|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Rocket00000
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 8
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 8:43 am Post subject: MA in TESOL -- worth it for Saudi Arabia and elsewhere? |
 |
|
Hello everyone,
I have a few questions. My qualifications are as follows: three years of ESL teaching experience (China, Japan, Peru, and Chile), a TESOL certificate (generic, but done in person at least), as well as 2 years of experience teaching composition classes at a 4-year university.
I would like to teach in the Middle East in the near future. I've noticed that a lot of the job listings in the region ask for an MA in TESOL. My questions are as follows:
1) Are opportunities significantly better for graduate degree holders?
2) Are salaries significantly better for graduate degree holders?
3) Will an MA in TESOL allow me to branch out from Saudi Arabia to places like the UAE and Dubai, or is a teaching license strictly required in those areas?
Before anyone makes a comment about the utility of earning an MA in TESOL in and of itself, I should say that I've already been to grad school and I know the drill. I expect to receive approximately 90% useless jargon and theory, and 10% practical information. Hopefully the ratio will be better than this, but I strongly doubt it 
Should I choose to get an MA, I will only do so if I can receive significant funding. Otherwise, I'm not sure that the cost of the degree would be offset by the potential gains in salary.
Thanks in advice for any help and advice you can offer. It's much appreciated. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Rocket00000 wrote: |
| 1) Are opportunities significantly better for graduate degree holders? |
Yes. Obviously, a TEFL-related MA + relevant experience will get you a higher salary, richer benefits, and better work conditions. See "The skinny on direct-hire university opportunities" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=103722).
| and wrote: |
| 2) Are salaries significantly better for graduate degree holders? |
Salary-wise, a related MA easily trumps a related BA, if that's what you're asking. Again, it's sort of a no-brainer that employers prefer graduate degrees.
| lastly wrote: |
| 3) Will an MA in TESOL allow me to branch out from Saudi Arabia to places like the UAE and Dubai, or is a teaching license strictly required in those areas? |
For teaching adults in the GCC, you'd need a relevant MA and 2 to 3 years of experience to compete for the better jobs. However, be aware the governments of KSA, Qatar, and Kuwait do not accept degrees that entailed online coursework.
A teaching license is required for teaching k-12 and international schools. If you're interested in teaching children in the region, check out Teach Away's site for qualifications. There's particularly a huge need for licensed and experienced primary and secondary school teachers in the UAE.
By the way, Dubai is in the UAE. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
I have a few questions. My qualifications are as follows: three years of ESL teaching experience (China, Japan, Peru, and Chile), a TESOL certificate (generic, but done in person at least), as well as 2 years of experience teaching composition classes at a 4-year university.
I would like to teach in the Middle East in the near future. |
To follow up on ns's astute advice, it's experience AFTER the MA is done that counts. Your earlier three years + two won't count for much.
It may be problematic to think of this as possible in the 'near future.' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| spiral78 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I would like to teach in the Middle East in the near future. |
To follow up on ns's astute advice, it's experience AFTER the MA is done that counts. Your earlier three years + two won't count for much.
It may be problematic to think of this as possible in the 'near future.' |
Right on, Spiral. And again, that experience should be relevant to the position(s) you're applying for.
Rocket00000, for the 'near future,' your current qualifications---an (unrelated?) BA + basic TESOL cert + varied experience---might get you a position with a Saudi contracting company (those positions you see advertised on the Cafe's job board). However, you'll find the majority of ads indicate a related BA is required, at minimum. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rocket00000
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Clearly I have a lot of homework to do still, but spending a couple years in Seattle to get an MA seems like a good investment now if I'm going to be doing ESL work for the foreseeable future.
As a follow-up question, NS mentioned that pre-degree work doesn't count for much. Could you elaborate on that? Why doesn't it count for much with employers? Also, what sort of positions can I reasonably expect to land with an MA but no post-degree experience?
Thanks for the responses. They're much appreciated. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Rocket00000 wrote: |
| As a follow-up question, NS mentioned that pre-degree work doesn't count for much. Could you elaborate on that? Why doesn't it count for much with employers? Also, what sort of positions can I reasonably expect to land with an MA but no post-degree experience? |
The best scenario is to have teaching experience that was gained after you've completed your highest, relevant qualification. That's the logical sequence of events: training first in the specialization, then actual experience. Otherwise, employers may assume your pre-degree experience was gained during a time when you didn't have the proper specific skills and knowledge. However, some employers may give you partial credit for those years.
As for landing a position with zero post-MA experience, unless an ad states "post-degree experience," simply apply with your MA see what happens. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Rocket00000 wrote: |
Clearly I have a lot of homework to do still, but spending a couple years in Seattle to get an MA seems like a good investment now if I'm going to be doing ESL work for the foreseeable future.
|
Just a couple of points I'd like to mention:
1. Yes, if you're going to make ESL your career, then an MA is pretty much essential anymore. But remember statistics: something like 50% of teachers in general change professions within 5 years of starting their "careers". By the 10th year, it's many more that have switched. For ESL specifically, I'd say the figures are even higher. See http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/why-do-teachers-quit/280699/
2. You said "...a couple of years in Seattle...." Unless money is not an issue, I think there are better options than a couple of years in Seattle. There are now many places in the USA where you can get an MA in the field in one year. I can't imagine why one would want to put in an extra year if it's unnecessary, given the outrageous costs of higher ed these days.
3. Careful with "distance" or "online" courses or degrees. In many parts of the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, for one), they are simply not accepted. Even "blended" degrees (partially online, partially in residence) will prove a problem.
Given that 1 year MAs are now available in many locations in the US, were I starting out, I'd make the effort to be on campus full time for that one year even if I had to go into debt to do it. It would be worth it in the long run. (Not only "would it be"....it HAS BEEN). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 9:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| hash wrote: |
There are now many places in the USA where you can get an MA in the field in one year.
....
Given that 1 year MAs are now available in many locations in the US, were I starting out, I'd make the effort to be on campus full time for that one year even if I had to go into debt to do it. |
It seems the UK, and not the US, is way ahead in terms of the number of one-year grad degree programs. Moreover, just because a program can be completed in one year doesn't mean it equates to greater savings overall. For example, the per-semester credit cost for my Master of Educational Technology, which will have taken me four semesters to complete, is around 60% lower than the tuition rates charged for some of those one-year MA TESOL programs. Case in point, USC's one-year, 30-unit MAT in TESOL takes the prize at $48,400 for the full program. Ouch. It may get prospective EFL teachers ready and working quicker, but the financial cost may not be worth it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nomad soul wrote: |
It [1 year MA programs] may get prospective EFL teachers ready and working quicker, but the financial cost may not be worth it. |
Yes. Taking a 1 year course doesn't guarantee it's going to be cheaper than doing a 2 year stint.
For example, the OP may be a WA resident so he'd be paying in-state tuition at a public uni in Seattle...and....his family may be living in Seattle so his housing/meals costs could be a fraction what they would be elsewhere.
But overall, I'd say there'd have to a very good reason to take a 2 year course over a 1 year.
Check out the following for some very useful related information straight from the horses mouth: http://www.tefl.net/tefl-courses/faq-ma-tesol.htm
And also this: http://www.tesol.org/docs/career-center/tips-for-choosing-a-ma-in-tesol-program---michelle-bagwell-4-9-13.pdf?sfvrsn=2 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rocket00000
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, like I said I've just started looking into MAs (won't actually begin an MA program until Fall of this year) and hadn't realized one-year degrees were an option. That is excellent news. Wherever I end up getting my degree, I will definitely do so in person.
I spent last year struggling to break even in Peru. I legitimately love teaching and traveling, so the thought of pursuing both those activities while making grown adult levels of money (lol) is pretty exciting.
Again, thanks for the information. It has been very useful. I'll keep doing research. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 602
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
It looks better for the uni to have a master's on staff but to teach "I am..." and "He is..." it isnt needed.
Far and away, the biggest issue is motivation and degrees dont matter much with that topic. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hatcher wrote: |
| Far and away, the biggest issue is motivation and degrees dont matter much with that topic. |
It was covered extensively in my second language acquisition course for my MAT. Either way, learner motivation can be addressed as a professional development topic for in-service teachers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Rocket00000 wrote: |
| Wow, like I said I've just started looking into MAs (won't actually begin an MA program until Fall of this year) and hadn't realized one-year degrees were an option. That is excellent news. Wherever I end up getting my degree, I will definitely do so in person. |
If you are just starting to get information now, and hope to start a course this fall, you'll want to check admissions deadlines for the places you want to apply.
For example, the place where I did my MA TESOL has an application deadline of January 31 for the fall semester (starting in August), and I've seen others that are January 15 or even January 1. Programs that offer funding in the form of ESL teaching assistantships (often includes a tuition waiver + stipend) usually have deadlines for these that are fairly early, often in the beginning to middle of January.
If you need to take the GRE, you should do that ASAP. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rocket00000
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm leaning towards a one-year degree at Pepperdine's Irvine campus. I have family I could live with out there which would make room and board costs negligible. I figure if I do part-time substitute teaching while taking ten credits a semester I can finish my degree with less than $20,000 in debt.
I'm going to stop by the campus in a couple weeks to see what they have in the way of assistantships and financial aid.
Thankfully, I already took the GRE a few years ago. Old scores can be used for five years. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
