Korean Job Discussion Forums

slideaway77 · Joined: 16 Jul 2007

Anyone notice the advert for the MA in TEFL / Languages at Birmingham Univeristy?

I was considering doing a MA whilst teaching in Korea. Having already studied for a degree I am now cautious about commiting time/money towards further education. Don't want to get burned..(again)

So anyone out there recommend a good Masters or open university distance learning option/ Korean MA Uni? That will do 1 or 2 of 3 things:-

-Give me a qualification I can use for TEFL to get a University Job. Ie Recognised.

-Good value.

-Give me options to get on Teaching PGCE course in the UK/NZ/OZ.

I'm Posting on off chance someones been in a similar position and can offer me some help.

Thanks.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

I think the first thing to consider is your goals.

You might be able to get a university job without the $20,000 spent on the MA, and the time. Consider how much time you could spend on the degree, when you could easily spend 3% of that time applying at multiple universities.

I am unsure what you mean by "good value." If you mean a good price for the education received, then almost all university programs are a poor value. You pay for the peice of paper, not the education. I'm sure you could invest time and a fraction of the money into an autodidactic approach.

I know those issues aren't what you were originally looking for, but they are things to consider. I have not taken a distance MA or any MA at all.

slideaway77 · Joined: 16 Jul 2007

Too true about degrees. I'm from the UK and I feel I did'nt get good value for the time/money put in, hense the reluctance to do an MA. I went to a converted poly(any brits out there?)

Yeah so you reckon go for the jobs regardless? Guess I'll soon see how comptetive the job market is for University jobs...

Thanks for the help.

Craven Moorehead · Joined: 14 Jan 2006

Unless you have the money to drop on a graduate degree without going into debt, or you get a free ride, I really don't think its worth it to get one. As far as the uni positions go, just apply. Highlight your strengths in the interview as well as your working experience, tell them you prefer a communicative approach in the classroom, ie a student centred environment with you as facilitator, and they eat it right up.

Good luck in your search!

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Location: Seoul

Spongebob Squarepants · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:27 am Post subject:

A while back I had applied to Birmingham, as they have a well-recognized program, but the Korean program administrator was as unhelpful as they come, so I just dropped it. I was thinking of writing Birmingham and telling them to get a new guy or risk never enrolling anyone (his name was Han something-or-other), but I never did.

I'm now enrolled in a distance MA AL-ELT done by Nottingham, and they have been very decent about everything. The 2 yr program will set you back around 13,000,000 won: around the same for distance programs by Reading, Birmingham, and Leicester.

Just started, and I'm enjoying it immensely.

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

I'm almost done with my dissertation (Birmingham) and let me tell you 12,000 words don't write themselves. The 6 4,000 word papers didn't either. Now that I'm about to quit my uni job and not look for another one, I really wish I would have spent that 13.2 million on something else, like beer. It's 8 pm on Saturday night and I'm about to unplug my internet for another 5 hours of uninterrupted MS word.

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:20 am Post subject:

Seon-bee · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: ROK

I enjoyed my MA. But I took the extended 4-year tour, reading a whole lot of books and journals, trying out many research projects, etc. I didn't take the can-I-get-it-done-in-less-than-a-year approach.

Do it right and enroll in a UK-based course, not a diploma mill from Australia.

Is the MA investment worthwhile? Depends on your effort and ability. For me, spending the money on education was a much better use of my time and resources than drinking beer.

Intrepid · Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Yongin

You could consider an on-campus MA in the US. Don't know about the UK or elsewhere, but I really enjoyed my two years back in the US, and I didn't pay a cent for the MA. Taught undergrad courses as a TA for tuition waiver and $1200/month, then EFL courses at the language institute in the summers for $45/hour. My Asia experience was a plus, the English department liaised with some interdisciplinary programs to link me with professors who needed someone with a bit more life/world experience.
There were international students in my program, and the native English speakers (UK, etc.) were offered the same deal as I was.

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

articulate_ink · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:38 am Post subject: Re: On campus MA

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

slideaway77 · Joined: 16 Jul 2007

Thanks everyone.
I have now got a few more options I had'nt ever considered before.
Further Education in the UK is so expensive. I never considered studying in the USA but what a buzz that would be, (or elsewhere for that matter.)

Yeah as I said I'm reluctant about putting money down for further education, when you get little back. Great advice and views keep em comin.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

"There are PhD's in Korea working alongside B.A. holders earning the same money. Sad, but true."

LOL. Not where I work! Already, the pay gaps are increasing. Korean universities are getting serious about recruiting foreign professors. Basic pay packages hover at the 55-70K USD/year for 2 classes/semester + free housing. When you make your promotion, you jump up to the 70-85K ballpark, and full profs are in the 100K plus range.

What are the long-term salary prospects for a BA holder university lecturer? MA holder?

Yes, there are some Ph.D.s working in ESL jobs teaching in programs where a BA suffices. They are not the norm, though.

Just some food for thought. I'd hate to see someone get turned off of doing their doctorate because they didn't think it would be financially worth it in the long run. If it's what you like to do, go for it.