Job Discussion Forums

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Following on from points made in another thread, it'd be interesting to hear from any PhD holders out there (in TESOL or linguistics or related subjects), especially in terms of how much mileage you got from your PhD. Or, since there mightn't be many PhDers using this forum, any second-hand tales from people who know people who did a PhD?

Did it take you/them to the 'promised land' of tenured university jobs? Or somewhere unexpected? Or are you/they still working the chalk face? In short, was it worth it?

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

PhDs get 500 RMB more than Masters, which in turn earn 500 RMB more than undergrads of 3-5,000 RMB: 7 RMB is 1 USD.That however is in China, and China has high regards for higher education.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Language courses pay by hour so it doesn't matter who the teacher is (unless you really have the nerve to negotiate and prove you are worth this pay). PhD is required at universities and colleges and the pay is higher than other teachers there who are just Masters, but the difference isn't big. PgD grants you the right, better say, makes you be responsible for writing scientific articles, having students practice, guiding thesis students, participating in conferences, etc. for which you get paid something. Meaning, this degree allows/requires you to take on more work and if you take on more work you get paid for it (peanuts).

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

PhDs are rarely required for the English language courses in universities. For degree courses, yes, but not for ESL/EFL.

In my last job, PhD holders were paid a couple hundred dollars per month extra. Even MA holders were allowed to teach in the B.Ed. program in addition to the language classes--maybe those classes should have been taught only by the instructors with PhDs, but there were only a few.

I did some research into PhDs and the jobs available a few years ago, and it seemed like if you want to continue teaching English language classes (which I do), an MA is enough. If you want to teach TESOL courses, go for the PhD.

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naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I think those with PhDs don't do it for the money, but rather the acknowledgement they get from others or just the satisfaction of doing more research.

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

A Ph.D. is not worth it for most EFL jobs. It is however very much worth it back in the States/Canada/etc where without it you hit a certain professional ceiling.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think a part of the key (rightly or wrongly) are connections and contacts.

I'm going to do a Phd while I'm based here in a university in the Netherlands. With the Phd., I expect to be considered for permanent upper-level positions within this university - and am also building the professional contacts to be considered by other universities where someone knows something about me and my work.

I hope I'm not being unrealistic in m expectations! However, I actually want to do the Phd work I'm considering in any case, so I can't really lose, I think.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Phd. is just part of the story. If you want to teach at a uni as a PHd teacher, you need to do the whole publications game.

As Someone said, teaching ESL TESOL or some kindi school in CHina. PHd will get you maybe 500 RMB a month more ($70)

T o be given a tenure track position at a uni as a potential prof, starting finding out what the journals want, and writing up research that will make them happy Wink

You also should do some teaching. These are standard prerequisites before even worrying about connections. Usually the reaerch you do with/for your prof will help you in the connection dep't, assuming you truly like your prof or you are an excellent kiss ass

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

At this uni, the Language Faculty is a pretty good place to be - most programs throughout the unversity are taught in English, not Dutch, so language work is an important component across the board here.

I'm publishing too, arioch Smile

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yes, that sounds logical. I do think my position in a university in a non-native English speaking country, which nevertheless teaches almost across the board in English, is kind of unusual.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Actually, in HK all the universities also teach in English, but that doesn't help in terms of getting mileage out of a PhD if you're an ESL teacher - because ESL takes place outside the faculties.

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:32 am Post subject:

I did a doctorate, but in Policy Studies/Education, not specifically ESL. Two years after completing the thesis, I am still teaching in a public high school. I have 25 publications, including getting my thesis published as a book, peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, book chapters... blah, blah, blah. I better stop before I start saying something nasty.