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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:56 pm Post subject: Teching certification or MA TESOL? |
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Hello everyone. My question is which is more valuable for someone who wants to live in South Korea long-term? I am working on my teaching credential in California at the moment but wondering if this was the best option or would an MA in TESOL be better? Or maybe both. I really don't mind either teaching kids or adults at a university, but what I would like is a long-term contract, if they exist, and opportunities to possibly advance in the teaching field and get a higher salary as the years pass.
Also, would you say it is relatively easy to get a university teaching job with an MA in TESOL? What I might do is finish my teaching credential and then while in Korea, do an MA online ( I hope online/distance degrees are accepted), so more doors open up and to make myself more competitive I guess. I plan on making my move summer 2011. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:37 am Post subject: Re: Teching certification or MA TESOL? |
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| judoka wrote: |
Hello everyone. My question is which is more valuable for someone who wants to live in South Korea long-term? I am working on my teaching credential in California at the moment but wondering if this was the best option or would an MA in TESOL be better? Or maybe both. I really don't mind either teaching kids or adults at a university, but what I would like is a long-term contract, if they exist, and opportunities to possibly advance in the teaching field and get a higher salary as the years pass.
Also, would you say it is relatively easy to get a university teaching job with an MA in TESOL? What I might do is finish my teaching credential and then while in Korea, do an MA online ( I hope online/distance degrees are accepted), so more doors open up and to make myself more competitive I guess. I plan on making my move summer 2011. |
Get your B.Ed / M.Ed + subject specialty and go to work at one of the international schools or one of the American schools on base. Pay and benefits are MUCH better and far less of the crud you get working in a k-uni or k-PS.
A M-tesol will just about guarantee a position in the uni of your choice but the pay is far less that you get teaching HS in an international school (about 1/2).
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hubbahubba
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Teching certification or MA TESOL? |
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Get your B.Ed / M.Ed + subject specialty and go to work at one of the international schools or one of the American schools on base. Pay and benefits are MUCH better and far less of the crud you get working in a k-uni or k-PS.
A M-tesol will just about guarantee a position in the uni of your choice but the pay is far less that you get teaching HS in an international school (about 1/2).
.[/quote]
NOT...ever taught at a public school/high school in the states? ..big ol 'NOT ...lol..lots..i mean lots of extra bs attached..lol |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Teching certification or MA TESOL? |
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| judoka wrote: |
| Also, would you say it is relatively easy to get a university teaching job with an MA in TESOL? What I might do is finish my teaching credential and then while in Korea, do an MA online ( I hope online/distance degrees are accepted), so more doors open up and to make myself more competitive I guess. I plan on making my move summer 2011. |
In my opinion, it would be best for you to complete your teaching credential and then seek employment in Korea. While in Korea, you can then complete a distance MA/MEd. Distance degrees are accepted as long as they were done at a reputable, accredited university, so you won't have any trouble finding employment with a distance degree here in Korea, nor in most other places. Doing it this way has the advantage that you start earning money, rather than spending it, and you get to see what EFL is really like. In addition, by doing an online degree you won't incur any student debt, because you'll be paying as you go.
Best of luck. |
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Snowkr
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with the above poster. If you've started your credential, let that be your priority right now. The MA is something you can do distance (though I think an MA TESOL should be partially completed in a real classroom). I believe the teaching credential will take you further here. You can work in an international school with it.
Korea doesn't seem to recognize MA TESOL holders over those who hold a BA in some subject with TEFL certification. I would know. I have both. I wish I had a state teaching license and I've been thinking of going home and getting one.
Good luck! |
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Just realized I spelled teacher wrong on the title. Thanks guys. So far I have looked University of Leicester, University of Southern Queensland, and University of Birmingham for the online MA in TESOL/applied linguistics. If there is a better university I should consider please let me know. These three I've looked at so far seem pretty legit. If anyone has had a bad experience with any of these please let me know so I can stay away from them. Thanks. |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| judoka wrote: |
| Just realized I spelled teacher wrong on the title. Thanks guys. So far I have looked University of Leicester, University of Southern Queensland, and University of Birmingham for the online MA in TESOL/applied linguistics. If there is a better university I should consider please let me know. These three I've looked at so far seem pretty legit. If anyone has had a bad experience with any of these please let me know so I can stay away from them. Thanks. |
I think the University of Birmingham is a very reputable school. Australian universities to consider are Macquarie University and the University of New England, both have been reviewed positively on Dave's. Not so many people have sung the praises of USQ over the years, so it might be best to give that one a pass. Since you're an American, you might be especially interested in the MA Applied Linguistics at UMass - Amherst. An excellent, though pricey program. There are lots of good programs, just make sure the education provider is accredited and recognized. |
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I didn't know about the UMass - Amherst. I take a look at their website. |
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:58 pm Post subject: Does it matter what type of teaching credential? |
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Taking this a step further, there are different types of teaching credentials in California, for example there is the multiple subject for elementary school and then there is the single subject (English or math or whatever). My question is, is a teaching credential just a teaching credential or will you need one in English to teach, say, high school and get the extra pay for it? I hope I make sense. I'm specifically talking about public schools with SMOE for example.
In the US you would not be able to teach in high school or middle school with a multiple subject, and you would not be able to teach in an elementary with a single subject. Is this the same in Korea when talking about extra pay in the public schools? |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: Re: Does it matter what type of teaching credential? |
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| judoka wrote: |
Taking this a step further, there are different types of teaching credentials in California, for example there is the multiple subject for elementary school and then there is the single subject (English or math or whatever). My question is, is a teaching credential just a teaching credential or will you need one in English to teach, say, high school and get the extra pay for it? I hope I make sense. I'm specifically talking about public schools with SMOE for example.
In the US you would not be able to teach in high school or middle school with a multiple subject, and you would not be able to teach in an elementary with a single subject. Is this the same in Korea when talking about extra pay in the public schools? |
Korea doesn't look at what you are qualified to teach, just that you are certified. I think they give you about 100k more a month for that certification, though those who work with SMOE can chime in.
I would suggest that you look at what international schools you are thinking of working at. What would you like to teach there? Then go and get that certification.
I went for a B.Ed and certification before an MA. I am now working at an international school and I will start my MA program later this year. The benefit of this is that I get to make money AND study at the same time. The disadvantage is that you literally are working 12-16 hours a day one one or the other. I just finished an additional certification course and doing that plus my regular job was quite a lot of work I found. I expect it to be the same when I start the MA. (My MA though won't be in TESOL as I am not an ESL teacher and thus it wouldn't really help me out)
Honestly, the only thing an MA or M.Ed does once you are working in an international school is bump your pay grade to a higher category and it opens doors to other schools who want a high percentage of their teachers to have a master's degree. I am talking about the "elite" schools that have the huge pay and benefit packages people talk of, yet also demand a lot of experience and education for those packages.
As for pay, the amount of work that you do at an international school might discourage you, especially in the first year. You will have four or five classes that you have to prep for EVERYDAY. If you are at a bigger school, you might get lucky and have a double of the same class, so 1 prep for two classes. Still it is a lot of work. I am thankful that I actually only have 3 preps as I teach the same lesson more than once.
IMO those with an MA in TESOL who work at Korean universities with 2.5-3.0 salaries and 12hrs a week or less of teaching have better deals on the pay per hour basis. Especially when you account for the massive amount of paid holidays.
However, working at an international school, especially the top ones around the world, you will get to work with some real professionals and you will grow a lot as a teacher. I am not sure I can say the same for the university teaching arena in Korea.
Whatever you decide, good luck to you! |
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