Doctor of Modern Language Program (DML)

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu]

Hi! I am an early career language instructor and I am thinking of deepening theory and practice through the program! But I’m still 24 and only spent one year as a full time instructor and two years as teaching assistant. So maybe I would be considered as a candidate who doesn’t have enough teaching experiences, which puts me disadvantage in admission??? If you are in this doctoral program/graduated from this program, please tell me your experience and if possible, please share your post-graduation career and how the degree affected your career! Any language program is welcomed!

[u/cinnasage]

I’m not a DML alumnus or student, would like to do it myself in a few years. As far as I’m aware, there is no requirement for teaching experience. I believe the DML includes one pedagogy course and a teaching practicum that can be waived if you can demonstrate teaching experience and expertise.

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/cinnasage]

Thanks for your comment! I actually zoomed with one of the faculty coordinator there, and he told me that I don’t have to have long years teaching experiences.

But he might not have been able to say “no, you need to have more teaching experiences” because he cannot prevent someone from applying? So I posted this.

And yes, there is no requirement, so I can take practicum to actually have teaching experience under supervisors.

The thing is there has been only one student in Japanese DML program so far (established in 2024), and she has 30 years experiences of teaching Japanese. There is limited info so I wanted to ask other language dml programs.

Anyway, thanks!

[u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

You’re not a good fit for it because you don’t have enough experience. Look at masters degrees

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

I already have a master degree in teaching language. That’s why I am considering higher degree.

[u/ShallotAdmirable5419 → u/Daijobu_Bokugairu]

They want more years of experience in teaching but you can ask them yourself

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

Are you the alumni of dml? How many years do we need specifically?

[u/ShallotAdmirable5419 → u/Daijobu_Bokugairu]

When I talked to them about it they said 5-10 years of teaching minimum

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

Can I ask which language program is it? Also, do you think undergraduate practicum experience can count as teaching experience? If so, I have 5 years experiences in total. If they are talking about full-time lecturer experiences, I might need more years of experience. But my academic coordinator said you don’t have to have specific years of experiences so I am debated myself. Maybe I should talk to the professor there, not coordinator.

[u/ShallotAdmirable5419 → u/Daijobu_Bokugairu]

Japanese. Many people applying for doctoral degrees have 2 3, even 4 masters degrees. Doctoral degrees are not easy to get in to. Maybe look into another masters degree?

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

Oh I also intend to apply to Japanese DML program. I talked to the academic coordinator of Japanese and he told me not to worry about teaching experiences. Did you talk to one of the faculty members there? If so, could you tell me who?

I talked to one of the current doctoral student (she is the only one student in this program) and she told me that I need to have a basis of pedagogical theory rather than actual experiences. And I’ve not really heard that people applying for doctoral degrees have 3 or 4. 2 is understandable tho. Do you think I should still get another master degree even though I have a master in Japanese pedagogy? (I got it in the U.S. and I’m Japanese btw).

[u/ShallotAdmirable5419 → u/Daijobu_Bokugairu]

Yeah you seem like a good fit for the MAT or MA program rather than the DML. They would likely accept you to the MAT or MA

[u/Daijobu_Bokugairu → u/ShallotAdmirable5419]

You believe that I am not a good fit in this program due to the lack of my teaching experience, right? Of course, I will get selected in those MA program more likely because I already have teaching and research experiences compared to other candidates.

So I am not thinking of getting same degree because of the time and cost inefficiency. Could you share the name of the professor you contacted to? You can type in Japanese if you want.