Korean Job Discussion Forums

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I am thinking of doing an MA, online or distance, in TESOL or linguistics. Probably TESOL as that is more relevant to my current employment situation. Part time over 2 or three years.

I have looked at Birmingham and Surrey thus far and I am therefore looking for feedback from anyone who has actually completed an MA from either of these universities.

Yes. I have done the search, but there is nothing giving a direct comparison between them. Birmingham looks to be slightly more expensive and also slightly longer. Birmingham also seems to be distance whereas Surrey seems to be online.

Anything else you want to share?

Any other options that would far outweigh either of these two?

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject:

My friend was very happy with the Birmingham distance program.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I completed the Birmingham MA in TESL/TEFL, and actually went to the graduation congregation in Birmingham last summer. I can highly support it.
Just some random points-
1. Birmingham has an in-Korea administration center
2. 6 modules, each containing 2 courses. (12 courses total)
3. each module is 4 months long (3 months reading, one month for writing the module assignment)
4. time extentions on modules (ie: late submissions) can be done in months-long blocks of time, without increased tuition.
5. the diploma I received is identical to those that studied on campus. I know, I checked.
6. roughly 3-5 required books per course, plus journal readings Birmingham will sent you. I found most books I needed at Kyobo, Bandi & Luni's, and Youngpoons'. The Hankuk Foreign Language University also has a very good library.
7. most issues are dealt through the in-Korea center located at Kyungwon University. This is also where you mail, or hand off, your papers to.

I don't know about Surrey, so can't compare. PM me for more.
And by the way, I'm not BigBlackEquus' friend.

Francis-Pax · Joined: 20 Nov 2005

I am doing my MA in TESL/TEFL with The University of Birmingham. It is an excellent program and I have been very impressed by how well they have structured the course.

I have also noticed that is has a lot of name recognition in Korea. PM me fore more info.

Just remember, it's distance learning -- It's all on you! You have to have a lot of dicipline.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

Hi,

I was thinking alot about doing one as well and thought that maybe I should take a year out and do it but Hapki is saying that it's the exact same as doing it on campus? That sounds so cool as I can keep working here and study in the evening or at the weekend. How much time do you need to put into it? Just on average a week? I have a few things on my plate at the moment but I imagine that I have to start at a certain time of the year?

Many thanks

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject:

The University of Auckland has a new Master's in TESOL allows one to take a distance web-based graduate program with one of the biggest names in ESL research, the well-respected Rod Ellis !!

It's a brick and mortar institution over a hundred years old well known internationally.

http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/index.cfm?P=6263

I've been very tempted.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I had a drink last night with a guy who had just finished his MA with Birmingham and he had very good things to say about it. He found it quite do-able in three years while working full-time.

Francis-Pax · Joined: 20 Nov 2005

I was accepted to The University of London's (Institute of Education) MA TESOL program but I went with Birmingham instead because of the course structure and support.

I also noticed that it had the best reputation out there. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of people. All roads pointed to Birmingham.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

So Eamo which one are you going for? I am seriously thinking about the Birmingham one.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

The next entry time for Birmingham TEFL/TESL distance students is October 1st (the April 1st entry time just past.) This means you should have ave paperwork done and sent by the end of June. This would include BA transcripts, letters of recommendation, applications, etc. I remember I had to write a 1500 word essay on my idea of the communicative ESL classroom, as my BA GPA was not quite, umm, up to par.

Most questions can also be answered here-
http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/prospectus/ODL/odlteflinfo.htm

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Hi all

I'm just curious... how much do these online masters courses cost?

I'm starting a M ed in TESOL this August in California almost right after I finish my contract here in Korea.

I'm guessing Surrey and Birmingham are U.K. schools with graduate courses online? I just want to do some comparing!

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

For me, Birmingham was 6 payments of 2.2 million won. This was when I started back in 2001 or so. The price may have risen, as the program has become more popular in Korea since then. Also, books are not cheap, as any trip to a Korean English bookstore will make clear.

teachmeenglish · Joined: 14 Dec 2004

I just finished the Birmingham programme. I liked it a lot and it was both good and hard work. I would recommend it. A friend of mine did it through Leister and liked it a lot. I also know that Edinburgh has a programme. Bham is rather well known in Asia, especially Japan and is highly regarded.

But, I think wherever you do it, 90% of what you get out of it is from what you put into it. That is I think true for any MA programme, distance or not. It is possible to do a minimum of work for Bham and get through, however lets hope that anyone who does it is more interested n being a good teacher than getting a piece of paper. Perhaps those who want a piece of paper would go to a less expensive programme.

One thing to remember with Bham is that only about 30-40% of people who start the programme actually graduate. Most, just fall away or give up. It is self directed work and requires A LOT OF WORK and A LOT OF MOTIVATION. I met one guy in the programme who had been in it for three years yet had never even finished his first assignment.

Good luck, and you can PM me if you need more info.

TME

LarrytheGiraffee · Joined: 12 Feb 2006

Has anybody finish the MA in Applied Linguistics through University of New England, in Australia. Any comments on the program would be appreciated.