Job Discussion Forums

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

dmb: this is nothing personal, believe me but that graphic you use is begin drive to me out of mind.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

well i'm in the process of agonizing over which masters degree i want to do and if it's worth it. i also don't want to waste a lot of time only to find out i'm right back where i started.
my instincts tell me just to continue with history and hope for the best. nothing is certian but at least i am interested in the field and i wouldn't consider it a total waste of time.

I also believe that having a masters in any subject gives you better chances at getting better TEFL jobs... is this not true??

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

then why does the economy university give a pay raise to people with masters and why does the bilkent advertisment say "a masters degree would be a distinct advantage"
???????

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

Good question. Perhaps then we should ask if those positions are good ones. I have known teachers who worked at Istanbul Technical University and Bilgi University and, really, except for the hours their jobs weren't that hot. I've heard their complaints. Just because it's at a uni, doesn't mean it's a good job.

Having a masters in...geography, for example, won't make me a better teacher. If a school/uni/whatever says a masters in anything is welcomed, I would question their desire to have the students improve their English skills. Probably, they just want something to boast about, to make the "package" look good.

If you just want to uni job, meet teachers who work at universities. You can get your foot in the door. I know teachers working at unis with just with a celta. They got the jobs because they knew people there. I know one guy who just has a "one week" certificate and he has worked at a uni here for years. Introductions carry a lot of weight in Turkey.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

I totally agree with Tekirdağ.

If you are in EFL and want to stay in EFL and thinking of doing a Master's, for God's sake ONLY do one of the following:

TESOL
ELT
Applied Linguistics
TEFL

Nothing else is worth it if you want to maximise your job choice. MA Lingustics is no good if you are applying for jobs that want a relevant MA.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

i am working at a uni now and i don't mind the monsters that much, in fact i think they're fun. i may get sick of them soon, who knows.
the thing is... i want to be a history teacher, not an english teacher. so i can't decide what to do now and i don't really know if there are jobs available for native speakers teaching history here or in other english speaking universities around the world.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I knew a teacher who was teaching English Lit. at Bogazici uni(had a pgce) .... and he had to work at ET in the evenings because the salary was not that much at Bogazici.

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

I met a EFL/ESL teacher trainer who worked for one of the private unis in Turkey. She was getting 3000 $US a month plus benefits. That's pretty good crackers for Turkey!

mbd26 · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Istanbul

For online MA degrees check out:
www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/educ-arts

[email protected]

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

PLEASE -- dmb -- MAKE iT STOP!!!!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I can't, he has a mind of his own. He's a bit like a turkish teenager... no controlling him.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van