Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PBRstreetgang21]

I'm planning on going back to school for a Master's to improve my ability in the ESL field, but I'm having a hard decision choosing the degree. the TESOL degree seems logical, but the university where I live spends more time working on theories than on the actual teaching aspect. Also, completing the degree will give me no certification. However, there is an MA in Teaching, English Language Arts with an ESOL endorsement. More practice, less theory and it leads to certification to teach English or ESL in a public school. My question is, would getting the MA in Teaching English Language Arts Education make me less marketable for university positions in Korea compared to the MA in TESOL? Or no effect?

Also, does anyone know if an MA in Teaching English Language Arts Education will make me less marketable to ESL programs at community colleges in the US?

BTW, I already have five years teaching experience in Korea, two of which were at a National University, so I wonder if that also mitigates any difference between the degrees.

Any help is appreciated.

[RK12]

Either would probably be fine to be an English instructor. For ads, many just seem to want experience at the university level and maybe require a MA in the field. It depends on the university. Though I can not say for certain as I have not worked for a university.

The real question is: what's your Korean level? Many universities in Korea that offer TESOL or English Education or English linguistics will have classes completely in Korean! And don't put it past professors to speak in Korean during a lecture for a class which is marked to be taught in English. Many that do this will require to have a TOPIK score of a 3 (and can only graduate if you have a level 4) or a level 4 in order to be considered for admission. There are some that don't.

Do you want to go to school in Jeonju (based off your location)? Or are you considering on relocating? That can greatly effect your options. I would go to a university that can be recognized by people with a hint of what Korean universities exist. Think of the top 20 universities.

Sometimes you can only see majors on the Korean site versus the English version and you can only view the curriculum and classes offered on the Korean website. Also, some universities will offer a Ph.D in English Education/TESOL but NOT a MA. Watch out for that.

Most programs will require you to write a thesis or to create a portfolio or to create a EFL textbook (I found this at Ewha Womans University). How do you feel about undertaking one of those? Many also require a comprehensive exam.

I would say that linguistics or English linguistics is good to take as you will learn much more about language then you ever wanted to know. Trust me I'm currently an undergrad studying linguistics at an American university (and getting a TESOL certificate from my university). But there will be classes you have to take that will not relate to English teaching. Take historical linguistics, for example. That class you have to reconstruct languages as part of the curriculum (which reminds me of homework I should be doing: reconstructing proto-Lencan and proto-Jicaquean). But also many TESOL/English Education programs require you, or at least as an elective, to take some English linguistics classes.

Many times English Education and TESOL can be very similar curriculum-wise when you compare programs at Korean universities.

I just researched about 50 or so Korean universities over the past week for the future for grad school in TESOL / English Education. Ewha Womans University topped my list. It's a fantastic university in my opinion. I studied last summer there (study abroad for Korean language and traditional Korean music practicum) and attending this summer for more advanced courses in both. Ewha Womans University only will grant women a degree. Male international students can study there but they cannot earn a degree. If you're a guy, sorry you can't consider Ewha. I also like the Ewha doesn't have a thesis but you do have to design an EFL textbook (which is fine by me).

My second choice (though I am dead set on Ewha if I can get into the program) is Sookmyung Women's University. I have heard they will let men into the TESOL program.

Both Ewha and Sookmyung are in Seoul and you have to consider where you want to go as well.

I went through the universities on the NIIED's website for the graduate scholarship (so something that could be possible if the university recommended me for it). This may not be all from the 51 universities on the list but these ones offered some sort of TESOL / English Education graduate degree: Chung-Ang University, Chungnam National University, Ewha Womans University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kongju National University, Korea University, Kyonggi University, Pukyong National University, Pusan National University, Seoul National University, Sogang University, and Sookymung Women's University.

[edwardcatflap]

[RK12]

[northway]

First things first, I'd recommend not taking education advice from someone still pursuing their undergrad, regardless of how verbose that individual might be.

Edit: especially when that individual has yet to reach the ripe old age of twenty.

[Modernist]

If this OP is actually interested in getting a degree at a Korean university, I'll eat my hat filled right up to the brim with kimchi.

Seriously, RK12, you need to figure out that almost no one on this forum thinks like you. We aren't looking through a Korean lens at everything, just because we live here at the moment [unlike, for example, you].

[PBRstreetgang21]

I should I have been more clear-- I'm not in Korea in the moment. I'm in the US and planning on getting a Master's degree at an American University.

The poster who said he'd eat a hat full of kimchi if I was interested going to a Korean university needn't worry; I'd take all the cash set aside for my degree and put it on one hand of blackjack at Seven Luck before I spent it on an MA in English from a Korean school.

[isitts]

[HANGRY]

I don't know, but most of the jobs I've seen here advertise looking for either MA TESOL or Masters in Education, and then MA English or MA Linguistics.

If you are looking for your best shot, I would go with some sort of TESOL or Education degree. Personally, I would go with Education, as if things don't work out overseas, your degree is probably more flexible. You would also get more practical information I think, although all of it wouldn't be ESL/EFL related like TESOL.

I say this as a guy with MA in Linguistics with a TEFL focus.

[Swampfox10mm]

My MA is in Education with an emphasis in TESOL. I haven't tried getting a job overseas, but a co-worker of mine got a full-ride (he has to work as a teacher, of course) to get his Ph.D. from a state university in the USA. He got his MA in Linguistics, also from a state university in the USA. He's 30.

His MA course was an online degree, too (take that, those of you who insist online degrees are inferior).

Personally, if you plan to continue on to a Ph.D., go for Linguistics, but the field seems to be heavily-saturated. I have no desire to continue on at this point in my life, although that may change. At 40, I just do not see it as financially smart for me to do so.

We have had a few Ph.D's I've gotten to know well at our university here in Korea -- with degrees from places like MIT, UCLA, and USC -- NONE of them were able to secure a teaching job back home. One came here for work, faced with the problem of being "over-qualified" for teaching public school jobs in the USA again (something he has previous experience doing).

This is why I have no interest in dumping the time and energy into a Ph.D. If you are young, it might be a better idea. Honestly, I feel the educational system has churned-out too many useless arts and humanities degrees, and with people being forced to continue their education in hopes of finding a well-paying job one day, we're saturated all of the way up to the Ph.D. level.

[luckylady]

National Clearinghouse for English Education is for the ed goals in the U.S. - might be useful:


http://www.ncela.gwu.edu