Job Discussion Forums

[tcatsninfan]

So I have a bachelor's degree in English and worked in the writing room on campus, but since I graduated in 2007 I've mainly been working as a technical writer in the 'professional' world.

I've had an interest in teaching overseas for awhile now, specifically Japan--I visited for 2 weeks in 2009--but I was married before and teaching overseas wasn't something that was going to work out.

Now, however, I find myself divorced and open to new possibilities. However, I don't have any hands-on teaching experience and finding teaching jobs in the US is a difficult matter right now, what with the economy and all, so it wouldn't be an easy task for me to find a teaching job to gain experience in that field. I live in the southeastern United States and there isn't a decent ESL population anywhere remotely close to where I live, so that option also appears to be off the table for gaining experience.

There's a woman I have been emailing for a few years who came from the television industry. She got a job teaching in Korea--without having any practical teaching experience--and transferred to Japan after a year.

Based on what I've seen from job postings, it seems almost impossible to get a job teaching in Japan without actual teaching experience or additional education.

I guess the main reason I'm posting here is to ask how feasible it would be for me to try and replicate her situation--teach in Korea (or some other country like China) for a year and transfer to Japan.

Also, I had a question about how reputable a particular TEFL program is. My grandparents live in Miami, Florida and I noticed this TEFL course is being offered there:

http://www.oxfordseminars.com/tesol-tesl-tefl-course/course-outline.php

Theoretically, I could stay with my grandparents while I take this TEFL course. However, from what I've read on this board and elsewhere, TEFL courses have different numbers of hours involved and the only one that really 'counts' is the 120 hour course. The only thing I see listed for this course is a 40 hour online component, which means it probably isn't worth getting.

Is that correct? Is this course basically irrelevant?

[timothypfox]

Ok, I'll take a stab at giving you advice. I'm sure others will add. But here are a few thoughts about your questions.

A Bachelor's degree in field would qualify you for work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) or working at a language school (eikaiwa). There are companies that hire for ALT work from overseas, but of are of variable quality. Eikawas also do some hiring overseas, but by and large better quality work can be found when you are over here and can interview in person. I'm speaking for someone with your qualifications.

Now I won't mince words. You may have read this other places - but Japan is a competitive market place these days. I think if you are serious about it, make those extra steps to make yourself look attractive. A TEFL certificate of 120 hours is sometimes required for certain positions. If you had the time and money, brand name recognition goes a long way and a Cambridge or Trinity Certificate would have the most clout as far as TEFL certificates go.

Do volunteer tutoring at a local campus with foreign students. This is work experience you could later put on your resume.

Take a Japanese class so that you could at least prove on paper a big interest in Japan. If there are no places to take a course, post an add at a community center or college campus for a private tutor or better yet a language exchange (which would be free).

As for US work, you might try building your qualifications by relocating. Any large urban center in the US has a Teaching Fellows or Teach for America program which would basically guarantee a job in public schools and a heavily subsidized master's in tesol degree (among other specialties). I followed this route in NYC and was able to get hired at a private high school in Japan.

About transferring from a country that has easier to get jobs such as China or Korea. There are people asking this same question all the time on the forums. If you consider this route, you will need to save a lot of money when you go to Japan. There are a lot of up front costs to consider. An employer in another country may provide airfare or free housing, but these days are long gone in Japan.

[Glenski]

[OneJoelFifty]

[tcatsninfan]

Thanks for all the valuable input! I'll try to respond to the appropriate parts:

[tcatsninfan]

[HLJHLJ]

Don't come to Japan if you can't afford it. It's just not worth the risk of trying to do it on a tight budget. Register at the K forum and ask there, it will probably be a better starting point for you not so much for the experience, but in terms of having much lower start up costs. A few thousand dollars savings will be a good safety net in K, but barely sufficient to get started in Japan. That way you can save some cash and look at moving to Japan later.

In the meantime read through the info here, especially on other people's experiences of the JET programme application procedure. It's not highly qualified compeititors stopping you finding a position. Regardless of how good you think your resume skills are, it seems likely that you are missing something in your application. Do the research now, and then you'll be better prepared when you are financially ready for Japan.

[kah5217]

Interac hired me and I have zero teaching experience. I work at a convenience store for crying out loud. If I had to guess, I'd say that you aren't answering their application questions with what they want to hear. They don't like "me me me, I did this, I want this for..." as much as "I will do this for the company, for the students, for Japan because..." etc.

[Rooster.]

[spiral78]

I know nothing about Japan, but I do know something about Oxford seminars and similar courses.

Basically, don't bother. The employers who will hire you with one of these certs are mostly those who would hire you with none at all.

The standard basic cert you can count on pretty much everywhere for entry-level jobs is 120+ hours on site and (key) including supervised teaching practice with actual students (not peer trainees).

The onsite component of Oxford Seminars and similar courses is normally focused primarily on how to get a job and live abroad; not on teaching approaches and methods. Practice teaching on peer trainees does not substitute for working with real students and receiving educated feedback on what you've done well and what you need to improve.

[tcatsninfan]

[HLJHLJ]

[Glenski]

Lots of good replies here (thanks, too, to spiral78 for her contribution about the Oxford seminars; I was hoping someone like her would chime in; pay heed to what she said about that because as I wrote, I could only dimly recall it had a negative image).

Yes, most hiring takes place in Feb/March because the academic year and fiscal year begin in April. You will find work year round, but the peak is for that time. ALTs outside of JET might even see ads earlier, perhaps beginning in Nov, but the job itself usually starts in April. I heard that JET has added an early hiring period, so look at their application description again.

I agree with those who have said you must have something seriously wrong or missing from your application materials. kah has pointed out some valid possibilities, too. I've proofread scores of resumes and cover letters for candidates, and that is just the attitude they took a lot of the time (the "what's in it for me?" factor).

And, yes, you were misinformed (or misunderstood) about what caliber of people get hired initially in Japan. Most have degrees unrelated to teaching or English, and most have little to zero experience teaching.

As for interview locations, about a dozen employers recruit from abroad and have offices established there. A few others (number undetermined) are willing to do a Skype interview, but bear in mind the problems at your end in doing that (i.e., what you can't see or know). What ticks me off is a comment like that from Rooster:

[Rooster.]

[Glenski]

Thanks, Rooster.

By the way, RCS has a horrible reputation.