Job Discussion Forums

[Kurochan]

Hi --

Just wondering if any of you out there have an MA, and what it is in. I have an MA in another field, and am thinking about going back to school to get one either in TEFL or Applied Linguistics. What do you have, and why? How did you choose your school? It seems there are so many choices out there, it's mind boggling.

Thanks for any input!

[wildchild]

I have a BA in Linguistics, emphasis/option in English as a Second Language (my school recently changed the title of this option to TESOL). One of my hotshot Profs., who was the Phonologist, couldn't understand why people go into MA programs. As far as he knew, he said, "MAs are like door prizes for those who can't complete the PhD program." He didn't understand that the MA TESOL has now become a kind of professional diploma, similar to an MBA; it's for people who did their BA in something else. The similarities may stop there as MBAs go on to make quite a bit of more money than an MA TESOL.
I started an MA TESOL program at a different school but stopped soon after as I had quickly realized that I was just repeating what I had already done for my BA; most MA TESOL programs schedule many undergrad and grad student classes together. Of course they give you a token, extra assignment for every course and at the end you may choose to do a thesis, a project, or a comprehensive exam.

Many folks recommend doing the DELTA over the MA TESOL; it's cheaper, shorter and it serves the same function; it gives you that extra piece of paper, that higher qualification.

by the way, I chose my school based on how many Teacher Assistantship opportunities were offered and how nice the city was. I wouldn't worry too much about the quality of the Profs., there are good and bad at every school. If you're looking for good reputation, go to the private schools, although you'll pay for it.

[Justin Trullinger]

[wildchild]

justin said:

[sheeba]

MA is more research based.

DELTA or Diploma is more practical in nature(mind you I did do some research- Observation /Classroom Portfolio / and individual reserach project)

I did the Dip in one year. I'd say that it is worth about the same as one year on a respectable MA 3 year program but still the teaching part to it is VERY intensive and I don't think I will EVER get that kind of experience on an MA.

[tedkarma]

DELTA vs MA/M.Ed. are two different career tracks.

An MA/M.Ed. will get you nice university jobs in many countries (something a BA or DELTA won't do) and a very comfortable lifestyle. My last university job had 20 weeks paid vacation and a four-day work week. In the last 15 years I've rarely had less than ten weeks paid vacation per year - and when I didn't I was making such good money that it didn't matter (the Middle East).

DELTA will get you DOS jobs and maybe some teacher training, but you'll be working a pretty full schedule and have to manage people (something I don't like! - but that is just me). Conversely an appropriate MA will get you many of those same jobs should you want them.

MA equals more time and more work to earn it, but many more options.

People often have very strong opinions on these things - but I think my M.Ed. gave me a far better life than a DELTA would have. 'Tis my opinion anyway . . .

[Sherri]

[tedkarma]

[denise]

I see a lot more of the types of jobs that I want that ask for MAs rather than DELTAs. I'm not sure a DELTA would be worth much, for example, getting into university teaching in the US. I don't even know if it would have gotten me the other uni jobs that I've had that require MAs.

I had to choose between the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Boston University, both of which are ridiculously expensive. I chose MIIS because it's a small institute (it is exclusively a graduate school, with only 4 internationally-oriented MA programs--and there may be about 10ish undergrad students on the campus in a different program), very highly-regarded, and I grew up in California. I am very happy with the program.

d