Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Voyeur]

An ESL buddy and I were just kicking around the idea of getting a Masters in TESOL. We are both relatively experienced ESL teachers who have been in Korea 4-5 years. We are doing pretty well here and are good teachers. Neither of us thought we would be here this long. And neither of us had really ever thought about post-graduate studies, nor do we have any idea about how they work etc... Frankly, we aren't really thinking THAT seriously about them now either. But in talking, we realized we have no idea what kind of hoops we would have to jump through to even get into MA TESOL - or if we even could.

I have a 4 year BA with a history major from a US university. My marks were decent, but not amazing.

He has a degree from a Canadian school. It is a 3 year BA with a major in Philosophy. In Canda that means he didn't get the 4th "honors" year he called it - something that you usually need for most Masters Degrees in Canda. He also says his transcript is a mess. He had some issues in university and has lots of low marks and fails and incompletes etc...

We are both in our early 30s. It has been a long time since university for either of us.

I was wondering if anyone could sketch out roughly what each of us would have to do to get a semi-respectable online Masters in TESOL if we wanted to. Do they take into account the "mature student" thing? Work experience in and out of the ESL field? Would he have to do his 4th year of a BA somewhere first? Would I have to take any undergraduate English courses? He feels that with only a 3 year Canadian BA and horrible marks it might be virtually impossible to get a MA TESOL.

And finally, if we both did get a MA TESOL somehow and did well in it, would that be enough to one day go for Ph. Ds? Or could deficiencies in undergraduate work that you can get around for MA dead-end you at MA level and require extra hoops before Ph. Ds?

Any general info. would be great.

[Woland]

Having the BA already is the essential thing. I doubt that the 3-yr thing will be an issue. People understand this is a difference in national systems. It may result in extras requirements, depending on which universities you apply to.

Any reasonable place will take your experience into consideration, and indeed would probably give that greater weight than your undergrad grades, considering how long you've been out of university. I'm not saying the previous record will be disregarded, but rather that they might see you as having matured and, having worked in the field for this long, having a clearer idea of what your want to study for as you enter the MA program. Your previous record might have a negative effect on possibilities for funding in a campus-based program, but probably not in an online one.

How you do on the MA will determine your possibilities of going on for a PhD. It would help your case to do an MA with a thesis requirement, and to write a good one. Research and writing ability are important considerations for PhD student selection and funding.

I have my PhD and have worked for the past 8 years in graduate level teacher ed programs in Turkey, Armenia, and here. I'm pretty well connected in the US and have some connections in Australia. A number of my students have gone on for higher degrees in those countries. So, I have some sense of what they are looking for.

[Voyeur]

Thanks.

I should point out that for my buddy, it isn't purely a differnce in national systems from what I understand. Canda is not the UK where BAs simply are 3 years.

Most who get a BA in Canada get 4 years. Anyone doing post Graduate immediately after undergraduate has to get that 4th Honors year *I think*. His major concern, albeit we were drunk at the time hehe, was that he'd have to go back and get that 4th year before he could start Masters TESOL.

Can you do Masters TESOL witha Thesis over like 4 - 5 years if you want to spread out the time committment per year and tuition?

[Woland]

[Voyeur]

For sure. Just getting some initial bearings via ESL Cafe since there is no rush and no one is that serious - yet.

However, speaking for myself, I am getting the sinking feeling that if youw ant to spend your life teachinG ESL in foreign lands, you really almost have to get your Ph. D if you are capable.

I know I am intellectually capable of it. But intellectual potential is only a small part of achievement. I am still not sure that I have the gumption or right personality to make the hard climb to Ph. D. But I am mulling it over.

Thanks again.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Canadian and American BA holders of 3 and 4 year degrees should be readily accepted to Australian M. App. Ling. (TESOL) or M.Ed. programs at University of Southern Queensland, Macquarie University and probably University of New England (Australia.) They aren't picky about academic records, either. There are probably others as well (Curtin?)

Canadian online programs are virtually non-existent, although I think UBC has one in Adult Education and Global Change. However, it would be very hard for a person with failures, withdrawals and so on to get into any Canadian online or on-campus graduate programs. (I think.) You would, of course, probably need an undergraduate degree in Linguistics.

American schools would feel the same way. ( I think.)

Can't speak for the Brits or the ANZACs.

[Woland]

[HapKi]

I graduated from the University of Birmingham's distance Master's program in TEFL/TESL in 2005, and have recommended it to several members of Daves' ESL. Several people here are now in the program. If you look around, I think you'll find Birmingham one of, if not the best. I can try and answer any questions you might have.

http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/

[meangradin]

I am mulling over the MA in TESOL at "Trinity Western" in Vancouver. I was unaware that UBC offers a masters program in TESOL; I'll be checking that out today. The problem for me is the "online" part. Is an online MA accepted in Korea? I do have the option of an "on campus" route, if I prefer. Also, the cost is quite high at $23,000 for the two years, so I have to know it will be accepted here before investing the time and money.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[mrsquirrel]

You could also look into Oxford Brookes. They have a good distance MA TESOL

[Voyeur]

Assume you put in a solid 15 hours of focused work every week like clockwork, 52 weeks a year.

Assume you are average to slightly above average in working and studying speed.

How long would it take at this rate to get a MA TESOL with Thesis option that could lead to a PH. D at the above rate?

How much longer would it then take to get a Ph. D?

Say 6 years from start to finish to wrap it all up at 15 hours a week or work? Or is that just not enough?

[jdog2050]

[Voyeur]

Professor letter? Not a chance in hell of that LOL

been many moons since undergraduate for me

[Woland]

[Woland]