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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 Feb 01, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| naeyeonsan wrote: |
| 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? |
At both universities there is a lot of interaction with the professor and one's fellow students, as one is expected to contribute a lot on the discussion boards. In addition, students have quite a bit of contact with their professors when they receive help on a paper and when getting feedback about discussion board entries. When papers are returned professors also provide a lot of feedback and constructive criticism, so that students don't make the same mistakes twice. All in all, expect to hear from your fellow students and your prof on a daily basis on the discussion board, and personally from your prof about once a week.
At UNE video lectures were rare when I studied with them (2004-2006), but there were occasional links to audio materials, especially when studying courses such as Phonetics & Phonology. In addition, some of the textbooks had supplementary CDs with audio/video material. Primarily, however, UNE and MQ require you to read a lot of material and discuss this material on the discussion boards and assimilate it in papers.
Regarding assessment; both UNE and MQ assess their students primarily on the basis of papers. For a typical course I had to write two papers, the mid-term paper, between 2500 and 3000 words, and the final paper which was usually around 5000 words in length. In addition, we were expected to contribute about 400 - 600 words in discussion board post a week per course. There were also tests which one took online. These were timed, so unless you were at least somewhat familiar with the material you wouldn't have been able to get a great score just by looking through the textbook on test day. |
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livinginkorea
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Location: Korea, South of the border
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| kimchikowboy wrote: |
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Birmingham:
13.2 for the course. |
Is this for everyone, or only Brits/EU students?
Also, thanks everyone for the info. Like so many others, I'm also looking at programs. |
It's for everyone, campus and distance learning students. |
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naeyeonsan
Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Pohang
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Thiuda wrote: |
| naeyeonsan wrote: |
| 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? |
At both universities there is a lot of interaction with the professor and one's fellow students, as one is expected to contribute a lot on the discussion boards. In addition, students have quite a bit of contact with their professors when they receive help on a paper and when getting feedback about discussion board entries. When papers are returned professors also provide a lot of feedback and constructive criticism, so that students don't make the same mistakes twice. All in all, expect to hear from your fellow students and your prof on a daily basis on the discussion board, and personally from your prof about once a week.
At UNE video lectures were rare when I studied with them (2004-2006), but there were occasional links to audio materials, especially when studying courses such as Phonetics & Phonology. In addition, some of the textbooks had supplementary CDs with audio/video material. Primarily, however, UNE and MQ require you to read a lot of material and discuss this material on the discussion boards and assimilate it in papers.
Regarding assessment; both UNE and MQ assess their students primarily on the basis of papers. For a typical course I had to write two papers, the mid-term paper, between 2500 and 3000 words, and the final paper which was usually around 5000 words in length. In addition, we were expected to contribute about 400 - 600 words in discussion board post a week per course. There were also tests which one took online. These were timed, so unless you were at least somewhat familiar with the material you wouldn't have been able to get a great score just by looking through the textbook on test day. |
Great post! They both sound like good programs. Now I'm even more confused... Forget picking a university, I'm having trouble even deciding which country I want to study in (albeit virtually/at a distance)!
The US? the UK? Australia?
Wonder if there's anybody out there with knowledge of online MA TESOL/English programs in Canada?
Seems like it's going to cost me between 10 and 15 million won, regardless of which country I choose. The only "affordable" program appears to be UNISA (The University of South Africa). A BA Hons/MA combination from UNISA would add up to around 6 million won over 3 or 4 years. While certainly cheap, choosing UNISA would add a year or more to the time needed to get my MA and involve several trips to Seoul to take a series of exams at the South African Embassy.
Does anyone have experience with UNISA?
Would an MA degree from UNISA be helpful in getting a good university job in Korea? Back home in the US? In Japan? In the Middle East? |
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naeyeonsan
Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Pohang
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:48 am Post subject: |
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Time is running out. I have to decide.
It looks like it's going to come down to one of these three choices:
1. UNISA (University of South Africa)
BA Hons TESOL + MA TESOL
5-6 million won over three years
2. University of Missouri
MEd Curriculum & Instruction with a TESOL concentration (21 credits)
12 million won over two years
3. Western New Mexico University
MA in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Bilingual Education and English
6-7 million won over two years
FYI: my BA is in English Lang & Literature and I hope to stay in the field long-term
Any advice? |
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Dangerous_Dave
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:18 am Post subject: |
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| If you have a 4 year undergrad degree in English you shouldn't need to do the Honours degree before you do the Masters at UNISA. In SA our undergrad degrees are usually 3 years and then you can do and Honours which is an intensive 4th year degree. I would Email UNISA and get check with them, it could save you a lot of money and time. |
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: |
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Try The University of Auckland, New Zealand
I'm about to apply there myself
Masters of Education (TESOL) best of both worlds
Its only going to cost me$5500 NZ, but im a NZr its a one year course
Its got a good reputation and the next Semester starts in July. The recommend you apply 4 months before the Semester start date for all of the communication etc. Its totally online |
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El Macho
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Have you looked at Anaheim University? There are some big names teaching there � both Nunan and Ellis. I just discovered this today and sort of regretted enrolling in my current program. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
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livinginkorea
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Location: Korea, South of the border
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| El Macho wrote: |
| Have you looked at Anaheim University? There are some big names teaching there � both Nunan and Ellis. I just discovered this today and sort of regretted enrolling in my current program. |
\
The only problem with Anaheim for me is that it is an online course (Online MA in TESOL). I don't know how potentional employeers would view that to be honest. Also some countries do not accept online courses so it would limit your options too. |
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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 Feb 15, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
Doing any MA is useful, regardless of the field that you want to eventually enter. An MA provides students with advanced critical reasoning skills and indicates to potential employers that you are willing and able to educate yourself.
In addition, doing an MA in the time that you're working here is probably the best time to do so. Teachers, regardless of where they teach, have a relatively large amount of free time in which to study and, if they're single, their income is large enough to cover living expenses as well as tuition, without having to go into debt further. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| Thiuda wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
Doing any MA is useful, regardless of the field that you want to eventually enter. An MA provides students with advanced critical reasoning skills and indicates to potential employers that you are willing and able to educate yourself.
In addition, doing an MA in the time that you're working here is probably the best time to do so. Teachers, regardless of where they teach, have a relatively large amount of free time in which to study and, if they're single, their income is large enough to cover living expenses as well as tuition, without having to go into debt further. |
maybe I'm too old school, but I remain INTENSELY sceptical of online degrees. I don't mind on line component, but if there is no brick and mortar to go along with it, I dismiss any online degree or certificate almost out of hand. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| Thiuda wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
Doing any MA is useful, regardless of the field that you want to eventually enter. An MA provides students with advanced critical reasoning skills and indicates to potential employers that you are willing and able to educate yourself.
In addition, doing an MA in the time that you're working here is probably the best time to do so. Teachers, regardless of where they teach, have a relatively large amount of free time in which to study and, if they're single, their income is large enough to cover living expenses as well as tuition, without having to go into debt further. |
maybe I'm too old school, but I remain INTENSELY sceptical of online degrees. I don't mind on line component, but if there is no brick and mortar to go along with it, I dismiss any online degree or certificate almost out of hand. |
As someone who has recently taken courses in class and on line, I can say for education type classes, online is actually a lot better.
The University of Toronto offers an online M.Ed in Teaching English as a Second Language. They are a top ranked school world wide. Are you trying to tell me you, or any possible employer would dismiss such a degree?
I know I wouldn't because I know for a fact all the busy work and BS that in class teachers make you do to justify making you attend an hour or two hour class that basically teaches you what you could have learned at home.
Outside of the practicum portion my B.Ed could have ALL been done online and I probably would have gotten more out of the program. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
| Thiuda wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
Doing any MA is useful, regardless of the field that you want to eventually enter. An MA provides students with advanced critical reasoning skills and indicates to potential employers that you are willing and able to educate yourself.
In addition, doing an MA in the time that you're working here is probably the best time to do so. Teachers, regardless of where they teach, have a relatively large amount of free time in which to study and, if they're single, their income is large enough to cover living expenses as well as tuition, without having to go into debt further. |
maybe I'm too old school, but I remain INTENSELY sceptical of online degrees. I don't mind on line component, but if there is no brick and mortar to go along with it, I dismiss any online degree or certificate almost out of hand. |
As someone who has recently taken courses in class and on line, I can say for education type classes, online is actually a lot better.
The University of Toronto offers an online M.Ed in Teaching English as a Second Language. They are a top ranked school world wide. Are you trying to tell me you, or any possible employer would dismiss such a degree?
I know I wouldn't because I know for a fact all the busy work and BS that in class teachers make you do to justify making you attend an hour or two hour class that basically teaches you what you could have learned at home.
Outside of the practicum portion my B.Ed could have ALL been done online and I probably would have gotten more out of the program. |
I'm not aware of U of Toronto's rankings, but I know in the US, at least for now, none of the better schools offer full online degrees.
maybe they should and maybe this is changing, or maybe it's a scam so they can continue charging their ridiculous enrollment fees.
but until I see a top 10 school, or at least top 20-25 do it, my scepticism will remain.
that said.. re any education degree, all that matters is that you get one, the school doesn't matter, so the cheaper and easier it's obtained, the better.
the most stupid waste of money I can imagine would be to get a Bachelor's/Masters in Education from say.. Harvard. |
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El Macho
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| livinginkorea wrote: |
| El Macho wrote: |
| Have you looked at Anaheim University? There are some big names teaching there � both Nunan and Ellis. I just discovered this today and sort of regretted enrolling in my current program. |
\
The only problem with Anaheim for me is that it is an online course (Online MA in TESOL). I don't know how potentional employeers would view that to be honest. Also some countries do not accept online courses so it would limit your options too. |
They also offer part of it in residency (one course actually taught by Rod Ellis), so that might negate some of those worries by employers.
I am extremely skeptical of online MA's, but some of the mixed IRL/online programs seem worthwhile...especially if the classes are taught by big names in the field.
| Cerberus wrote: |
| but until I see a top 10 school, or at least top 20-25 do it, my scepticism will remain. |
The University of St Andrews (#3 in the league tables) offers two different MLitt's via a mix of distance and on-site learning, that's the closest I can find. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:25 am Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
| Thiuda wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
I'm going to be half sarcastic/smart ass here:
your best choice is to go back to school and get a degree in something USEFUL/employable.
that said, there's something to be said for a master in tesol/english if you plan on making ESL your lifelong career. |
Doing any MA is useful, regardless of the field that you want to eventually enter. An MA provides students with advanced critical reasoning skills and indicates to potential employers that you are willing and able to educate yourself.
In addition, doing an MA in the time that you're working here is probably the best time to do so. Teachers, regardless of where they teach, have a relatively large amount of free time in which to study and, if they're single, their income is large enough to cover living expenses as well as tuition, without having to go into debt further. |
maybe I'm too old school, but I remain INTENSELY sceptical of online degrees. I don't mind on line component, but if there is no brick and mortar to go along with it, I dismiss any online degree or certificate almost out of hand. |
As someone who has recently taken courses in class and on line, I can say for education type classes, online is actually a lot better.
The University of Toronto offers an online M.Ed in Teaching English as a Second Language. They are a top ranked school world wide. Are you trying to tell me you, or any possible employer would dismiss such a degree?
I know I wouldn't because I know for a fact all the busy work and BS that in class teachers make you do to justify making you attend an hour or two hour class that basically teaches you what you could have learned at home.
Outside of the practicum portion my B.Ed could have ALL been done online and I probably would have gotten more out of the program. |
I'm not aware of U of Toronto's rankings, but I know in the US, at least for now, none of the better schools offer full online degrees.
maybe they should and maybe this is changing, or maybe it's a scam so they can continue charging their ridiculous enrollment fees.
but until I see a top 10 school, or at least top 20-25 do it, my scepticism will remain.
that said.. re any education degree, all that matters is that you get one, the school doesn't matter, so the cheaper and easier it's obtained, the better.
the most stupid waste of money I can imagine would be to get a Bachelor's/Masters in Education from say.. Harvard. |
Let's look at some rankings:
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2009/results <-- puts UofT at 29th
http://www.arwu.org/ARWU2009.jsp <-- puts them at 27th
So top 30 anyways. Tops in Canada anyways.
Just to fill you and others in though: Education departments and faculties are a huge scam. I can't think of a single thing that sucks money out of a profession.
Teachers are encouraged to get a master's degree. Look at what they actually student if it is an M.Ed program. $$$ for universities.
Teachers are encouraged to do on-going training and to take university credits. $$$ for universities.
Teachers need some type of university credits for becoming a principal. $$$ for universities.
Let's teach them online = BIG swimming pool full of cash $$$ for universities.
Can you think of another profession that milks people like that?
Doctors? NOPE
Lawyers? NOPE
Dentists? NOPE
Accountants? NOPE
Engineers? NOPE
etc.
In Ontario the biggest scam for certified teachers has to be additional qualification credits. At $1000 per credit for these, can you say BINGO!? Most of them are offered online to boot.
Anyways, as I said, I have nothing against distance education when it comes to the field of education, as anything you study under that heading is going to be ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. Instead of having you learn something in $5000 they want to stretch it out to $10000 or $15000 so they can actually make some money.
Since that is the way the profession is headed and most of the better jobs require an MA or M.Ed, what can you do?
I'll be doing an MA or M.Ed too, because as I said, what can I do? I want to be marketable in 10 or 20 years as a teacher, and by that point I don't want to have to study. |
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