Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Master degree what?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Samurai Blur



Joined: 20 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:37 am    Post subject: Master degree what? Reply with quote

Hey everyone, I've been hanging around and reading for a couple of weeks now, when I finally decided to join up. I have a question that I just cannot find an answer for and was hoping some of you experienced people could share your insight.
I'm currently working on my BS in English and will continue on to get my MA. So what I'm wondering is, really, what good will the MA do for me? I realize that with the economy being so bad that it's best to be well qualified for a job, and with the foreigners in Korea being able to teach with a BA in Philosophy and such I thought maybe I could stomp out some of my competition by going on to grad school before I bother to go there and teach. What good will this do for me? Will it help me in the way I expect it to, and will it land me a higher wage? I mean, surely it helps to have an actual English degree instead of some nonsense one, right?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
iggyb



Joined: 29 Oct 2003

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A BS in English? Science of English?

Anyway, an MA will open up a better opportunity to get a university job.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Samurai Blur



Joined: 20 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

iggyb wrote:
A BS in English? Science of English?

Anyway, an MA will open up a better opportunity to get a university job.


Yes, my degree plan is at Texas A&M University. They have a BS and a BA in English. I was more interested in the basics required for the BS than for the BA so I chose it.

http://www.tamut.edu/admissions/0809catalog.pdf

Go to page 100.

Anyway, what about getting a higher wage at an academy when I start off, or will they want to pay me the same as someone with a Bachelor?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
latereducator



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, in my case, I did my MA before coming to Korea. Having the MA earned me a higher wage and qualified me for university jobs, which typically offer better conditions (i.e. salary, hours, vacation) as well as, in my opinion, a better overall experience than the alternative. What's more, these days more and more people going over to Korea have a higher level of education, so, in the interests of keeping up with the market, it may be prudent to go for it.

I'd say, if you're already thinking of doing an MA and you have the stomach for another year or two of study, stick with it. It's awfully hard to go back to school once you're out earning a living for a while. You'll also reap richer rewards as a result.

Good luck!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Samurai Blur



Joined: 20 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Latereducator, if you don't mind me asking, how much do the universities pay these days, and how much vacation time do you get versus the pay and vacation at an academy. Also, I want to work somewhere that has adult students (I don't really like kids). Are there places to start and get experience (like the academies) where I can teach adults. I assume I can't just get a uni job fresh off the plane with an MA and zero experience..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DCJames



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Even having an MA won't guarantee a good job in Korea. It will greatly increase your chances though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
latereducator



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'd be surprised. I've been involved in hiring several times, and in one of those cases, a complete newcomer was chosen over several candidates with experience. It all depends on the school, so never write yourself off just because you don't have a lot of (or any) experience. Besides, if you do an MA, you should have a chance to do some teaching as a TA, which should give you a little resume material.

As for academies, there are jobs that cater to adults, but, as they are academies, most of them have higher classroom hours (often 30 + preparation periods) and shorter vacations (usually 2 weeks). In my reckoning, universities are generally preferable based on the number of class hours (usually 20 or less per week) and the vacation period (anywhere from 4 weeks to full semester breaks off). One huge advantage to academies, though, is that they tend to offer housing more often than universities do.

As for what to expect, it's a little hard to break it down easily, as there are so many post-secondary schools in Korea, and they occupy so many different strata, not to mention so many different cities and regions in Korea. To boil it down, though, you can probably expect anywhere from 2 million to 3+ per month at most schools, depending on the prestige of the school, where it is located, the department you'll be joining, the type of courses you'll be teaching, the number of hours you have to work, etc., etc.

I'll give you a rundown of my own experiences. I worked at an academy my first time, teaching middle school students and was paid 2.3 million/month for 40 hours/week with 2 weeks vacation and housing. My second job was at a national university in Gyeonsangnam-Do, where I taught 18 contract hours/week (+ overtime) for 2.5 million/month with full summer and winter vacations and housing. My current job is with a private university in Seoul, which pays me around 3 million/month for 9 hours/week (+ overtime) with full vacations but no housing.

To really get yourself started, try doing a search of the Korean Job Board with Messages Posted By 'University' and 'College' and compare the results. Check what is required by each school against your qualifications, then apply. However, you should be wary, as many universities have affiliated language academies on campus, which should not be confused with actual university departments. You'll see what I mean once you do a little digging.

Hope this helps.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
buildbyflying



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: To your right. No, your other right.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're set to get an MA I'd go with applied linguistics. You an take that in several directions. The English degree is actually quite versatile, and even considering a general English MA wouldn't be a bad idea either.
You could teach ESL, linguistics, composition, grammar, reading, etc.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address MSN Messenger
bassexpander



Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another thought is to consider how long you will plan to stay in ESL. If it's under 5 years, then I'd get an MA in something that will prove more useful to you when you return home. An MA/TESOL is great, but if you don't have the teaching certifications for back home, it doesn't do you much good.

An MA in anything is currently enough to help you get your foot in the door for an interview at a university in Korea (or at least get you looked at). Many schools seem more concerned that you just have a higher level of education.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
PRagic



Joined: 24 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do the MA in Journalism. Seriously. Great for teaching at the university level as you'll be able to do creative writing programs. Great for the private sector, too, as qualified editors are more and more in demand at large banks and financial houses. MA in English will help you get a university job, but it will limit your options.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
morrisonhotel



Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do

PostPosted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry to hijack the thread but what opportunities are there for lecturing at a university in Korea? I only seem to see teaching EFL.

Also, OP, have you considered doing a distance-learning M.A? I've just finished my application for doing a second M.A. (this time in English lit.) via distance-learning whilst I'm out in Korea. Combining work and postgraduate study seems to be very attractive to employers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Samurai Blur



Joined: 20 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

morrisonhotel wrote:

Also, OP, have you considered doing a distance-learning M.A? I've just finished my application for doing a second M.A. (this time in English lit.) via distance-learning whilst I'm out in Korea. Combining work and postgraduate study seems to be very attractive to employers.

That's not exactly my style. I tend to get tunnel vision, and because of this I have been using financial aid to live on and pay for school (fortunately I haven't had to dip into loans yet, but I'm sure I will during grad school). When I try to work and study at the same time I end up focusing on one more than the other, which can greatly affect my grades. I just want to do school and be done with it, and when I started school I promised myself that nothing would get between a MA and me, even if it meant ramen and bologna sandwiches for five or six years.

As far as how long I plan to stay in ESL, I'd say a pretty long time. I don't really have any desire to teach in the States, and my dream of teaching ESL came from the desire to live in whatever country I wish while I still have my youth to look forward to. I'd say a minimum of ten years (if I can make it like that in the economy these days). I won't pretend that Korea is my end all be all. My love for ESL started with my fascination with Japan in elementary school, but I have spent a fair amount of time in Korea (07-08 ) for an extended vacation, and what I gathered from my stay is that Korea would be an easy place to start off and get experience compared to Japan.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Carla



Joined: 21 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Samurai Blur wrote:
iggyb wrote:
A BS in English? Science of English?

Anyway, an MA will open up a better opportunity to get a university job.


Yes, my degree plan is at Texas A&M University. They have a BS and a BA in English. I was more interested in the basics required for the BS than for the BA so I chose it.


The only real difference between the BA and BS at my university was 4 (maybe 3, can't remember) semesters a foreign language.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Khenan



Joined: 25 Dec 2007

PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Samurai Blur wrote:
morrisonhotel wrote:

Also, OP, have you considered doing a distance-learning M.A? I've just finished my application for doing a second M.A. (this time in English lit.) via distance-learning whilst I'm out in Korea. Combining work and postgraduate study seems to be very attractive to employers.

That's not exactly my style. I tend to get tunnel vision, and because of this I have been using financial aid to live on and pay for school (fortunately I haven't had to dip into loans yet, but I'm sure I will during grad school). When I try to work and study at the same time I end up focusing on one more than the other, which can greatly affect my grades. I just want to do school and be done with it, and when I started school I promised myself that nothing would get between a MA and me, even if it meant ramen and bologna sandwiches for five or six years.

As far as how long I plan to stay in ESL, I'd say a pretty long time. I don't really have any desire to teach in the States, and my dream of teaching ESL came from the desire to live in whatever country I wish while I still have my youth to look forward to. I'd say a minimum of ten years (if I can make it like that in the economy these days). I won't pretend that Korea is my end all be all. My love for ESL started with my fascination with Japan in elementary school, but I have spent a fair amount of time in Korea (07-08 ) for an extended vacation, and what I gathered from my stay is that Korea would be an easy place to start off and get experience compared to Japan.


I was in the same boat as you, essentially. I have a BA English, and I got a Masters in Ed, with a teaching cert. before coming to Korea. My advice depends on what you want to do. Personally, I regret coming here after getting my Ed.M. The loans I had to take out - but especially the paying back of those loans - generally offset the increase in my income due to the credentials. I found that uni jobs weren't available to me, because, even though they are great and have low hours, etc., they didn't pay enough for me to live on and pay my bills at home. If you just want to have some fun, get here without your higher degree.

However, moving into your second year and beyond, the credentials added with experience have been paying off pretty well, so if you plan on coming long-term, it might be a worthwhile investment.

As far as what program would be good for you, that's up to what you want to do after you finish teaching in Korea - face it, almost no one retires here.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
iggyb



Joined: 29 Oct 2003

PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll be interested in seeing what my MA in Teaching (English) and experience will do for me once my feet hit the ground. It hasn't helped me land an adequate job from my home country this time around, but my job search has been fairly narrow in terms of location and age group.

I would recommend as someone else did that you get the MA in something besides TESOL if you want to use it back home. If you like teaching, I'd go with a MA Ed. --- The difference between that and my MA-T is that the MA-T is designed in my state to fill the shortage of English Language Arts and Math teachers by pulling in people with other related work experience. The MA Ed. is for currently certified teachers and the MA-T adds the certification for those who don't have it. --- Anyway, if you want to add TESOL certification on top of that, it is easy, at least in my state.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International