Teacher Discussion Forums

I need some advice out there in the ESL world. Let me give you a rundown about what I'm doing, my interests, and my experience. Right now I'm teaching English as a Second Language in Boston, and previously was in Costa Rica teaching english (that's where I got my certificate in TESOL through the School For International Training they have a site in CR).

So, I'm in the process of applying to grad schools (dred). I have my BA in English/Writing. All along I thought I would get a Masters in TESOL, but now my mind is going in many different directions.

While I have a full time job right now in teaching ESL to adults, I've been told that I'm lucky, and that I should more consider a Masters in Education for public schools because this is where the jobs are at.

Well, this could be a good idea, but I'm not sure if I'm interested in teaching kids, but it's not out of the question. The other thing is that if I get a Masters in TESOL, would this limit me greatly?

So then I started thinking about focusing more on Applied linguistics, which I believe is essentially the same as a Masters in TESOL, but I always thought about going on to get a PHd in linguistics. Academia really excites me, and I would love to get paid to do research, and travel and research other languages and cultures, so if I go this route I might as well focus on Linguistics or applied linguistics. Of course, I'm limited to just that, academia.

Ready for more options? I'm not fluent in Spanish, but it's a work in progress, and I thought about mastering in Spanish, but that would also limit me to the Academic world, and I'm not really interested in studying Cervantes or 18th century spanish literature, but more about the language, the culture, and it's people.

The other option is translation and interpreting. I believe this is a hot field, and maybe more of a money maker than taking the academia route.

I guess a plain old masters in TESOL just doesn't sound like a forward moving career to me, and it sounds like options might be limitied when I get out. Although I do still want to travel and teach abroad, which I guess I could do with masters or without.

Anyways, please any advice would be welcoming, I've been researching a lot, but I need a little direction. Thank you!

Some thoughts
You don't need a masters to do a PhD, so coice of masters would not affect this.

MA TESOL is unlikely to further your career much in TESOL. I know of directors of studies who do not even have a TEFL cert.

MA (Education) and MA Applied Linguistics are transferable. And TESOL still open to you.

MEd would open the door to the mainstream schools and International schools. You may not want to teach kids now but if you have kids of your own (one day) then free place in an international school (usual staff benefit) may be attractive.
Also International Schools pay a lot more than TESOL.
TESOL still an option.

Translation is not highly paid in China as there are many Chinese with near perfect English who can simultaneosly translate, and they earn Asian wages. Many are English majors or PhD students. This trend is growing.

In academic terms TESOL is pretty low on the food chain. In China we are viewed as very low status and the money terms and conditions are rapidly deteriorating in cities like Shanghai. EG some companies have reduced pay over the last 3 years. Also competition is driving down prices and hence ability of companies to pay wages.

There are other MA courses that combine elements of TESOL, CALL, and online and distance learning.
If you are in UK/EU you can apply to Open University www.open.ac.uk even if you are not, you should visit the site to see what postgrad courses in the field of education and language there are.

Main advice is go for transferable skills/knowledge

Sorry to sound cynical and negative.

Thanks for your help. I didn't realize that I could do a Phd without getting a Masters first? Yah it looks like MA TESOL is pretty low on the food chain, you're right. Are you still in this field? It sounds like if I want to continue with teaching English as a second language to adults, I need not even get a Masters. Just curious, what is your educational background? You mentioned International Schools paying better, and I would definately need a MED in public schools for these jobs?

You talked about Chinese interpreting. What about mastering in Spanish with a certificate in interpreting? I assume there are also many Spanish interpereters out there, and most who probably speak a lot better than me, but I do have the opportunity to improve.

Thanks again.

I am still in the field.
In China the only 2 squalifications you need are bachelors degree and 'native speaker' (preferably white).
To work in state schools a TEFL cert of some sort is often required. but in the private sector not.

My Education background is BSc Environment, MA Environment, MBA and I am half way through an MA (Education) with Open University.

The biggest issue for TESOL in China is the quality of the 'teachers' . There are too many burned out execs not got over a nervous breakdown, and other nutters. I meet at least one a month
Second biggest is the very low quality of management in the training centres. A lot of these managers are western.

I am serously considering quiting.

You keep talking about China, but this is not at all related to me. But I think the overall feeling is that TESOL is a burnout career, should I get out now before it's too late. Ughh what to do now?

lbennett wrote:You keep talking about China, but this is not at all related to me. But I think the overall feeling is that TESOL is a burnout career, should I get out now before it's too late. Ughh what to do now?

I only talk about China for context as I know S America and EU are different. I hear that Spain is the pits to do TEFL work, but Czech republic is very good.

I know that in Asia there are many burn outs, however there are some very good career teachers.
Unfortunatley the idiots get themselves noticed, there are more of them and local management tars us all with the same brush.

But do think about a PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education (UK but US will have an equivalent) if you don't have one. It will serve you much better than an MA. This is beacuase it is a vocational course and there is lots of teching practice. Unlike an MA which is theory based.

The PGCE is intended for teachers going into state schools. Teaching certification is the American equivalent.

Very useful if you want to do the international school circuit, but you would still need to do a couple of years in K1-12 in your home country.

I understand that state certification would give me more options for public schools, but like I said I don't have the desire to work in public schools. Also, I know that I don't need a masters to go work abroad, that would be fine if was going to live abroad, but here in the states things are different.

I guess I just don't want to go spend a lot of money on a degree that I may not need, or that might limit me to just that, teaching english as a second language to adults only.

What is anyone's take on getting an interpreter certification. What is the job market like in that field.

Thanks again.