Applied Linguistics: MA programs online?

theunquietamerican · Post by **theunquietamerican** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:09 pm

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has completed or is currently doing an online MA program in applied linguistics or TESOL. Which programs are better (and which are cheaper)? Is it worth the time and money?

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 1:18 am

My colleague is fairly positive about her on-line course at the New England University in Australia. I'm sure there's plenty to learn, and they set it all up conveniently for her, which the evil controllers of my 'distance' learning course most certainly did not. As to whether it is worth the money, well, you won't be accepted with that in certain middle eastern countries, for example. Depends what you want to do.

theunquietamerican · Post by **theunquietamerican** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 5:47 am

Thanks. But why would it not be acceptable in those countries? Because it's an online course? Can they tell the difference?

Sunpower · Post by **Sunpower** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:05 pm

Hi,

Your on-line or distance degree will NOT be recognized in TAIWAN either.

I also understand that some universities hiring foreign English teachers may discriminate against degrees obtained by distance.

Be careful with distance degrees.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:22 pm

If everyone is reading more or less the same (set) texts and (supposed to be) coming to (more or less) the same conclusions, what real difference is there between distance and taught (non-research) degrees? (I also thought the reputable distance degrees required the same kind of essays, correspondance with tutors, "moderation", attendance [albeit only at at a summer school or two] etc).

Is taking slightly more time to go about absorbing things considered bad, then? And is a residential course always the more educational experience?

theunquietamerican · Post by **theunquietamerican** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 5:56 pm

The difference that I see is that there is no practical way to administer an exam and see if the student is taking it himself. When the student is in physical attendance, the professor can ensure that it is the registered student who takes the exam.

From what I have gathered of the online learning world, the way online programs deal with this is by not giving exams at all. Although they could conceivably have the student do his whole program online, then have him take a set of final examinations proctored on site or by a reputable local organization, they choose not to (perhaps because this would require defining a set of terminal goals, which few, if any, programs are willing to do, be they online or on site).

For the most part, I think, graduate programs are a scam. Perhaps I am wrong; hence, my original post. I can't really see paying 7000 USD to have a school give me a study list and look at my work. But I thought it would be worthwhile to ask. Besides, I thought I could make more money and more importantly get a better job with an MA. (Although at present, I am making at least as much as the people at my school with PGCE's and the like, and more I think than some with master's degrees.)

I am looking into going to grad school and getting paid for teaching, with a tuition waiver. I believe that this is possible.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 6:23 pm

Oh, I see. I thought exams were mainly for the swarms of undergraduates.

It's not that I have anything against exams, I just got the impression (from the online prospectuses that I've consulted) that exams were only a minor if non-existant component of the assessment for MA courses; that is, I thought people would be more assessed through coursework and essay assignments, plus a final dissertation, than exams, and that there'd be a slight "slowing down to smell and appreciate the roses" generally.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:50 pm

My Chinese Studies MA had exams that were much more hardcore than anything I did at undergraduate level.

I'm sure that varies a lot with the different courses. One thing which I suspect does not vary, however, is that an MA student is regarded as a lowly creature much like any other.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:03 am

woodcutter wrote:My Chinese Studies MA had exams that were much more hardcore than anything I did at undergraduate level.

I'm sure that varies a lot with the different courses. One thing which I suspect does not vary, however, is that an MA student is regarded as a lowly creature much like any other.

Ah, when I said "MA courses", I meant, of course, "breadticket" MAs in Applied Linguistics!

I too am also sure that learning a second language to any appreciable level involves a lot more study (that probably really does need to be examined/tested) and raw effort than learning "how" to teach your native language to second language learners.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:12 am

I know.

The important thing for you to grasp is my last point.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:20 am

I only have small hamster-sized hands (well, paws), and a small rodent brain controlling them, so I'm not sure I'll ever be able to really grasp your "points" (especially if and when they are huge ones) using any of my "multiple intelligences".

I know I shouldn't've added anything there (cos you'd kind of said it for me with your "I'm sure that varies a lot with the different courses"), but hell, I just felt like saying "breadticket" today!

(I'm going to do a search now to see how many times I or anybody else has said that word on Dave's).

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:50 am

Eagerly-anticipated search results for "breadticket": 2 counts. Both as used by yours truly.

I'm repeating myself, it would seem (maybe I was hoping the usage would catch on more than it has

)!

Can't remember where I first read or heard it...was it in a TEFL context? Hmm...certainly, it was in an "education" one, to do with the worth of qualifications (which is what this thread is about, to give my ramblings here some significance

)...

JuliaM · Post by **JuliaM** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:55 pm

I am almost finished the MA in Applied Linguistics at the University of New England in Australia. I also have a BA, a Master of Letters and an MEd, and I can honestly say that this degree has tested me to my limits. It is much more vigorous than has been suggested for an online course, and very much more so than my undergrad degree. It is true that some countries/organisations don't recognise degrees attained online or by distance, but many do, and these degrees are gaining rapidly in reputation (especially the Australian ones). Also, there is nothing on your transcript or testamur that says what the study mode is/was, so if you choose not to tell prospective employers, then they should be none the wiser. In essence, it IS worth the paper it's printed on - I have a supervisory role in a leading ESL school that I got on the strength of my qualifications.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:08 pm

Thanks for the info, Julia.

I don't know if the UNE was among the several Aus MAs that I browsed through online a few months ago, but I was generally impressed by what they all seemed to be offering and felt that the qualifications they'd be awarding would, as you've said, be "worth the paper they're printed on".

Sunpower · Post by **Sunpower** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:58 pm

JuliaM wrote: Also, there is nothing on your transcript or testamur that says what the study mode is/was, so if you choose not to tell prospective employers, then they should be none the wiser. In essence, it IS worth the paper it's printed on - I have a supervisory role in a leading ESL school that I got on the strength of my qualifications..

I see some obvious problems with these statements.

If I were interviewing you, I'd want to know how you liked living in Australia and what your classes were like - your favourite class, etc.

Also, you have to provide your passport for a work visa in overseas countries andI all I would need to do is look inside your passport to see you had a student visa.

And for the thousands of teachers in Japan, Taiwan and Korea, all you would have to do is to check the dates of employment on their resumes.

I could also phone your employer for a character refrence and if you're still employed and have been working at that particular school while you were doing your M.A., then it would be pretty easy to see that you were doing it through distance format.

Futhermore, the M.A. Applied Linguistics degrees coming out of Australia are pretty damn easy and would be classified more in line with being a 'certificate' level course in a country, say like Canada or even America where M.A. degrees require not only course work but a thesis and defense of an original piece of research.

For example, there is no thesis requirment for these Australian M.A. courses. A post graduate degree is designed to go beyond course work and to engage in research and to contribute to the body of literature within the field of your study.

Some programs are a joke! - Monash, for example, and I think your school UNE, require the completion of only 6 courses to graduate with an M.A. degree. WOW!!

That's less than 1 year to complete an Masters Degree!!! - You could do that in two 4 month semesters - 8 months for a Master Degree if you go full time?

Something's wrong there.

Australian schools are handing these M.A. Applied Linguistics / TESOL degrees out like candy and, in my opinion, doing a great diservice to the value of an M.A. degree - They are 'devaluing' the M.A. degree.

If anything, I would argue that there may be some problems in the future with seeing the Australian M.A. Applied Linguistics degrees as being legitimate. So, I disagree with you in your saying that Australian M.A. programs are earning a great reputation.

Not to mention, Auastralian M.A. Applied Linguistics / TESOL programs do not require any supervised or observed teaching components to the degree.

Lots of problems with these degrees, in my view.

However, those currently doing these kind of degrees champion them as legitimate and the way of "modern education."