Job Discussion Forums

vespertine · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

I have a bachelors in literature and will be finishing up soon my masters in international relations. Will having an MA, tho it's not a MA Ed., help me out any? Generally looking at China, but any info left here is appreciated.

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

Short answer: yes.

Some countries - such as Korea - want a master's degree (for a university job) and they don't always care what it is in - just as long as it is a master's degree. Get a TEFL cert too - and you are in good shape. This would be true of a uni job in Thailand too.

The literature component will help you at some universities.

A master's degree will always keep you at least one step ahead of a BA/BS. Some don't like that notion - but it's only because they are getting left behind.

Good luck!

DKatz · Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 30

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:19 am Post subject:

TESOL or applied linguistics would always help. From a non-English speaking country is another issue. And a big one. Some countries won't grant you work permits as an English teacher unless your passport is from certain specified English speaking countries. I'm not sure if they have the same bias against degrees from such countries. You'd best ask that question on this board - but in the forum for the specific country as I am sure the answers will vary from place to place.
My guess is that you would be okay most of the time - and if you present yourself well that it would rarely be an issue. But, I'm no expert in that specific area. Sorry!

Ted

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

Regarding Accrediation!

Different countries have different rules regarding accreditation. This is most certainly not a black and white argument.

The simplest thing I can suggest is:
If you are about to INVEST in your education is, to contact the immergration departmetns of any specific goverments of countries you are interested in teaching in, to enquire if that paticualr program meets thier requirments.

After all, there is an old saying "Let the buyer beware." NOTE this does not have any reflection on the quality or lack of any courses. Each country with a few exceptions has differing rules on recognition of education. e.g. some state the medium of instruction, durations (min. of x years fulltime study) etc etc

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

There are distance masters options from Australia that are in the $7-10,000 US range. Although it is not really cheap (what is?), certainly not outrageous either in my opinion. From my experience after looking at over 20 distance masters programs, the really cheap options are not worth it and neiher are the really expensive ones either. Then you start to pay for all the advertising and the executives' plane fares and hotel bills as they fly around the world promoting their programs.
If you do go through a non-English speaking country to get your masters, you may have to constantly defend the program for the rest of your career. You don't want to do that, even if the program is on par with a Western country's program.

winterlynx · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 4:07 am Post subject: Masters Degree Help

I have an MA in Educational Leadership. I work in China in the private sector and it's been a huge help. I might add that 'the piece of paper' is useful in itself, but the skills I developed in the graduate program have been even more of a help - which is the way it should be. So, my experience has been that if you can really apply on the job what you've learned in the graduate program then you'll be way ahead. It's really helped me.