Job Discussion Forums

[WHIRLPOOL]

Hi!
I have a UK PGCE-QTS teaching qualification, a Trinity Cert TESOL and have been a high school teacher for quite a few years.
I have been looking at ESL jobs in the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia. Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain). It seems that if you have an Masters, especially in TESOL, you are ahead of the pack in terms of what recruiters seem to most want. So here’s 2 REQUESTS:

Recommendations please for the best UK based TESOL Masters course/best institution where ‘best’ means:
1) Highly rated by recruiters or the above listed countries and/or
2) Reasonably priced and/or
3) Well organised/structured course from the student’s perspective
4) Highly rated by other institutions – in case I want to study further elsewhere

Reading some related threads on the general discussion board, it seems that online TESOL Masters courses are not accepted by some countries due to online coursework concerns – but this can be circumvented if the graduation certificate does NOT mention that the course was online?

Recommendations again please for the best ONLINE TESOL masters course anywhere in the world where the institution
a) Has the usual “walk-in” Masters course as well as offering an online version
b) DOES NOT specify on the graduation certificate they produce that the course studied was an online one.

Thanks

[nomad soul]

[Gulezar]

In the UAE, the vision is to phase out university foundation programs. The place to teach will be high schools for the next few years. If you get a Masters in TESOL, most places will want to see years of experience after you obtained the degree.

If I were in your place, I would consider applying for high school teaching positions in the UAE, and then, if I got a job, I would do a Masters or EdD in the UAE. You would have your feet on the ground and could use your job for your research. Quite a few folks have studied at Exeter, in specific the EdD of TESOL. http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/education/graduatestudies/professionaldoctorates/eddtesoldubai/

A Masters or EdD could give you a step into the reintroduction of the foundation programs or whatever these morph into. Eventually, there will be a new name, as long as it is not Bridge, Prep or Foundation. A sparkling new EdD could come up with a spanking new name and concept. Too bad that "old wine, new skins" just would not be appropriate for the region.

[nomad soul]

Frankly, if you want to teach in the region, forget about obtaining an (in class) MA in TESOL; it would only qualify you for an entry-level TEFL job in KSA unless you have several years of post-MA experience. Instead, focus on international schools in the UAE or Qatar where you're considered an experienced educator in your subject (science). In other words, you already have the qualifications and experience to teach science in the region. Give Teach Away's site a look.

[WHIRLPOOL]

Thanks Nomad Soul and Gulezar for your insight....very helpful

[WHIRLPOOL]

Sorry to trouble you guys,,,but how do I do it?

[veiledsentiments]

Find an avatar... (be sure it is a smallish one) and past the link at the bottom of the "profile" page.

I do believe that you need to have made a certain number of posts before you can add an avatar. If the avatar section doesn't show up, it is because of your post number. As I recall, it is quite a high number.

VS

[Gamajorba]