Korean Job Discussion Forums

[slancaster]

When is getting a Masters degree in EFL education necessary or even useful for EFL teachers and which online program is the best, in your opinion? I have an introductory TEFL certificate and several years teaching experience, including two years in Korea, but I'm wondering if attaining additional certificates or a Masters degree might be useful in Korea. Would it make a difference for University positions? How about teaching in Europe? Thanks.

[laogaiguk]

[Bibbitybop]

1. An MA may get you more money and/or more bargaining power.

2. Working in the EU is difficult/impossible for Americans, but I hear other nationalities can get jobs. Where do you hail from?

[PRagic]

It's getting to the point in Korea where having the MA really isn't doing you much good. Yes, you'll have a better shot at getting university jobs, but, then again, the university jobs are getting less and less desirable. Also, most universities are hiring BAs right along with MAs, and only paying a fraction of a difference in salary between the two.

However, if you plan on working somewhere else, it might have its benefits, especially if you wrapped a CELTA/DELTA around it. Another scenerio is that Korean universities eventually get their heads out of their collective arses and begin to up the academic credentials necessary for university employment. If that happens, then you would clearly benefit from having done the MA.

[Keepongoing]

I have a 2 year residential MA TESOL from San Jose State University.
These, I do not believe, enhance your employment opportunities in Korea. In fact, when it comes to the University's budget, it may hinder.

I would not do it thinking it would make your more marketable. I would do it out of a desire for self-development and a keen interest in Linguistics, Language Structure, Second Language Acquisition and even a bit of pedagogy.

[SuperHero]