Best options for Master's/Post Grad?

[Fatty123]

Hi, everyone. This is my first post here. First, a bit about my situation.

1. I have taught in Thailand before. Without a degree (boo-hiss....A levels plus Trinity TESOL). I actually did a good job.

2. I left to get a degree in Education. I'm not into ducking and diving anymore. Time to get qualified. It's a BA in Education, not a B.Ed. I've just started the course at a UK univeristy. It's a two year accelerated degree (360 credit @180 credits per year). No breaks, no holidays and long days.

3. i want to retire in Thailand. I have a Thai wife (6 years). I'm in my early 30's. We are apart while I am at uni. 2 years we can handle, 3 is too much.

4. I want to save as much as possible to achieve a decent retirement fund. I love teaching, so no other career will do.

The reason for this post is that I'm becoming tempted by the idea of a job in the middle east. Saudi and Oman in particular. I know that both nations seem to want an MATESOL and a few years experience. My queston is this:

If i returned to Thailand at end of my degree in Education, what Master's or Post grad would you recommend? I would like a programme that would give me a 'proper' TL within Thailand (although I was told a BA in Education would get a TL in Thailand), but also one that woud get me a well paid teaching gig in the middle east.

With this in mind, which of the following would you suggest?

1. Framingham Uni Bangkok (at Wells campus). An American M.Ed (TESOL). You go to classes and it's from an accredited American uni. Will this work for Saudi or Oman? I know it would work for Thailand (for this week at least!)

2. PGCEi (Keele or Nottingham) Are these useful or not? I'm talking for TL's in Thailand or for the Middle East?

3. UEC Buffalo State, State University of New York, Master Degree at NIST International School, in Bangkok. Any news on this? Hard to get much info from the site. Is this an M.Ed? I heard that it can get you jobs in the Middle East. Is this true or nonsense? I thought they wanted MATESOL, but could be wrong.

4. Any other courses you can recommend (not interested in staying the in UK...wifey and I can't be apart for too long etc)

Maybe the only way to get a well pad gig in Saudi/Oman is to do a Master's in the UK/USA? I have no idea...

Thanks for reading

Edited September 26, 2014 by Fatty123

[brianp0803]

Glad to hear you love teaching.

Yes a BA in education would along with the Thai culture course you could apply for a teaching license.

Before, a BA in education would qualify you for lower teer international school but now that is the minimum requirement for all long term (more than 4-6year) teachers.

Higher international schools like experience in your own country (maybe not an option for you).

Without experience, I am not sure a higher degree would create many more opportunities or higher salary.

How would your wife feel about teaching other countries? Is it really an option?

Teaching doesn't pay well but there are other reward

Edited September 27, 2014 by brianp0803

[Fatty123]

Thanks, Brian.

From what I've been reading, my wife could easily get a visa to come with me to quite a few nations. Oman seems much easier than Saudi (I could be wrong of course)) and it's not a problem for places like South Korea or Malaysia. We would have to be together, as this time apart is a killer and we don't want to repeat it.

You're right that teaching doesn't usually pay well, but you can earn (and save) in places like the Middle East or even South Korea. The reason I want a license for Thailand is that it would always be a place I would like to come back to every few years to work (after saving elsewhere).

[brianp0803]

I understand you have a Thai wife and want to eventually be living/working/retire in Thailand.

If you are looking at working in other countries then why isn't your own country also an option.

Can't you bring your wife to your country?

Experience teaching in your own country I think would increase options and salary.

[Fatty123]

I understand you have a Thai wife and want to eventually be living/working/retire in Thailand.

If you are looking at working in other countries then why isn't your own country also an option.

Can't you bring your wife to your country?

Experience teaching in your own country I think would increase options and salary.

It is an option, but it would mean an extra year doing a PGCE and another six months or so living in my own place on a teacher's salary to apply for her visa to stay in the UK. We also heard that she would have to choose between Thai and British citizenship at some point and she doesn't want to renounce her nationality. She's actually not all that keen on living in the UK and neither am I.

I know it is the 'sensible' option, but it would mean too many years apart and she's not overly in love with the UK anyway.

[SheungWan]

A B.Ed is a bit of a soft touch and typecasts you as such for the rest of your life. You would be better off studying a degree which provides potentially employable skills and gives you a subject specialism. After that you can either do a masters or a post-grad teaching qualification or both. one after the other.