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speakyword · Joined: 08 Jan 2011 Posts: 6

Hello. I am researching potential schools to do an online MA in TESOL. The university of Auckland has a program which is 1 year and is quite reasonably priced. The school itself is reputable so I feel like it will probably be recognized reasonably well by potential employers. What I am wondering is if anyone has personal experience with this. Has anyone taken this program? What was your experience?

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I don't have direct experience with the program (MTESOL) that you asked about. I talked to someone doing it and he seemed reasonably satisfied. He was living in Auckland at the time and was sometimes able to attend a few on campus courses which he found helpful. Full online degrees can be quite demanding in their own way.

I believe the lecturers are mostly very good. Some quite big names in language acquistion research - e.g Rod Ellis - teach there. I think he does an online course but not 100% sure. Peter Skehan was a visiting Prof. but has left now, as far as I know.

speakyword · Joined: 08 Jan 2011 Posts: 6

thanks very much... I have heard experiences like this mostly... The thing I am worried about is how a 1 year online degree will be received when I am looking for jobs... Mostly an MA TESOL takes a year on campus and about 2.5 years online.. Obviously I would rather complete it in 1 year. And I am looking for a full time program rather than a part time one... but what if I take it and no one will hire me?

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I'm not totally clear on what you mean. Do you want to do an online degree of one year full-time so you get it done in one year? I think most people choose the online degree option because they can't do it full-time on campus and have to spread it out over a few years.

If you're prepared to study full-time, and I don't see how you could do it in one year otherwise, wouldn't be better to choose on campus course that's convenient? There are some issues with full online degees in some parts of the world so trying to do at least part of the course on campus is a good idea.

I think a university with a reasonably good reputation will help a good deal, even with full online courses. There are some good lecturers on the Auckland one but I'd go for convenience of location etc. rather than names. The chances are future employers won't have a clue who they are anyway.

speakyword · Joined: 08 Jan 2011 Posts: 6

Hehe. Yes. I would love to take this program on campus somewhere. But I will be living in a small village in Laos for the year... so on campus is not an option.