Job Discussion Forums

[email protected] · Joined: 09 Jun 2016 Posts: 1

I have started teaching at a Japanese university and have found that their placement of students is woeful: not one of the classes I teach has a course book fit for their level.
I was observed teaching and I am going to get my feedback 5 weeks later.

Is this sort of pedagogical ineptitude normal in Japan?
I have been teaching for 25 years and they must win the belt buckle for being cowboys!

KeithfromLeith

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

I have found this to not be the case most of the time.
I do work in a national　university now and students are put in classes by their last name. My students all have a name that starts with a vowel.
There is a range of students, and maybe it is better that I don't have an assigned textbook. When I did so many students "forgot" to bring it.

It shows that the university is not serious about English. It is just required.
On average the TOEFL score is about 460 on the old TOEFL.

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

What? Not true. Some schools assign textbooks and others let teachers choose their own, or let teachers use none.

I don't have tenure.
Some schools have observations while others do not.

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

I think national universities give teachers more freedom.
I think for elective classes, teachers get a choice.
It really depends on the university and who is in charge.

Some universities use commercial textbooks for required classes and change them if enough teachers want there to be a change.

I have worked for three national universities, three private ones, and one public.

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

I think private universities are generally really good. You get paid all year round rather than per class and the students are often better. Dokkyo is a prime example of a good, private institution.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

I used to get a bonus.
Have not heard good things about Dokkyo but do not know why.
Turnover seems high there.

Better? Surely you jest. You could make more money and have smaller classes.
I have had to teach 30-37 at national universities.

Some private universities have an inferiority complex and what teachers to follow a certain way. At a national university, you get treated better, and what matters is a good resume.

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

When I was tokunin, I got a bonus three times a year. The March one was for any increase in enrollment, and it never was as big as the other ones.
Got severance pay after five years. I don't think that is common.

Part-time sucks now since hours can get cut. Mine has for next year. Instead of three days a week I will be down to twice a week in the spring and just once a week in the fall.

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

I am a bit worried about these posts since i accepted a contract to work at a university through Westgate corporation - I didn't even know there were private Universities. contract begins end April 18

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

In my experience, I found that the real high fliers were at private universities. Some of the students at Dokkyo were really good. At two other private universities I also found that there were students who had lived in the US/UK before and were better than average.

I also worked at a large public university where class sizes were sometimes astronomical - up to 50 students for the TOEIC classes, and 80 students were registered on some of my elective courses. The students were streamed by major for the TOEIC classes, and the engineers were averaging around 250 on the TOEIC test.