Masters in Education from ABAC

**haltest** · 19th January 2005 15:15

After having been teaching in Thailand for a few years, I have to decide whether

a) teaching is for me
b) How I can best develop myself for future prospects and opportunities

I like teaching, although I would on the whole prefer to be teaching other subjects beyond English language, I would like to teach politics, English Literature, or history, or even IT or business (which is my BA subject)

So I need to get qualified to teach other subjects, I have a CELTA, and I have my degree in business. So I face the choice of either going back to the UK and completing a PGCE, look at other distance learning alternatives, or study something locally.

So the question is what would people think of a masters degree in education completed in Thailand. I know it would be accepted internationally ( I have checked with ABAC, the British Council, and the British Embassy)

Is anyone on this board actually studying on this program or know anyone that is?

Any opinions?

**bluffer** · 19th January 2005 16:25

I know someone that is going to start in May ( I think ) and one person that is doing it just now.

From what I can gather the course content seems pretty good - they have both selected the weekend attendence option. But from what the first guy said, a lot of the course is attendence based, in other words there arent really many exams.

But, I havent really discussed the matter in great depth with the one who is currently doing it.

When they mean accepted internationally is it linked to or accredited by any overseas uni ?

**Ijustwannateach** · 19th January 2005 16:42

Make sure you know what you mean by "accepted."

If I were you I would call the institution(s) you want to work at and ask them directly (and on the record) what qualifications they look for.

Many of the "Holy of Holies" International Schools seem to have requirements that are moving targets, especially if you're talking about qualifications acquired in Thailand- had one friend who finished a Master's at ABAC, then tried to get better work here but was told they wanted a "Teaching Certificate" instead.

I've pretty much found that the "Holy of Holies" places won't take anyone local seriously no matter how good they are.

"Steven"

**haltest** · 21st January 2005 12:35

In particular it would be nice if we could get some responses from those that are working or have worked in International schools here....

**MrC** · 21st January 2005 18:31

Pardon me.

What does ABAC stand for?

**Gluestick** · 21st January 2005 23:16

Assumption University (ABAC)

No offense but you honestly could have just googled it in the time it took you to type your post.

**Unwell** · 22nd January 2005 08:43

whats google stand for?

**Whitey** · 22nd January 2005 13:34

Google is a very large number if I am not mistaken.

You never know what you will find when you google something.

**Unwell** · 22nd January 2005 14:20

i found a silver sixpence and a half eaten twix once.

**PeaceBlondie** · 22nd January 2005 14:35

I was taken aback once. Does that mean I was taken to ABAC?

**Unwell** · 22nd January 2005 14:50

taken around the back? pb, a little more info than we require....

**Ijustwannateach** · 22nd January 2005 16:00

Incidentally, the "ABAC Temple" on the road out to Pattaya is one of the lesser-known tourist-sites-waiting-to-happen in Thailand. Set in the middle of a swamp in the middle of nowhere, it's a marble-clad sky-scraping monument to pretension with absolutely no taste in the midst of rice fields and country slums. There's hardly anywhere else in Thailand where the juxtaposition of the poor native and the rich upstart immigrant Chinese is more starkly underscored.

"Steven"

**Unwell** · 22nd January 2005 16:05

i've seen pictures, it's insane, absolutely tasteless, kitzch, horrible thing.

and then the catholic school i used to work for had broken furniture, no books and paid the majority of it's staff far under ten grand a month.

the catholic church is a f.ucking joke.

**Tomm** · 22nd January 2005 21:10

Originally Posted by Ijustwannateach

especially if you're talking about qualifications acquired in Thailand- had one friend who finished a Master's at ABAC, then tried to get better work here but was told they wanted a "Teaching Certificate" instead.

Yeah I was talking to an agency who works placing qualified teachers in International schools. They said that most schools require a North American teaching credential, i.e. a teaching certificate, if they run on the American system or I guess a corresponding British credential if they run on the British system. They need this for their own accredidation issues. A certain percentage of their teachers have to be certified, if not all in some cases, so unless you are a one-of-a-kind stellar candidate you need to get one.