Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chet Wautlands]

Hello all

I'm currently doing a distance M.A. from the University of Missouri. My focus is in TESOL. Next year I plan on applying for a university job and I'm not too concerned on location (proximity).

So, as you might have guessed, I was wondering if anyone had managed to find work with a distance M.A. in Korea. Was it an issue? Were you ever asked about it?

I would have loved to do an in-class M.A., but financially it would have been a disaster.

Also, I have been in Korea for three years now and am pretty much conversational in Korean. I have friends who do not speak English and I do a lot of basic translating for people at my school, but I cannot understand the news. Let's say I'm a "high-beginner". Would that be worth mentioning in a university application or would it be largely unimpressive/unnecessary?


Thanks for your sincere responses

Chet

[mattdsoares]

Most if not all of the major universities that offer degrees online, such as Mizzou give you a degree that is 100% identical to the degree you'd get if you went to lectures on campus. So it shouldn't be an issue for you. It's the same degree someone on campus would get, so they will only know it was distance learning if you volunteer that information.

[liveinkorea316]

[willteachforfood]

You can get a university job without an M.A. full stop....so yes, you'll easily be able to get a university job with your online Masters....you'll do fine.

[jaeimseu]

It is possible to get a university job without a master's degree, especially if location is not high on your list of priorities. If you look at the job board here at dave's you can find uni jobs that don't require a master's, so I would guess that an online master's would put you ahead of the bachelor's only people in most cases.

Even an on-site master's doesn't guarantee a job. A friend of mine has an ivy league master's in education and, although he did get a few offers, he didn't even get called in for an interview in some cases. Competition is pretty stiff these days. I think you'd better be able to interview well and/or do a good teaching demo regardless of the degree(s) you possess.

[sigmundsmith]

[Thiuda]

[cyui]

Hi Thiuda,

What does your name mean(�iudo, �eudō? �iuda, or Theod (Theo, "God') etc?

[Hotpants]

My distance degree was looked down upon in interviews somewhat, so I really had to convince the interview panels how it would add to my teaching. Having had prior uni teaching experience did also help. That latter point may be more important now there is more competition for uni gigs by MA holders than ever. There are also a LOT of unis that hire by connections over qualifications, too. But if you can sell yourself well, you still have a chance to get a foot in somewhere.

[Poker]

[livinginkorea]