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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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 Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject: Does anyone have an MA in Linguistics? |
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Does an MA in Linguistics hold as much sway as an MA in TESOL or Education in Korea?
On a related note, what do you think helps make a better teacher in Korea, the ability to speak your students' language or having an MA?
Cheers, Duncan |
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spyro25
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Does anyone have an MA in Linguistics? |
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| kiwiduncan wrote: |
Does an MA in Linguistics hold as much sway as an MA in TESOL or Education in Korea?
On a related note, what do you think helps make a better teacher in Korea, the ability to speak your students' language or having an MA?
Cheers, Duncan |
as someone who has an MA in TESOL, and have been accepted onto an M.Phil in linguistics, as well as having a passable level of Korean language, i would say that neither will particularly help you become a better teacher in korea. Both will improve your job prospects no doubt, but neither will help you become a better teacher. I would take a skills-based course such as the CELTA, DELTA, Trinity Cert or the like to become a better teacher.
The MA in linguistics will help you to identify the parts of the language that can be broken down and explained. how you go about explaining these points to students who don't have English as a first language is the hard part! |
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Does anyone have an MA in Linguistics? |
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| spyro25 wrote: |
| kiwiduncan wrote: |
Does an MA in Linguistics hold as much sway as an MA in TESOL or Education in Korea?
On a related note, what do you think helps make a better teacher in Korea, the ability to speak your students' language or having an MA?
Cheers, Duncan |
as someone who has an MA in TESOL, and have been accepted onto an M.Phil in linguistics, as well as having a passable level of Korean language, i would say that neither will particularly help you become a better teacher in korea. Both will improve your job prospects no doubt, but neither will help you become a better teacher. I would take a skills-based course such as the CELTA, DELTA, Trinity Cert or the like to become a better teacher.
The MA in linguistics will help you to identify the parts of the language that can be broken down and explained. how you go about explaining these points to students who don't have English as a first language is the hard part! |
Thanks for the reply. That was my gut feeling about having an MA in linguistics too - that it might not actually be that useful in the classroom. I've got a CELTA and can speak a passable level of conversational Korean anyway, but an MA might improve my employability in Korea if I want to go back to one of the better uni jobs again.
I've said it here on Daves before, but I still think learning to speak one's students' language is one of the best things to focus on. It's useful in class, makes day to day living in Korea much easier and more interesting and shows Koreans that you have a more than passing interest in their culture, history and society.
How about MAs in Asian Studies or Korean Studies? Do they help get better positions? |
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