Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 2:48 am Post subject: Distance Masters

We've all heard the horror stories so now for the truth. Are you really at a disadvantage if you do your Masters completely as a distance degree?

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

The Ministry of Education in Taiwan, it seems, will not recognize Distance Learning Degrees. Thus, any jobs that fall under Taiwan's MoE's juristicion that require an MA are off limits.

Certain other employers can be snooty about them as well.

However, there have been people on this site who said friends of theirs got uni jobs in Japan when they had DL degrees (from Burmingham.) Many people (including some employers) that I know in China do not realize that DL degrees in EFL/TEFL/TESL/Applied Linguistics exist.

I can't afford to stop working and I'm not going to wait around saving up for one. Whoever wants to hire me can hire me.

I might round out my MA with a more hands on in house decent cert later on, just to have.

In two years, I'll let you know. Wink

Sherri · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:05 am Post subject:

In the case of the Birmingham distance MA, you do have to attend a week of courses in Hiroshima (for those in Japan). Birmingham awards the same degree to distance candidates as those who attend on campus in Birmingham. There is no indication that the degree was obtained by distance on the diploma.

mjed9 · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 242

Sherri - can you provide a link?

Thanks

Mjed

Sherri · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 6:41 am Post subject:

Sure!

http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/

I am enjoying the course. I have a great tutor and even though I have been teaching for over 10 years and have the CELTA, I am learning a lot.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Regardless of what your degree says, any employer will know if you did your degree by distance or not by looking at your employment record. How could you get a British/Aussie degree and work in Japan or wherever?

I think in the future, there will be far more teachers with distance masters than in-house masters and employers will not be so choosy. Employers will also realize that both groups of teachers are equally competent.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Sherri · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 1:36 pm Post subject:

I am not really that worried about whether employers know that my MA is a distance degree or not. If they they have a problem recognizing it then it is probably a place I wouldn't want to work for anyway.

I decided to do the MA because I am going back to the States soon and will need it to find work. Because Birmingham is in the UK (and my BA and MSc were also earned in the UK) I will have to have my degrees "assessed" by an international credential evaluator before I can start applying for jobs. US employers need to be able to compare them to US credentials. I have seen this mentioned as part of the application procedure for the jobs I have looked into. I didn't know this until just a few days ago!

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Leicester is also distance or residential and no distinction on the certificate either and yes, Gordon is right. But anyone worth working for will know what is out there and that Leicester and Birmingham are damn fine degrees sir!... distance or otherwise. There's so much to choose from job-wise. Don't get hung up over those who discriminate. Shrug and move on.

Here's a link for the MA Applied LInguistics/TESOL just in case anyone's thinking of asking:

http://www.le.ac.uk/education/courses/tesol_ma.html

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

i find it very difficult to come home at night after a hard day of teaching and open the books and continue my MA. Did anyone who did their MA(Distance) have problems with motivation. It's so much easier to come home crack open a beer and watch Eastenders or Football on the tv.

dez · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 52

Sherri wrote

Sherri · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 12:41 am Post subject:

The two links that have come up in my job search are:

http://www.wes.org/index.asp

http://www.ece.org/

These have come from the potential employers who request an evaluation for foreign earned degrees as part of the application process. I haven't actually used either of these two agencies, so cannot vouch for them--but I will be doing so soon.

dmb wrote:
Did anyone who did their MA(Distance) have problems with motivation. It's so much easier to come home crack open a beer and watch Eastenders or Football on the tv.

Yes! Big problem. That is why I waited until I cut back on work 2 years ago (I have 2 kids and have a husband bringing in money!) It is still hard to find time to work on it, you have to schedule a time to work and stick to it. If you are working fulltime think about what could be cut back, like a few private lessons, a part time gig? Then save, save, save so that you have the cash, then start the course.

I have heard very good things about the Australian Universities by the way.

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

I also hope that in the future employers will recognize both Distance and on campus MAs

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

No Hockey in Japan, takes so much of the distraction away. How do you tell your kids you're studying and leave you alone?