Job Discussion Forums

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:55 am Post subject: Usefulness of an Unrelated PhD

Hi everyone,

I've been teaching EFL in Vietnam going on two years now. I'm Australian, have a CELTA and have only taught adults.

I have been chipping away at a PhD in Philosophy (specializing in history) for a number of years now and hope to complete it (or come very close) by the end of this year. I'll also try and publish a few articles from my thesis once it is completed. I'm just wondering if the PhD is going to make that much of a difference in my employability/employment conditions either with universities (teaching EFL) or international schools (teaching humanities, English etc). Teaching history at a reasonably respectable (i.e. not a joke) foreign university would be wonderful. I've spoken to a few people about and have heard a lot of various opinions.

I know that if it was a PhD in, for example, linguistics, then that would be a very different matter. Also I know there is great variation in countries. I'm pretty much open to anywhere (although I think the visa requirements might be too difficult in North America and the EU). The main thing I'm after is lifestyle. Want to enjoy long holidays and have the ability to save (doesn't have to be that much though - $500 a month plus would be OK and I have no dependents). I posted this on the General Forum because I know we get people from all over reading it and if you have any suggestions it would be great to hear from you. Thanks so much.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

In Ecuador an unrelated PhD got me Uni work at $20/hr, where most places pay less than $10/hr. That was for straight English teaching. My husband got work teaching his specialism, in English, at close to $30/hr, they created courses to fit around his research areas. PhDs are in demand here because the government have recently passed a law regarding qualifications, and Uni lecturers will need to have Masters and eventually PhDs, but at the moment there just aren't enough people qualified for it to work. There aren't really sufficient PhDs to supervise all the Masters, so I am not really sure how it will pan out. But it puts you in a strong position.

The main catch to Ecuador is getting a visa, and it's getting trickier all the time. It's not impossible though, especially if the Uni really wants you. I don't know if you would be able to save $500 a month here though. Wages are low, as is the cost of living, $1000 a month is a pretty good wage, and though you could maybe get by on $500/month it would be a struggle. However, working hours are also low, less than 20 a week at Uni. So once you were settled and had some contacts you could take on private students and significantly boost your earnings.

My husband also just got a job in Japan, which is part lecturing in his specialism, and part English teaching. Those jobs do exist as well, and generally pay a lot better than just English teaching. He has a strong research and publication record as well though, and that was probably a big factor in that particular job.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

In Japan you are unlikely to teach a content course like history or philosophy if you can't do it in Japanese (or at least with a lot of Japanese). The publication record that HLFHLJ mentioned is pretty important here, too.

History, eh? World history? U.S. history? Asian history? That may matter, too.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:23 am Post subject:

Thanks so much guys Smile

. I've never really thought about Ecuador but I would love to experience Latin America so it's something to bear in mind. I've heard Japanese universities can be a really tough nut to crack and connections, luck and publications are extremely important. My PhD is in Southern African history, but, unfortunately, I've lost my passion for it. I would be more interested in lecturing in Asian history, which I did in my honor's year and is still a bit of a hobby, or film history, in which I taught at university level as a tutor.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

Look at China as well. I was looking at a job there which was part cultural studies and part English, they wanted PhDs, and one of the courses was film studies. The deadline has passed for it now, but again, those jobs are around. In the meantime, concentrate on getting Uni teaching experience, and publications if you can.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

One problem with an unrelated Phd is that many universities have standard pay scales linked directly to one's degrees. The university where I have worked on and off for some years wouldn't hire you because they'd have to pay you at Phd level, but you wouldn't have the ELT skills at that level.

guanghoer · Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Posts: 8

This is something to keep an eye on as I get closer to my quals. I assume these positions want you to have the Ph.D. in hand?

EFLeducator · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject:

I knew some Ph.D holders here in Texas who once they received that mighty Ph.D were not even making $30,000 a year after taxes but they had well over $100,000 in student loan debt.

From the U.S. point of view, a Ph.D really isn't worth it. Truckers make more. Rolling Eyes