Job Discussion Forums

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

A question for those of you 'on the ground' in the UK...

Is this University respected at all?

I'm leaning towards it as they accept credits from Vancouver Community College towards their MA program. I think they do most/all of their MA program online, too... a plus as I'm in Japan now.

An aside, really, but I may be transferred to Surrey sometime next year... what is Surrey like? Any jobs/schools there, either to attend as a Masters student or to teach at as an assistant? (I won't be qualified to teach at real schools, I'm sure. I have only a BFA and TESOL cert.)

Any info/advice appreciated. Otherwise, is there a minimum wage? What about other jobs? I have extensive experience in training/grooming cattle for show and teaching drawing/printmaking/painting courses to adults. I've never worked in the food/beverage industry... not sure I could do it.

I've read this forum and the job situation seems grim for EFL. Sorry if my post is a bit scattered! Again, any info appreciated!

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

University of Leicester's good. Not Oxford, but fine. The University of Surrey also does TEFL MAs I think. Can't say more than that I'm afraid.

Russell Hadd · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 181

Check the University league tables for an idea - the Guardian, Times and THES deal in these although I think the Guardian is an undergraduate table and wouldn't take into account postgrad courses.

Also, go to the QAA website where all the University inspection reports are listed and are downloadable.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

Thanks, guys!

Now trying to figure out how to get my cat into the UK, what kind of health insurance is available, what estate agents are decent, which towns are convenient to London without being dangerous (What's up with Woking? Location seems good, but the local websites are full of complaints. I like the looks of Guildford, but trains are apparantly not frequent. Any suggestions?) The job situation seems impossible, not just grim. Hopefully some UK expats can point me in the direction of reasonable jobs... but they're expats for a reason, probably... and how the heck am I going to find a job, any job, with my Canadian accent?

Panicking a bit.

(Um, this site seems somewhat slightly underutilised. If there is a less slightly underutilised site for ESL teachers/expats in the UK... please feel free to pm me the info. Not that I would ask such a thing, of course.)

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Do a search on kent's posts, he has a list of MA programs somewhere. I think either on the GD or Thailand forums.

james_tesol · Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 65

Can i ask how much the online MA is from the university of Leicester or Surrey, since i am thinking of applying to do the same course also?

Also, when does it start?

lastmanineurope · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 22 Location: HK

Yes, University of Leicester has a good reputation, particularly in the area of ELT and Applied Linguistics. My MA Applied Linguistics lecturer studied there and now he lectures for Northumbria University. I have read papers by Leicester people.