Job Discussion Forums

[80daze]

Hello everyone! I need some advice, I'm a newly qualified esl teacher working in China. I have a degree in Business Management and a CELTA/TEFL Certificate. I've been teaching for 6 months and I'm looking at ways to learn and progress. I've found an Open University course in linguistics that I can do over the internet but how are distance learning courses received by employers? I've been told by friends that I'd be wasting my time and money on any distance learning course. Is this true?

Any and all advice most welcome. Many thanks.

[nickpellatt]

Im actually completing my BA with the Open University ... Are you sure you can study the course from China? I seem to recall they dont offer many courses in China that you are able to study, added to that the price rises a heck of a lot for 'overseas students'.

I reckon employers wont regard any distance learning qualifications as highly as one from a traditional Uni ... but personally, I dont have any choice ... I can only complete a degree via distance learning. Lots of Uni's offer distance learning programs that are just as good or identical to their more traditional courses, but peoples perception of them may be affected by the amount of people who offer 'life degrees' etc. I have also read posts here where it is claimed some employers specifically request traditional type degree holders only...dont know how true that is though.

I also feel the above may apply more in EFL abroad. People I have spoken to in other EFL organisations local to me in the UK have been interested in learning how I have combined studying and teaching for the last few years, so I dont think it will be a problem for me in the UK.

In other industries, it may even be deemed to be advantageous ... showing commitment and the ability to prioritise and juggle workloads

[mozzar]

I asked this question before and was advised to do a full masters rather than just the Open University Applied Linguistics diploma. I�ll be doing mine distance learning this October over the course of two years. A masters is probably the better choice and if you�re an EU citizen it�ll only cost about 2200 pounds per year.

[80daze]

Thanks for the advice guys

I've posted the link below to the linguistics course I'm looking at doing. I can't do the UK one as it's not available in China, however the course I've found is with Open University Australia. I've emailed them to ask if i can do it as i live outside the country and I'm awaiting their reply.

https://www.open.edu.au/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/VcnBCoIwHIDxZ_EJ_oZSdBxbMJlZy002L2NYLiVdh3Di06eXoNvH74MaNNSjnTpnP50f7QsU1HsTG4K2sxWmoP8F_eBM_fCA2zr0YZUiBQEqTk3Zm4wR_0yIi1kzybzjx3CnbdWH-SLKmS2uzwVO1JJUskIc4d0pszyKgMEV3oNUoWjRF0nBYGw!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUsvNElVRS82XzBfRTI!?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=OUA2/What%20to%20study/Qualifications/Qualification_Data/MON_ART_GMA