Job Discussion Forums

[daemonic]

How useful is an MA in Linguistics for teaching in the UAE?

[veiledsentiments]

The preferred is Applied Linguistics or TEFL/TESL/TESOL, but if you have a few years of good related teaching experience, it should open the doors.

VS

[daemonic]

Which one would be better the AP with research or without. I guess the research degree requires one to be on campus and wouldn't allow for doing it by distance. distance education.

And also, according to what I've read isn't having an MA better, rather than just some teaching experience, which I guess would limit me to teaching in language schools, which seems to be the less interesting or safe option to follow in terms of employment in this part of the world.

[veiledsentiments]

The question is either Linguistics or specific MA. There is little for someone with no MA. If someone has a theoretical linguistics MA, but has been teaching EFL/ESL since receiving it, I don't believe that an employer would block employment because it wasn't applied linguistics.

I am not familiar with anyone who was not accepted because they took comps rather than doing a thesis as long as they had an MA from a university on the approved list. (and no... no one has ever seen the 'list' )

VS

[Iamherebecause]

I've come across people who were 'non-renewed' years after appointment because they had MA Eng Lit, and another who was given the threateners because of an MEd rather than MA TESOL or AppLing (that person managed to argue back). Best is MA App Ling or TEFL or TESOL. Without Masters you can't get a decent, well paid job at tertiary level. But is that the sort of job you want?

If you are interested there are distance programmes which include a research element if you look - try the UK and Australia. If you come to the UAE without the MA you can study at BUiD; pricey but those who do the programme move on to better (paid) jobs.

[veiledsentiments]