Job Discussion Forums

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

I live in Spain and work as a teacher here in sunny Valencia. I have been thinking about ways to progress my career -- either in Spain or elsewhere.

I have a CELTA, a BA and MA in English Literature. But no PGCE or MA in TEFL, or DELTA.

First, what would be the best qualification to take. It's about making me better as a teacher, and making me more attractive to employers, in places like M.East and Asia.

Can anybody recommend a reputable and well-respected online provider for the MA. I want do find an MA that employers respect. How much should one pay for a decent online MA?

And also, what are the major differences between the DELTA and the MA in TEFL ----- I mean in terms of employment prospects and potential to improve.

Many thanks in advance.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:45 pm Post subject:

The DELTA will help with getting into the more managerial positions in language schools, or into teacher training, whilst an MA is essentially for getting positions doing whatever in universities. (For example, I haven't seen many university adverts asking for a DELTA rather than an MA, though of course some applicants could have both). From what I understand, you might need to check on the acceptability of (or possibility of an employer being able to find out about) distance versus on-site MAs if applying for jobs in the Middle East. Unfortunately the more respected MA providers (e.g. Birmingham, UK, look at their professors they've had and their publications for a start!) will often also be the more expensive.

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

How does my 'regular' MA stand-me? I have a BA and MA from good British Universities, in English Literature. I read that the M.East schools will like that?

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 3:39 pm Post subject:

Oops, sorry, I forgot to address that! TBH I'm not entirely sure. There might IIRC be some relevant discussions on e.g. the Japan forum. I guess it comes down to the particular job ad/hiring institute if they require only "any old" MA or a specifically relevant one.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

I'm in the same boat as you, looking at a DELTA vs. MA in TESOL. Currently the MA program that appeals to me the most is the offered by The New School. Expensive, but looks like they're trying to become the industry standard.

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

Spanglish, how expensive are we talking? The Delta costs about �2,000.

And Nomas Soul, I am not over over-burdened by class-room experience, hence I more than ready to learn new and modern techniques to help me and my students .................. a very nice way of saying I only have a year's experience, and I have taught 99% adults, here in Spain and in England too.

I would love to teach English Lit, but you think I need a Phd to do that? Can one do a Phd by distance?

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

A touch over 30K USD...American style expensive.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:07 pm Post subject:

I'm curious why the New School MA would really appeal academically, especially at 30K USD. (The details provided are very thin - only "two concentrations, teaching and curriculum development", the first of which is surely a general course - and the only "name" is Scott Thornbury, who would appear to be only giving a guest lecture or two; then, none of the 3-member principal faculty have a PhD, and one doesn't even have an MA, just a DELTA). Is it the "faculty advisors offering guidance to students as they create self-designed programs of study" (hmm, you could create self-designed programs of study yourself for free...and this isn't a PhD, remember), and/or the option to do a bit of it on an intensive summer program in Greenwich Village (and is part intensive on-site really that unique?).

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

I have a Masters of Applied Linguistics, through distance, with the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. It was a very good program and was fairly inexpensive given the strength of my local currency over the years. I plan to head to the UAE next year and was told there by a major employer (college system, not recruiter) that it was a "well-respected qualification".

I learned a lot in the program and felt the standards were quite high. Since graduating a number of years ago, I've finished a CELTA and most of the DELTA (to be finished completely in December), and found that the MA really helped me prepare for both while it significantly complemented the latter. The degree also helped me land a coordinating position in a government-funded school here at home.

As advised somewhere above, make sure the country that you want to work in accepts distance degrees. In the UAE for instance, they are NOT accepted by the Ministry of Education (p-12) but they ARE accepted by the Ministry of HIGHER Education (colleges, unis, etc). I believe I read somewhere a while ago that they are not accepted anywhere in Kuwait, but I could be wrong. Searching around will get you those answers, for sure Smile

IMHO,
~smedini