Job Discussion Forums

illegalme · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

Obviously I haven't spoken to all, or nearly a majority of them. Of course, the ones who I have spoken to have said they are doing it because they are passionate about the field. What on earth can you do with a PhD in TESOL or a related area if you want to escape it? How could anyone devote a minimum of three years of extremely demanding research in an area they are fleeing?

The answer is this, no-one in their right mind would be able to write 80,000 based on a topic they are trying to 'escape'. To be honest I don't actually think its possible. You need a level of commitment that requires genuine enthusiasm, and lots of it.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

illegalme, you have misconstrued my meaning. I mean escape ELT and get a cosy professorship in linguistics or teacher training, etc. - not leave the field entirely! One of my original suppositions (maybe you didn't go back far enough in the thread), which so far seems to be holding up, is that unfortunately there aren't many such professorships open to TEFLers, because ELT at universities is often conducted in an "English Centre" or somesuch, rather than at a proper university faculty. Ergo, there are few openings for us at the top level, because the vast majority of "English Centres" simply don't have tenureships. And if this is the case, then yes, it's crucial that you enjoy your PhD, because maybe you won't get much more out of it. I did an MEd TESOL a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I can be bothered spending three or four years doing a PhD unless it takes me to the promised land ie. a university tenureship. I imagine it's partly an age thing too - I'm I'm my mid 40s now. If I was still in my 20s or early 30s I'd probably be keener on doing a PhD - there would be more time to capitalise on it.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Conclusion: Getting a Ph.D. is not for somebody who wants to continue teaching EFL or ESL -- at any level.

This has been beaten to death now, right? A doctorate is not necessary -- or even especially beneficial -- to teach EFL or ESL.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

Dear Henry_Cowell,
I agree - I was sometimes tempted during my 25 years of teaching EFL/ESL to go for the PhD., but it seemed (and still seems) to me that I'd be pricing myself out of too many markets.
And age was also a factor.
Regards,
John

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

sometimes the worst teachers are the ones with the highest degrees. They spend all their time doing reserach and dealing with hig language, that they forget how to teach.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Maybe in China 75USD is big money?

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Chancellor

I