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Novalis
Joined: 19 Sep 2003
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 Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:40 pm Post subject: Non-distance M.A. in TESOL degrees |
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Hello all. I�m an American with a little EFL teaching experience under my belt. I know I want to teach EFL�that much I�ve learned from my experience teaching. I�ve decided that I want to get an M.A. in TESOL ASAP, so I don�t ever have to take another crappy language school job ever again, and besides, grad school seems inevitable for me anyway. This field seems to be getting more and more competitive, and I'd like to just get it out of the way. I�ve posted about the M.A. before, but I�m looking for more info.
I'm going to try to explain to you all how I learn, so you can get an idea about what kind of program would suit me. Distance M.A.�s won�t work for me because of my learning style. I always have learned best in person and through being tutored; thus, I'd prefer a university with a low student-faculty ratio for their M.A. in TESOL program. The Peace Corps is out of the question because who in their right mind would trust the American government these days? -- certainly not me! -- so I�m trying to figure out where I could go (Australia?, England?, someplace else?) and which universities would be affordable considering the cost of tuition and room and board. Further, it�d be nice to find a program that didn�t ask for recommendations because I don�t have them. I�d rather spit on my old bosses than ask them for recommendations, and their �recommendations� wouldn�t do me any good anyway. Also, I�d like to find a 1-year degree program instead of a 2-year one because obviously that would cost less, and from what I�ve heard most employers don�t care either way, so long as you get an M.A. in TESOL.
I just e-mailed a friend about this, and he e-mailed me back telling me what his (2-year) M.A. in TESOL program in the U.S. was like. Maybe after reading it, you�ll understand why I�d like to find a good program elsewhere. Here�s what he said:
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| I don't think the non-text-based approach is all that uncommon at grad school level. Or better said, few profs followed a text as a syllabus for their courses when I was in grad school. Where I got my M.A. in TESOL most courses had between 3 and 6 textbooks listed -- many of them only sections/chapters of the texts rather than the entire text from cover to cover -- and except for an occasional part of a class period dedicated to any questions students had over the required reading, it was pretty much assumed that the corresponding parts of the texts had been read and understood prior to when that particular aspect would be covered in class. The material covered in class went on from (above and beyond) that point. The exceptions were a couple of seminar courses in which the prof taught the first couple of weeks, and then we were assigned to groups, given topics or areas to cover, and took turns as groups teaching the class the rest of the semester. |
Personally, I think it makes a lot more sense for a professor to teach from an assigned text instead of teaching you from several different sources. I�ve been taught both ways, and being taught from an assigned text worked much better for me. And it doesn�t make much sense for the class not to be text-based if you ask me. Also, as far as the professors assigning group work goes, to me that looks like a way for professors to get out of doing work. You pay all that money, so you�d expect that the expert would be the one standing in front of the class teaching you and not your peers! After all, you get your practice teaching in your practicum, so why do you need it in all of your other classes, too?! Call me a rebel, but I don�t think that I�m going too far out on a limb with these criticisms. I�ve also had some experience in grad school in the U.S. myself, and my experiences were similar to my friend�s above.
He also wrote this about his M.A. program:
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| I recall a little socializing in grad school -- short amounts at a time, sometimes to study or review (or prepare seminar lessons) together and sometimes just pure socializing -- but most of the time was spent independently. Nights and nights in the library or at home alone, reading-reading-reading and writing papers, lots of them. I met some really fantastic people from all over the world in grad school -- well over half the people working on MA TESOL degrees were from other countries -- and I haven't kept in touch with any of them. |
I find this to be disturbing. I think it would help a lot more to be at a campus where the students interact with each other a lot. It helps to have someone to talk to about what you�re reading. My experience in grad school was at a commuter campus, so I didn�t have much of a chance to interact with the other students very much, and I think that made learning more difficult.
I also heard one of the regular posters here on Dave�s (Gordon) say this once:
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| Some Masters programs are all theory and no practicality, but others aren't. Try looking at a program that's in the Faculty of Education. |
What do you think? Is it better to go for a Master�s in Education with a concentration in TESOL than an M.A. in TESOL? I suppose it depends on the university in question, right?
If a distance degree program works/worked/will work for you, then that�s fine. I�m not knocking it. I�m just trying to explain how I learn, and I�m trying to find a place that would accommodate that. Is it so much to ask for an M.A. in TESOL program (or an M.A. in Education program with a concentration in TESOL) that would be practical and relevant to teaching EFL, have a low student-faculty ratio, not ask for a bunch of recommendations, not require the taking of some silly aptitude test like the GRE that costs $$$ to take, only take 1 year to complete, be text-based, be affordable, and that would take place in an environment that would allow for a lot of interaction with your classmates? Well, if you know of such a place, then please let me know. And even if you don�t know of any such place, then let me know if you know of any program that is similar to it.
Thank you in advance to the helpful responders. |
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dutchman
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: My backyard
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| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| You can get your MA right here in Korea. There was an ad in today's (Tuesday November 25th) Korea Herald. I think the name of the university is Woosung University. If I understood the ad correctly, they are now offering a Masters in TESOL that can be completed in Korea. |
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kimcheeking
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| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| dutchman wrote: |
| You can get your MA right here in Korea. There was an ad in today's (Tuesday November 25th) Korea Herald. I think the name of the university is Woosung University. If I understood the ad correctly, they are now offering a Masters in TESOL that can be completed in Korea. |
But whether it is recognized internationally is a completely different story. I would check into that before paying any money. |
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Ryst Helmut
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Location: In search of the elusive signature...
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| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| kimcheeking wrote: |
| dutchman wrote: |
| You can get your MA right here in Korea. There was an ad in today's (Tuesday November 25th) Korea Herald. I think the name of the university is Woosung University. If I understood the ad correctly, they are now offering a Masters in TESOL that can be completed in Korea. |
But whether it is recognized internationally is a completely different story. I would check into that before paying any money. |
In addition, Woosung Univ. is a joke. Also, read this thread....
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=37&highlight=tesol
Although (I think) it mainly discusses distance work, I think there is info. about Korean Univ. education.
If not, well, simply....don't.
Shoosh,
Ryst |
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Novalis
Joined: 19 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 12:52 pm Post subject: Questions for Ryst |
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So Ryst, you said that you're going back to the U.S. to finish grad school.
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| Looks like (after more talks with those with PhDs) I'll be heading back to the US to finish up my MA Ap.Lin and get certified (I hate that exam!). |
I take it you mean that you're going to get certified to teach ESL in K-12 schools in the U.S. and get an M.A. in Applied Linguistics? Did I interpret what you wrote correctly? That would take a long time, right? Do you already have a degree in education? It takes 4 years to get a teachers license in K-12 ESL where I'm from, and you have to get it through a university's education department. Then it takes at least another 2 years to get an M.A. in TESOL or Applied Linguistics. There aren't comprehensive exams for the M.A. in TESOL or Applied Linguistics, but there's a required thesis.
I'd like to hear more about the Applied Linguistics program at your university. Which university is it at? Is it practical and relevant to teaching EFL, or is there a lot of theory? Does it have a low student-faculty ratio, not ask for a bunch of recommendations, and not require the taking of some silly aptitude test like the GRE that costs $$$ to take? (Well, if it's in the U.S., then I assume it does.) How long does it take to complete? Is it text-based, and would it take place in an environment that would allow for a lot of interaction with your classmates? How much does it cost? Thank you. |
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Novalis
Joined: 19 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 1:05 pm Post subject: Ryst2 |
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Ryst, in that other M.A. thread you also said about the M.A. program you're attending or planning to attend:
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| The MA in Applied Lin. (TESL) hasn't a thesis, instead, uses portfolios and exams as gauges, as well as offering certification (State ESOL endorsement) |
Is that certification you're referring to the same thing as a state teacher's license for teaching K-12 ESL in the U.S.? If it is, then your program sounds a lot better than the one I have some experience with in my state, where it takes 4 years to get a state teacher's license to teach K-12 ESL and another two to get an M.A. in TESOL. I'd really like to know what/where your program is. Thank you. |
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Manner of Speaking
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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I found a website for the Woosong University MA in TESOL mentioned above:
http://vod.woosong.ac.kr/tesol/tesol.htm
There isn't much information on this website, but the curriculum page seems to suggest that its a one-year program that requires a thesis, an entrance exam, as well as a comprehensive exam, to graduate. Some of their courses also seem to place a heavy emphasis on ** shudder ** postmodernism. (Their foreign professors must all be Canadian.) No mention of fees and costs anywhere. |
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Ryst Helmut
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Location: In search of the elusive signature...
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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Novalis,
First off, yes it's a state (US) school, so the lovely GRE is needed (min. 1100 combined, I think). I performed half of the programme (the ESOL endorsement), but must be on-campus for the rest.
Cost, depends on if you're in-state...if not, ARM+LEG = cost
As I know, FL allows me to teach English (my degree) for grades 6-12 for 3 years on a temp. cert....in which time, I must get certified (and another lovely state exam). The ESOL endorsement (15 credits) allows me to teach ESL in only my field (and usually pull-out). MA in App. Ling. will allow me to do it full-time....
You hate the GRE? Shoot for Canada...they've spot on programmes.
Shoosh,
Ryst |
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