Job Discussion Forums

[aneikamcd6]

Hello Everyone,

I did a search and didn't find the info I was seeking so I decided to post this question to pick your brains. I apologize in advance for the long email and also thank you for your responses (the constructive ones.)

I love expat life and have decided to build a career in the TESOL field. I've therefore decided to pursue my Master's degree while working in South Korea (currently in my first year in Korea.) My current goal is to become well qualitfied for a position in the UAE.

My questions are these:

1- Does my degree have to be from an English speaking country? I'm a U.S citizen with a BA in Mass Communications from a U.S university so would it matter to the employers if I earned my Master's degree from a university in Korea? I'm considering studying in Korea because it would be more convenient for me as I'll be here for a few years. Of course, I'm also researching online degree programs in the U.S but it would be great if I could study in Korea.

2- Based on my research most people have Master's degree in Applied Linguistics or an MA TESOL. Just these 2 options seem limiting to me. Are they?

I'd like to position myself to have options in and outside of the classroom and perhaps take some positions with NGOs, etc. Can anyone think of some other TESOL related majors that would qualify me for teacher positions int he UAE and elsewhere in the world but wouldn't necessarily limit me to the classroom forever?

I'm looking at Drexel University's online program. I'm considering the Master of Science in Global and International Education program.

According to the school website:

" Graduates of the The M.S. in Global and International Education program will be qualified to pursue careers in higher education, ESL programs, education abroad, law firms, international education associations, accreditation agencies, local community international outreach centers, U.S. government, international development or human service agencies, non-governmental agencies, as well as act as administrators, managers, and researchers in national and international organizations, foundations, associations, and corporations.

Key Program Features:
�Graduates from the MS program in Global and International Education will possess skills in developing, analyzing, implementing, and evaluating new educational policies at a variety of institutions/organizations or private sector jobs by using cross-cultural perspectives in training employees and researching products.
�Students will also exhibit outstanding leadership, organizational, cross-cultural, interpersonal, and advocacy skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups, using present and emerging communication and information technologies. Students will have in-depth knowledge regarding both public and private (non-profit and for-profit) institutions as well as small and large institutions and multi-campus institutions..."

What do you think? Would this be a marketable specialization or do the schools generally want degrees that are more language oriented?

Thanks again!

Aneika

[Sheikh N Bake]

No, the global this-and-that master's is generally not accepted in university EFL departments in the Gulf. You need the MA in TESOL or applied linguistics from an ENGLISH-SPEAKING country, yes, but online degrees are currently acceptable in the UAE higher-education sector. Forget about rosy scenarios where you get to sample various exciting management opportunities. There are supervisors and deans, yes. They get there by buddying up with top management and in some cases by working hard and well and becoming noticed. Good luck with that. My qualifications to say this? 14 years combined KSA/UAE experience at some of the major univerisities and corporations (not to mention another 10 years in East Asia and Africa), with master's in student development in higher education and in EFL.

[MsParker]

Before you commit to anything for an MA, you need to make sure that it's an accredited programme. Another thing to do would be a quick search for "degree mills", which may look like legitimate universities, but which are not acceptable degrees anywhere in the world...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_learning

There are a lot of amazing online/distance ed programmes to be found. Check out some of the universities in Australia (who pioneered distance ed back in the day) as well as the UK.

[Sheikh N Bake]

Uhm, well, with all due respect, MsParker, the OP has an American bachelor's degree and like most such people is no doubt thoroughly familiar with the US higher-education system and would intuitively be aware of which US institutions are accredited. Drexel, for example, which the OP mentioned, is well-known as a Philadelphia-based, accredited, (mostly engineering) private university.

Also, as I've pointed out countless times in these pages, another option is the free TESOL MA offered in many US universities, especially state-owned ones. Students receive teaching assistantships that are equivalent to a full scholarship with living expenses except that the MA students are expected to teach about 6 hours a week in the intensive ESL program.

[veiledsentiments]

One minor point is that the Gulf universities will recognize some MAs done in non-anglophone countries. Both AUC and AUB are US accredited universities in the Gulf whose degree are happily accepted. (and they come with experience with Arabic speakers which pushes you to the front of the queue). I expect that if AUS maintains its standards as it has been doing, it will join that pair soon. Outside of those, I think that there are probably others. The key is likely to be US or UK accreditation. We do have a poster here that got his MA in Japan at a US accredited university.

But, the better employers require a related MA. The most variation that seems to work lately has been those with a regular linguistics - rather than applied - but with good related experience. Also places like AUS will hire MAs in writing since they have a large academic writing program.

Middle East management doesn't think outside the box. The MA you mentioned wouldn't be recognized by the majority of the better employers. They are hiring you for TEFL, they want to see the MA in TEFL/Applied Ling. (that said... there is supply/demand... ) One thought that struck me as I read the description of the course is that I fear that the people doing the hiring might see you as competition for their own positions... as this looks like an MA for management, not for classroom.

VS

[aneikamcd6]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies and great information. I think I'll stick to a U.S university to be safe.

I think the MA in TESOL, CELTA and 3 years' experience positions me well. Yes?

[veiledsentiments]

There is a possible catch (isn't there always?) in that some employers want the three years experience "after the MA" - but - the more related to the position, the more elastic that requirement. The better university positions want someone who has experience teaching an IEP type program for academic English. So, if your three years was teaching conversation classes in a language school prior to your MA, it wouldn't count.

Which makes sense... So, while working on that MA, try to get related type experience if you can. Teaching academic writing is a big plus.

VS

[copacbl]

[quote="aneikamcd6"]



I'd like to position myself to have options in and outside of the classroom and perhaps take some positions with NGOs, etc. Can anyone think of some other TESOL related majors that would qualify me for teacher positions int he UAE and elsewhere in the world but wouldn't necessarily limit me to the classroom forever?

I'm looking at Drexel University's online program. I'm considering the Master of [b]Science in Global and International Education [/b]program.


Aneika[/quote]

I'm thinking about getting a MA TESL/TEFL/AL and maybe taking some electives in Intl Education.

Aneika, have you decided what you're going to do yet?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Under the umbrella topic "Choosing a right Master...program or not, scot 47 is the best poster to consult...

NCTBA