Tabaann

Thank you so much for your help!

Thanks for the reply. I have been keeping an eye on job posts in both places for a couple of months. There are definitely more options in Boston but, as you say, the competition is also extremely high. There are fewer options in VB but I wonder if it'd be pretty easy to snag one of the jobs that are available. I've been lucky to get jobs in San Antonio and Knoxville very quickly even though they're fairly limited. My husband thinks this is a 'safer' option but I'm not so sure. He is in banking so he has a lot of options. I'm also wondering if having an MEd in TESOL is going to make me less competitive going for a non ESL job like ISS Advising and Immigration Counseling.

What is most likely to get you in the door to where you truly want to be working? I'm not sure. That is what Need help with. Also, does either option provide any kind of job networking opportunities after you complete your Masters? Nothing more than basic alumni stuff. I am currently working in international programs though so I have memberships, go to conferences and have networking opportunities through work.

I am having a dilemma regarding the best degree for the career I'd like. I would like to develop short and long term curriculums and/or programs for international students such as ESL classes, short language and site seeing programs or international club activities. I have a BA in English and a no-name TEFL Cert which got me a job at a small, American university in China where I taught for 2.5 years. I advised for just under 2 years and I'm now working in International Services (with employees, not students). I've also started doing some volunteer ESL teaching. I am trying to decide between the following: 1. A Masters of Liberal Arts from a name brand school; a 'southern ivy' some say. The professors are excellent and I would write a thesis on a topic of my choice which would be related to international education. It would cost me just under $9,000 in tuition. 2. A Masters in Education with a concentration in TESOL (online) from a small, private school in the Boston area. I like that it is a skill set rather than general knowledge and 'transferable skills'. It would cost me a bit over $6,000. I am worried about the job market for ESL though. I am also worried that I wouldn't be considered for a non-ESL job like (international student advising) because it would seem to the employer like a second choice. However, the MLA seems very general and, name or not, could make it hard to find a job. I know I would enjoy either option so it's impossible to decide based on that. Primarily it's for career advancement. I plan to move to the Boston or Virginia Beach area in 2-4 years and know finding a job will be difficult. Which would make it easier to get and advance in the kind of job I want? Thank you for any advice/insight.

Thanks. I am actually looking at that right now.

I am wondering if anyone knows of a program similar to the MAIS through Concordia University - Irvine. WIth this program you spend a summer in Irvine, a year teaching in China and finish with a thesis in the summer. I am very interested in this program but have lived in China for 2 years and would really like to go somewhere else. Does anyone know of any similar masters programs? http://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/graduate/international-studies Thanks!

It's there. I haven't read it yet. But its there.

Looks like my appointment isn't showing up which means I have the next 48 minutes to refresh, refresh, refresh, refresh, refresh....

Sometimes life is so unfair! I might have passed out!

Hopefully there will be only rejoycing, which might also freak my coworkers out. Best of luck to you as well!!!

Same here. The last thing I want to do is start sobbing in front of my co-workers!

Up to 170 - has everyone added their info to the spreadsheet? Please do! https://docs.google....p=sharing#gid=1

Yep, one of them is me and I though the other might be around her somewhere...

Well, I was perfectly content to wait it out until Jan 31 until I found this forum and now I am a huge mess - I blame you all I'm just wondering if anyone else applied to Turkmenistan or another Central Asian country?