Job Discussion Forums

[pabo]

hello everyone,

i'm assuming some other english teachers on this forum are in the same position as me, having taught overseas for a time, realizing that the master's degree is necessary for really good jobs after awhile, and not wanting to go home and spend a lot of money to get an MA in tesol, linguistics, or something else related to efl/esl. i did a little bit of research on this on this forum over 2 years ago, and have heard mixed things about distance education degrees in efl communities the last years, and wanted to get some more recent opinions on distance education.

so, just wondering if anyone here has done a distance education master's in tesol, linguistics, education, and if it was very useful for getting employment at competitive universities jobs at home and overseas. i'm thinking places like japan, tawain, middle east, korea, and maybe university language centers in the states, england, australia.

i know a degree in distance education can't hurt, and is improving your education and likewise your ability as a teacher, but just curious if it holds as much weight as a more traditional on campus degree from a western university.

more specifically, i'm looking in to applying at 2 big online unversities, university of southern queensland and university of new england in australia, both pretty established. wondering if there are any other affordable and prestigious distance education universities offering master's in tesol. most unis in the states and england being too expensive.

thanks alot.

[Henry_Cowell]

There are so many threads here about this specific topic. Please try the Search function for good information.

[spiral78]

Thanks, Henry. I was wanting to help this new poster out, but rather dreading reproducing (yet again) the comprehensive posts I've produced in the past on the topic.

But I can give a short answer here: distance programs offer you the chance to use what you're learning in real time in your classroom. Research-based programs can be very effective learning opps because of this - by applying theory directly to practice.

[naturegirl321]

Some places won't honour distance course, check before you do one. I'm doing one now, I personally think it's easier than on-campus courses.

If you want to work in schools you usually need a PGCE or PGDE.

Oversea unis may not even require an MA. I worked at one for two years and am part-time at another now and still haven't finished my MA.

If you do a distance one, you have to ask yourself if you're disciplined enough to do it and also if you have the time to do it.

[Gordon]

I completed my masters in applied linguistics last year by distance. Judging from the responses I am getting from my applications, I'd say it is accepted by universities.

This topic has been dealt with ad nauseum and usually there is the same disagreements by the same half dozen posters. You'll have to decide what is best for you. However, rule out Taiwan as they don't accept distance degrees.

Good unis that pay decent salaries will all require a masters degree, so it is worth it in the long run, I think.