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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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 Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject: Msc in TESOL - worth doing? |
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I'm about to enroll on a Msc TESOL program with a UK university. It's going to set me back well over 15 million won, over 2 years.
With the current economic climate and ESL job market, I wonder if this is a wise investment? That's a lot of money for me to spend, so what do you think? |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Go to Bangkok and get a Masters from Buffalo State for International Educators. Its particularly a good degree if you want to get a university job in SE Asia especially Thailand. They have a website at www.uecthai.com. I'm thinking about doing that.
A Masters will get you into a university position in Korea, but for just teaching Elementary, High School etc. I've heard its a waste. For those kind of positions a professional certificate is what you want. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: Msc in TESOL - worth doing? |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
I'm about to enroll on a Msc TESOL program with a UK university. It's going to set me back well over 15 million won, over 2 years.
With the current economic climate and ESL job market, I wonder if this is a wise investment? That's a lot of money for me to spend, so what do you think? |
Depends on what you want to do.
If your goal is to teach at the university level then go for it. It will pay for itself in a few years and will certainly open up many new doors for you. (interested in the big bucks of the middle east perhaps?).
If your intent is to work as a teacher at the primary level (ESL or subject matter) or at the secondary level then a PCGE or B.Ed (with home country certification and licensing) would be more appropriate. This would open the doors to international and IB schools.
Will the market for English speaking teachers be there to justify the time and expense = yes.
AS long as English remains the "lingua franca" there will continue to be an expanding market for English speaking teachers (ESL or subject matter).
Market outlook:
SAFEA is predicting a demand for more than a 1/2 MILLION new English speaking teachers (in China alone) over the next decade. (sounds like a lot but it is hardly a drop in the bucket when you consider a population of 1300 million people (20% of which are school age (CIA fact-book))).
Korea and Japan, despite the market being flooded with economic refugees from the US still absorb more than 40,000 ESL teachers each year (25,000 this year alone in Korea).
Thailand and SE Asia have a continuted need for another 30,000 (legal) teachers each year (in addition to the estimated 30,000 teachers working illegally).
The countries of the middle east have high requirements for teaching staff but still have a demand for more than 5000 teachers per year.
ESL and teaching (subjects) in English will remain a growth industry for the near and mid term future.
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the tips and positive news, fellas. I'm sure I'm not the only in this situation. It's going to take 2 years of my life, so I just want it to be worthwhile. |
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fred zepplin
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
Go to Bangkok and get a Masters from Buffalo State for International Educators. Its particularly a good degree if you want to get a university job in SE Asia especially Thailand. They have a website at www.uecthai.com. I'm thinking about doing that.
A Masters will get you into a university position in Korea, but for just teaching Elementary, High School etc. I've heard its a waste. For those kind of positions a professional certificate is what you want. |
Could you give me an idea of the costs involved, i checked the site but can't seem to find it. |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| PCGE or B.Ed (with home country certification and licensing) would be more appropriate |
What school or program would you recommend for this? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Quack Addict wrote: |
| Quote: |
| PCGE or B.Ed (with home country certification and licensing) would be more appropriate |
What school or program would you recommend for this? |
That would depend largely on where you are from (for licensing reasons).
The programs are all largely similar for either of: primary or secondary education.
In most cases you can get an add-on B.Ed in about 3 semesters (assuming you have most or all of the upper level pre-reqs completed when you did your original Ba/B.Sc).
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youtuber
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:15 am Post subject: |
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For the OP,
One thing to consider is that an Msc in TESOL is virtually worthless at home. That sucks.
Another thing to consider is that other whities in Asia will be doing the exact same job as you and some will have better positions than you either with:
1) no degree
2) a fake degree
3) a bachelor's degree |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| fred zepplin wrote: |
| young_clinton wrote: |
Go to Bangkok and get a Masters from Buffalo State for International Educators. Its particularly a good degree if you want to get a university job in SE Asia especially Thailand. They have a website at www.uecthai.com. I'm thinking about doing that.
A Masters will get you into a university position in Korea, but for just teaching Elementary, High School etc. I've heard its a waste. For those kind of positions a professional certificate is what you want. |
Could you give me an idea of the costs involved, i checked the site but can't seem to find it. |
15000 dollars maybe. You can take a TEFL course at The TEFL Institute that counts as 9 credits toward the degree. You'll have the TEFL certificate and you can see if you want to go on from there. This place is very professional. I get the impression that once you get this degree you can a teaching job at an international school somewhere with a pretty substantial pay package. Although it might depend on your background. |
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fred zepplin
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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A Masters will get you into a university position in Korea, but for just teaching Elementary, High School etc. I've heard its a waste. For those kind of positions a professional certificate is what you want.[/quote]
Could you give me an idea of the costs involved, i checked the site but can't seem to find it.[/quote]
15000 dollars maybe. You can take a TEFL course at The TEFL Institute that counts as 9 credits toward the degree. You'll have the TEFL certificate and you can see if you want to go on from there. This place is very professional. I get the impression that once you get this degree you can a teaching job at an international school somewhere with a pretty substantial pay package. Although it might depend on your background.[/quote]
I don't see why the price of the 30 credit masters isn't clearly outlined like any other masters i've ever seen advertised. |
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Kimchifart
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Msc in TESOL - worth doing? |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
I'm about to enroll on a Msc TESOL program with a UK university. It's going to set me back well over 15 million won, over 2 years.
With the current economic climate and ESL job market, I wonder if this is a wise investment? That's a lot of money for me to spend, so what do you think? |
Not worth it.
Get a masters in something more useful and find yourself getting a job at a university here anyway. |
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liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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If you intend to make a career out of ESL then the MA is worth it.
It will not only get you better jobs but also job security.
People without significant qualifications are finding it harder and harder to get jobs these days. An MA will always keep you ahead of the curve. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been thinking about this myself. I already have a master's in Human Resources, so I've thought about a certification of some type. Right now I am teaching at a high school. Most of my students are rather low-level, but I find that I have a lot of free time and could pursue something like this if it isn't too costly. |
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