, face to face.

So I sent an email to Aston, asking if anyone else in Ecuador is currently enrolled on the course- and sent a general email to my local address book, asking if anybody locally knows the course. To my surprise, there are two local teachers, both of whom I know, currently on the course, and another, also a casual aquaintance, who hopes to start it the same time I would. Possibilities of book and resource sharing are now another point in favour of Aston. (The EFL community here is pretty small...)

So it's looking like Aston may be it- I'm a little freaked by the 7200 pound price tag (about 13900 USD, YIKES!) but compared to what's out there, it isn't THAT bad...am now looking into ways to finance it. Hoping perhaps for a little employer help, but while I'm extremely happy in my job, don't really want to owe the organisation more than I already do. (Which is plenty.) Probably can pay for it over two years without losing too much weight...

I'm interested in the linguage module, particularly grammar and lexis and the modules related to discourse analysis. Also interested in course and materials design, as this is a big part of my current workload. Having a hard time raising any enthusiasm at all for Educational Management, but am wondering if I should, as this is another big part of what I do. Would love to take the young learners module, but as this is no longer what I do, probably will take a miss.

How was the management module, thrifty?

Love to write something up on Ecuador- I'll be in touch on this over the next few months, Gordon. (Cause if I wait till autumn, I think I'll be on a grad course that will take all my time...)

Best,
Justin

[MELEE]

Justin,
I did the International House Diploma in Educational Management several years ago. It's in collaboration with Aston and they give you credit for that module. IH has since shortened the course which I think is a shame because every second of that course was worth the money I spent on it (something like 1600 pounds I think). It was especially designed for someone working in Management, specifically in the profit sector, but I was working in Higher Ed at a public institution and I found it totally worth while. We got readings on various topics in and around management then the assessement was entirely on a project for your specific school based on the content of the reading.


On a side note for Justin or any other Spanish speakers out there. UNAM (Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico) has a distance Post Grad Diploma in Applied Linguistics for in service Language teachers. The course work is part in Spanish part in the Language that you teach. you can read about it a http://comenius.cele.unam.mx/alad

[thrifty]

The management module was a half module-they are called single modules now or that might have changed again. The tutor David Charles was great and I did my assignment on cultural analysis.

[Justin Trullinger]

Thanks Thrifty-
David Charles is still there, I believe. I've never found management interesting the way I do teaching, but if you're gonna do it...might as well know how, I suppose...

Best,
Justin

[Justin Trullinger]

Still considering...

Another program I'm considering- The School for International Training's MAT TESOL.

Advantages of this-

Seems to be (where I'm at, anyway) better known and more respected.

I know the place.

Has a practicum based on my current teaching.

Could be used for US public school certification. (if I ever get that desperate.)

Disadvantages-

It seems to be about 3 times as expensive. (25000 or so US dollars, but two on site summers will push the cost up from there.)

On-site requirements will cut my earnings. (Summer is TESOL training season!)

I'm a little concerned about all the credits in a summer session. (looks like a lot of material to internalize in 8 weeks.)



Any thoughts,
Justin