Teacher Discussion Forums

Hello, everyone. I didn't know that teachers forums could be so interesting and helpful until I browsed through some of the messages posted here.

I was born and live in Mexico. I have a 4-year BA in EFL teaching. I'm planning on going to Australia next year and undertake a master course in Applied Linguistics. So far, I've had a look at the programs that Macquarie and La Trobe offer, but I don't know about the reputation of their curricula in the outside world. Would anyone help me out here? Any recommendations? Are there any other good-quality programs I should look into? Thank you in advance. Have a great day.

Ramiro.

Blimey. This is certainly question of the month.

Australia has a fairly poor reputation. Courses are short. The variety of English there is not well known in the outside world. It is quite cheap. People who can't go anywhere else end up there.

That includes me. I have sent off my cash for the UNE on-line Appl.ling MA.

Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go...............

MacQaurie is considered to be the best place in the world to study systemic functional linguistics. For Masters in Applied Linguistics it is one of the top places in the world.

There is however the problem that outside of those in the know the specific faculties are not known, but this is true everywhere. The two leading places to study international relations in the States are at Brattleboro Vermont, and Monterey California, but I nearly refused somebody with a Masters from the former until our Chairman pointed out that it was considered the best place in the States for training EFL teachers.

Considering the difference in exchange rates between the sterling pound and the US dollar I would definitely go the Australian route. The granting of Masters and PhDs has become an industry nearly everywhere, with pretty well every institution in the UK apart from Oxford or Cambridge taking inappropriate students to pay the fees, and people are rapidly beginning to realize this. The better places in the UK then rip the student off by making him take a years preparatory course, but there are plenty that award degrees to people with limited English after a 'viva voce' that consists of a scripted Power Point presentation.

Thank you both, Stephen and Woodcutter, for your help. I'm about to start sending off applications next month to take up a course in semester 1 next year. So far, I've checked out the faculty staff's webpage to find out about their publications, qualifications, etc. and Macquarie seems more appealing than anywhere else; besides it is cheaper than other universities like La Trobe or Monash. Hope they don't mind taking me in.

Cheers,

R