Korean Job Discussion Forums

[naeyeonsan]

Greetings to everyone on the eslcafe board. I've been lurking here for a while and have read all relevant posts but am still scratching my head trying to decide on a graduate program that will be appropriate for me.

I'm an English teacher in Korea and am looking to upgrade my professional skills by earning a Master's Degree in either English (my major as an undergrad) or a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Here are some schools I've looked into:

1. Institute of Education, University of London
MA TESOL
�3355 per year over two years, roughly US$11,000 total
(might be wrong about the fees)
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/study/masters/PMM9_TES9ID.html

2. University of South Africa (UNISA)
BA Hons in TESOL (2 years, 10 modules) followed by an MA in TESOL (1-2 years, full thesis [dissertation in South African English])
about US$6000 to US$7000 total for both degrees over three to four years
http://www.unisa.ac.za/contents/courses/docs/Linguistics_Applied_Linguistics_and_TESOL_2010.pdf

3. Fort Hays State University (FHSU)
Master of Liberal Studies with a concentration in ESOL
(18 credits in ESOL and Education + 10 credits in liberal arts + culminating experience = 31 credits)
about US$7000 over two years
http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/degrees/Masters/liberal-studies/

4. Fort Hays State University (FHSU)
Master of Science in Education with a concentration in ESOL
(18 or 20 credits in Education + 18 credits in ESOL = 36 credits)
about US$8500 over two years
may need a certified teaching license to even apply, something i don't have
http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/degrees/Masters/education/

5. University of Missouri
Master of Education in learning, teaching and curriculum with an emphasis in learning and instruction and a focus in TESOL (M Ed)
(21 credits in TESOL + 12 credits in Education = 33 credits)
about US$10,300 over two years
http://www.mudirect.missouri.edu/degprog/ed-TESOL/_details.shtm

6. University of Massachusetts Boston - UMass Online
MA in Applied Linguistics
(30 credits in TESOL and Applied Linguistics)
about US$14,000 over two years
http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/Online-Degree-Master-Applied-Linguistics.cfm

7. Western New Mexico University (WNMU)
MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) with concentrations in Bilingual Education and English
(18 credits in Bilingual Education + 18 credits in English)
the WNMU Bilingual Education concentration includes a number of TESOL courses
about US$6000 over two years
http://www.wnmu.edu/VirtualCampus/InterdisciplinaryMasters.htm

8. Northwestern State University Louisiana (NSULA)
MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in English Education
Professional Studies track, for students without teaching certification
(24 credits in Education + 12 credits in English Education = 36 credits)
about US$7000 over two years
http://ensu.nsula.edu/master-of-education-in-curriculum-and-instruction/

9. Northwestern State University Louisiana (NSULA)
MA in English (with at least six hours in Linguistics/Writing)
(24 credits through coursework + 6 credit thesis = 30 credits)
about US$6000 over two years
http://ensu.nsula.edu/master-of-arts-degree-in-english/

Whew! That's a long list!

Now, here's my question: Which school or degree should I choose?

I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say, especially if

a) you feel strongly for or against studying at a particular school
b) you have personal experience with one of the schools I'm considering
c) you can suggest another alternative school/program
d) you have any other advice that might be helpful in one way or another

Thanks in advance!

[cj1976]

Are these course online or on campus? I'm interested in taking a similar course, but I know some people have strong opinions about doing it online.

[naeyeonsan]

I totally forgot to mention the issue of studying online in my original post.

Just to clear that up:

All the programs I listed are offered online via distance learning.

All the universities I am looking into are either regionally-accredited in the US (the gold standard in American accreditation) or recognized by the national ministry of education (in the case of the University of London and UNISA).

I will be studying while teaching.

I know it'll be tough but I can't see myself taking two years off work just to study.

[calicoe]

That's a good list and very helpful post. I am considering similar questions. I am leaning toward the University of Missouri, M.Ed.

However, most of your quotes say "over two years." Is that the tuition for two years, or per year? It seems awfully cheap.

[naeyeonsan]

The prices I quoted are for the whole program/degree. My budget is limited to about US$10,000, so I only looked into programs I could afford.

@calicoe: What do you like about the Missouri program?

For other readers:

Though I'm American and am currently leaning towards obtaining an American degree just in case I decide to return home to teach in the US, I am also interested in other British/Australian options.

The programs I have heard about (mostly from reading similar posts on eslcafe) are:

in the UK:
1. University of Birmingham
2. U of Nottingham
3. U of Portsmouth
4. U of Reading
5. U of Exeter
6. U of Manchester
7. U of Leicester

in Australia:
1. University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
2. U of Tasmania
3. Macquire U
4. U of New England
5. Charles Darwin U

Does anyone have any knowledge or recent personal experience of these programs?

[morrisonhotel]

[livinginkorea]

University of Birmingham, MA in TESOL graduate here.

Let me know if you have any questions about the program.

[naeyeonsan]

[bassexpander]

You'll spend about 13 million after books and expenses at Univ. of Missouri.

[naeyeonsan]

[Toju]

Birmingham:

13.2 for the course.

This is Korea - you don't buy books per say.

2 1/2 years.

They have skype sessions regualrly.

Tutor read first draft of each paper and gave feedback on it.

Professors - zero contact.

Peers - up to you tpo organise.

[livinginkorea]

[Thiuda]

[kimchikowboy]

[naeyeonsan]

What were the distance ed courses like at both the University of New England and Macquire University? Was there lots of interaction? Lots of feedback? Audio/Video lectures you could listen to or watch online?