Job Discussion Forums

[natsume]

Some of us over on the newbie forum are wondering if there is anybody here who has earned a TESOL masters degree through the Peace Corps?

If so, pros, cons, where, when, great experience, bad idea, etc. etc...

?

[denise]

I haven't done it, but your post reads like it's the Peace Corps itself that awards the MA.

My MATESOL program (Monterey Institute of International Studies, www.miis.edu ) was one of the programs that worked with the Peace Corps. The students who were in the PCMI program did one year of classes, then their Peace Corps service, and then another semester to finish up. While on campus, they took the same courses as the regular ol' MA candidates. I can't speak for the Peace Corps component (although I have recently submitted an application, coincidentally), but the MA from MIIS is well worth the hefty price tag.

d

[natsume]

Thanks for the reply denise, I'm pretty aware of how the Masters International Program works, PC does not award the masters, the university affiliated with it does. I should have stated that. I'm kind of assuming anybody who has one knows how it works, but I have yet to read/hear anything about the experience of having gone through the program.

[karinb]

Denise- Could you describe a bit about the school/and the town. Is it a nice place to live/go to school... do you need a car to get around?

[been_there]

I did the masters international at MIIS and it was ok: I wished I got more credit for the 2 years in the PC (only got like 4 or 6 credits, forget which) and because I was in the backwoods of the world there was NO communication between me and the school so I had to save all my notes and do all the stuff once I got back to Monterey.

In all, I'm glad I did the PC and I'm glad I went to MIIS, but combining the two was probably not necessary. If you decide to do it, the best advice I can give is to MAKE SURE OF YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOUR SCHOOL DURING YOUR SERVICE. get one professor who will be your contact and have a regular meeting schedule. it will save you a lot of time and frustration when you get back and professors start giving you feedback waaaaaaaay after it can do any good.

Monterey is a small city, no car needed, but if you want to get out (say, go down to big sur or St. Louis Obismo to see the seals mate) you will need some transport.

[denise]

[natsume]

d - I'm trying to assess if the MI path is worth it, at all. So far it sounds like an interesting option, but aside from Monterey, which sounds great if you are rich, the other schools offering MI are not the schools I would choose for getting a Masters. Far from it. I'm just interested in hearing from people who have done it.

[wildchild]