Job Discussion Forums

[Layla]

Hello everyone:

I am new here and just wanted to get an idea of your opinions of SIT (School for International Training). I have applied for the MAT program in ESL public school certification. Originally I was just going for the degree to teach adults in the States and abroad. After talking to numerous students there it looks as though the certification would give an edge overall. Anyway just curious.

Also, I am struggling a little with the whole decision to attend an expensive school. I currently owe money for undergraduate studies and would need to borrow all of the tuition for SIT. The thing that concerns me is that I will not be as free to teach all over the world because I will have these enormous payments. My thought after reading through the boards would be to just head to ME for a year or two after school to get the loans paid down. By the by, I am an American female.

Thanks!

[Gordon]

SIT is a very good school, great reputation. I would love to go there, have sat down and chatted with the recruiters when they came to my city, but they are very expensive. You can get an MA for 1/4 the price in Australia or 1/2 the price in the UK. Personally, I couldn't justify the extra cost. Tough decision. Good luck.

[MELEE]

I'm with Gordon on this one.

I love hiring teachers with SIT MAs --I've also worked with one teacher who had done there certificate course and he was really good in the classroom. I think the MA is very balanced, between practical classroom stuff and theory, and they have some great teachers there.

BUT... I would never pay that much for education. (Nor would I ever charge anyone that much to learn!) Gordon mentioned MAs being cheaper in Australia or the UK--in the US, if you play your cards right you can get an MA for free. Schools that have a lot of foreign students need teaching assitants to teach them, you can get hands on experience working in exchange for your tuition.

You might want to look into SITs Peace Corps option as a form of finacial aid.

[Layla]

Thanks for the insight. I know that SIT is very expensive. Being an American, studying in the States is still the best option. I was unable to find any other program here that even came close. So I was hoping that I could just spend a year or two in a higher paying country in order to get the loans paid down. although the more and more I read about ME the more I realize that its a gamble getting a good gig.

[MindTraveller]

Every place is a gamble, not just the ME. The best thing is to go overseas and pay off your college loans, THEN make a decision.

When I looked into TEFL Masters programs years and years ago, the USA offered only 2 year programs - more money for them. Then I found out the UK offers 1 year masters! What a shock!

Adding loans to loans for education isn't a wise idea. Go out there, teach, pay off the loans, and you'll be in a much better situation to assess what you want and can do.

High debt from college degrees does not necessarily translate into a high-paying jobs. I now have a friend who spent more than US $40,000 getting a PHD, but she can't find a job in the US in her field. She's way in debt, nearly jobless........ So don't put yourself that position, if you can wisely avoid it.

[been_there]

I have worked with many people from SIT and have to recommend their program. Expensive? Yes. Good? Yes. It depends on how serious you are. You can get a job in Japan or the Arabian pennusulia and pay off your debts (and work your *beep* off) reasonably quickly. If you are more of the relaxed type, perhaps this is not for you.

Also, MELEE is correct, you can do the �Masters� International� where you exchange 2 years of Peace Corps service for a reduction in your student loans (and the loans are deferred the 2 years you are away). The other MATESOL program that does this (and you might want to look into) is the Monterey Institute of International Studes (www.miis.edu).

[jebjeb]

I went into SIT thinking I wanted duel cert. (Eng/ Span), but changed my mind 1/2 through. I did the cert. internship for Span. but did a normal internship for Eng. and got a duel "general" degree. It still enabled me to get MA certification for Span. (haven't tried to get ESL cert.). I think in the long run that's probably the best bet. I teach Eng overseas, but Span. in the states.

Expensive, yes, but there are options (Peace Corps being one of them), but you do get a leg up on many jobs.

[Brooks]

my girlfriend went to SIT but decided to transfer to Saint Michael`s in Vermont. Saint Michael`s College is cheaper, and tries to balance the theoretical with the practical side. And Burlington, Vermont is a nice place to be. Also you can start the MA there in January, May, June, August or September. Or they also have the diploma program.

At SIT, it is an intense program. You get the MA done soon but the courses are jam-packed so students get busy. Also it is located in a small town called Brattleboro, and the campus is small. It sounds kind of dull there. I had thought of applying but it cost too much.
I had applied to Boston University, but that place costs even more than SIT.

[Layla]

Well, I got in to SIT so I'll be moving to Brattleboro in the Fall. I'm actually looking forward to the small town and tight community. I've been to Brattleboro and it seems like a great little place. As far as money goes...I've just reconciled myself to borrowing the dough and working for a couple years in the ME to pay off loans. I think in the long run it will be worth the great education at SIT. Thanks for all the advice and comments everyone!