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English MA and teaching experience. Recommendations?

 
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sokunen



Joined: 03 Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:39 pm    Post subject: English MA and teaching experience. Recommendations? Reply with quote

Currently, I hold two BAs (one in Languages and one in international relations). I'm scheduled to graduate this fall with my Master's in English. My thesis is focusing on digital literacies with ESL students. I've taught/volunteered ESL teaching in Viet Nam, I'm on my second semester of teaching freshmen English at my university, and I'm about to do volunteering at my local literacy group for ESL students. While I don't have a TEFL or ESL certification, I'm fairly confident that my degrees and past experience should offer me some sort of advantage (at least over an applicant that has absolutely no experience).

I've been looking at AEON, Westgate, and Interac, and through my reading across the forum, AEON and Westgate seem to be favored over Interac. My boyfriend is going to a group interview with AEON, but I don't like how you have to stay in their housing and can't cohabitate with partners, so that's another thing I wouldn't really want to pursue with them (also, I can't apply until I'm closer to 6 months of my desired arrival..). Westgate seems awesome, but their term doesn't start until April, four months after I'm done with school. Interac, I've been getting mixed signals, as some have reported various issues with them and their organization. I don't want to do JET, because I want a little bit of control over my life (and I don't want to go through their arduous and expensive application process). I am more interested in teaching teens/young adults/adults, and also enjoy doing the conversational side of things.

I'm not available to work until mid-December, when I graduate, and I know that doesn't correspond to most school schedules. I've thought about applying to some universities, but my Japanese isn't that great (even though I studied it in my undergrad), so I wouldn't be comfortable in an environment where I'd have to speak Japanese exclusively with my cohort.

What say you? Where would be a good place to start? I desire some flexibility in my decision: picking an apartment that I can live in alone or with a partner (and maybe my pet cats if possible..), dynamic schedule where I can teach different grade and fluency levels, decent pay would be nice so I don't mind if my hours are weird and unpredictable, and a long-term commitment.

As always, I've done my own research, but I figure it's best to ask the forum and get individual's feedback and experience. Very Happy
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are interested in Interac but snub your nose at JET? You will have equally less control in both situations. At least with JET you get airfare paid, and there is a possibility of reduced or free rent. (ESID: every situation is different.) I'd say reconsider. You'll also have more support from JET in several ways. In what way is the JET application process so "arduous and expensive"?

Do you realize the difference between being an ALT and an eikaiwa instructor?

Westgate may seem "awesome", but why? It's still a very long day of work, perhaps longer than ALT or eikaiwa, and you may not be asked to continue past the 3-month mark. Luckily, you get paid airfare with them, but you will still be asked to vacate your apartment after 3 months if they don't have back to back contracts.

Quote:
I've thought about applying to some universities, but my Japanese isn't that great (even though I studied it in my undergrad), so I wouldn't be comfortable in an environment where I'd have to speak Japanese exclusively with my cohort.
Please realize a few things.

1) Your "cohort" (singular?) as an ALT will be very weak in English, so you may have to use Japanese there. In eikaiwas and ALT jobs you are not allowed to use Japanese in class, but with the staff you may have to anyway. No difference from university work.

2) The qualifications you have described so far still do not make you eligible for most university jobs. You are going to need publications for most places, and Japanese teaching experience in many. Eikaiwa work usually does not qualify for that type of experience.

Quote:
I'm not available to work until mid-December
Nobody will hire you for that starting date. It's too late in the academic year, plus it's only 2 weeks or so away from a major school break. You might get hired for the following April, though, but you can see the problems that would pose in terms of what you would need to do in the meantime to survive.

Quote:
I desire some flexibility in my decision
Leave the cats behind you. Seriously. Coming with a boyfriend and pets will only make it harder to find a place to live, let alone work. As for flexibility in some kind of "dynamic schedule", you are going to have to learn to take what you get. Japan is flooded with teachers and wannabes, so it's really competitive out there. "Decent pay"? The salaries these days have gone down since about 5 years ago. How much do you need to pay off student loans and such per month? Long-term commitment is case by case. In universities, most work is part-time, which you can't get initially to sponsor a work visa, and most full-time work is on limited-term contracts.

Advice? Be more open to the business realities of teaching in Japan. Get published. Join organizations like JALT. Consider private high schools and junior colleges and technical/vocational schools. Study more Japanese.
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Tsian



Joined: 10 Jan 2012
Posts: 85

PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski, I don't mean to derail the conversation, but I'm curious has it been your experience that ALTs are expected to not use Japanese in class?

Thus far in my experience I've used Japanese where appropriate in class, and if anything the teachers have seemed appreciative of it. (It hadn't even occurred to me that many places might be against this)
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OneJoelFifty



Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sokunen, with your MA I fear you'll find yourself under-used and frustrated as an ALT. There's a possibility you'll have little to no responsibility. But on the flipside, as Glenski said, you aren't qualified to work at a university. If I were you I'd try applying to private schools, but be willing to also get work as a public school ALT, wherever it may be. Use the time (and you may also have a lot of free time at your school) during your first 12 months in Japan to acclimatise, study plenty of Japanese, work on some papers. Then try and get a better job. Just be prepared for a scenario where initially your ambitions don't match your situation, and keep the bigger picture in mind.

Tsian, I'll chime in here and say that whether it's expected or not, it's much better that a good ALT doesn't use any Japanese in the classroom. That's what the JTE is there for. The majority of the time, any activity you want to do should be possible to explain in simple English with a demonstration, if it can't be then there's a good chance it's unnecessarily complicated. Just my opinion.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Using Japanese in class "where appropriate" is the ticklish situation. Personally, I don't believe most classes can be taught effectively without using a little, especially to give instructions. Not all the time, though.

Foreigners are hired largely to speak in their home accent and speed, something that Japanese cannot do (or do well). We are the role models for their ears. Also, once you start using Japanese in class, students will lose that sense of needing to use English all the time to communicate and practice, whether in or outside the class. My advice is to do one's best to minimize the amount of Japanese in a classroom.
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sokunen



Joined: 03 Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
You are interested in Interac but snub your nose at JET? You will have equally less control in both situations. At least with JET you get airfare paid, and there is a possibility of reduced or free rent. (ESID: every situation is different.) I'd say reconsider. You'll also have more support from JET in several ways. In what way is the JET application process so "arduous and expensive"?

Some friends involved in it throughout the years; just haven't heard good things. It doesn't sound like it's something I'd find fulfilling.

Quote:

Do you realize the difference between being an ALT and an eikaiwa instructor?

I do.

Quote:

Westgate may seem "awesome", but why? It's still a very long day of work, perhaps longer than ALT or eikaiwa, and you may not be asked to continue past the 3-month mark. Luckily, you get paid airfare with them, but you will still be asked to vacate your apartment after 3 months if they don't have back to back contracts.

Westgate sounds like it's more dynamic. I want the hard work; I want to be challenged. I thrive on stress. I also like the idea of having unpredictable placements, and going to different schools/locations all the time.

Quote:

1) Your "cohort" (singular?) as an ALT will be very weak in English, so you may have to use Japanese there. In eikaiwas and ALT jobs you are not allowed to use Japanese in class, but with the staff you may have to anyway. No difference from university work.

Yes, singular Razz I'm fine with conversing, but I couldn't communicate solely in Japanese yet.
Quote:

2) The qualifications you have described so far still do not make you eligible for most university jobs. You are going to need publications for most places, and Japanese teaching experience in many. Eikaiwa work usually does not qualify for that type of experience.

I will be having publications by the end of my academic career, but that takes time to actually get things processed. And Japanese teaching -- you mean teaching the language or teaching Japanese-style?

Quote:
Nobody will hire you for that starting date. It's too late in the academic year, plus it's only 2 weeks or so away from a major school break. You might get hired for the following April, though, but you can see the problems that would pose in terms of what you would need to do in the meantime to survive.

I understand that most places start then, but I'm trying to determine where the best places would be when I apply.

Quote:
"Decent pay"? The salaries these days have gone down since about 5 years ago. How much do you need to pay off student loans and such per month?
Decent pay would mean livable wages that won't have me eating 25-cent ramen packages for the entire time I'm there. I've no debts, no loans, none of that. I have little that holds me back from having a flexible lifestyle.

Quote:

Advice? Be more open to the business realities of teaching in Japan. Get published. Join organizations like JALT. Consider private high schools and junior colleges and technical/vocational schools. Study more Japanese.

Good advice, thank you.


Last edited by sokunen on Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total
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sokunen



Joined: 03 Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OneJoelFifty wrote:
Sokunen, with your MA I fear you'll find yourself under-used and frustrated as an ALT. There's a possibility you'll have little to no responsibility. But on the flipside, as Glenski said, you aren't qualified to work at a university. If I were you I'd try applying to private schools, but be willing to also get work as a public school ALT, wherever it may be. Use the time (and you may also have a lot of free time at your school) during your first 12 months in Japan to acclimatise, study plenty of Japanese, work on some papers. Then try and get a better job. Just be prepared for a scenario where initially your ambitions don't match your situation, and keep the bigger picture in mind.

Tsian, I'll chime in here and say that whether it's expected or not, it's much better that a good ALT doesn't use any Japanese in the classroom. That's what the JTE is there for. The majority of the time, any activity you want to do should be possible to explain in simple English with a demonstration, if it can't be then there's a good chance it's unnecessarily complicated. Just my opinion.


I didn't think about private schools; that's a good idea.

While I know things naturally would never start off the way I'd dream, I know I'd have to start somewhere. I think you're right that I may be frustrated, but I'd hope that with enough work and dedication, I could find myself in a position where I'd be happier.
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OneJoelFifty



Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
Using Japanese in class "where appropriate" is the ticklish situation. Personally, I don't believe most classes can be taught effectively without using a little, especially to give instructions. Not all the time, though.

Foreigners are hired largely to speak in their home accent and speed, something that Japanese cannot do (or do well). We are the role models for their ears. Also, once you start using Japanese in class, students will lose that sense of needing to use English all the time to communicate and practice, whether in or outside the class. My advice is to do one's best to minimize the amount of Japanese in a classroom.


But the question was specifically about ALTs. I don't see any reason why, with a Japanese teacher there as well, the ALT would need to speak any English.

Something I liked to do with explanations that were a little more difficult, was just ask "Do you understand? Raise your hand if you understand." There would always be a student or two. Simply ask them to explain in Japanese, and if you can understand their Japanese then all you need to say is "Yes, that's right, well done." If you can't understand it, just ask the Japanese teacher if what the student said is right. Sometimes the Japanese teacher will have to offer a small correction, but often not.
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Tsian



Joined: 10 Jan 2012
Posts: 85

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
My advice is to do one's best to minimize the amount of Japanese in a classroom.


Ok, I see where you were coming from and thats certainly a valid point of view... I think you are quite right when it comes to using English as much as possible within the classroom... as limiting Japanese outside of the classroom would make helping with cleaning / lunch / club activities difficult.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sokunen wrote:
Glenski wrote:
You are interested in Interac but snub your nose at JET? You will have equally less control in both situations. At least with JET you get airfare paid, and there is a possibility of reduced or free rent. (ESID: every situation is different.) I'd say reconsider. You'll also have more support from JET in several ways. In what way is the JET application process so "arduous and expensive"?

Some friends involved in it throughout the years; just haven't heard good things. It doesn't sound like it's something I'd find fulfilling.
Most people will tell you that as far as ALT jobs go, let alone entry level work, JET is pretty much the cream of the crop.

Quote:
Westgate sounds like it's more dynamic.
In what way? You teach a room full of college kids or kiddies alone. With the uni kids it's 7-8 straight lessons, not a cakewalk.

Quote:
I want the hard work; I want to be challenged. I thrive on stress. I also like the idea of having unpredictable placements, and going to different schools/locations all the time.
Then don't go with Westgate. Be an ALT instead. Just my opinion. You'll have to deal with crappy dispatch management if you go that route, and ALTs have to deal with animosity from the JTEs (not always, but often), plus other challenges that may include either being totally in charge of the class while the JTE sits back and shrugs off his job, or being nothing but a human tape recorder.

Quote:
Quote:

1) Your "cohort" (singular?) as an ALT will be very weak in English, so you may have to use Japanese there. In eikaiwas and ALT jobs you are not allowed to use Japanese in class, but with the staff you may have to anyway. No difference from university work.

Yes, singular Razz I'm fine with conversing, but I couldn't communicate solely in Japanese yet.
Please realize that it will likely be cohorts plural, and their command of English may be pretty darned minimal despite the fact that they are teaching it.

[quote]
Quote:
I will be having publications by the end of my academic career, but that takes time to actually get things processed. And Japanese teaching -- you mean teaching the language or teaching Japanese-style?
I know they take time to process. I'm on both ends of that system -- author and editor. To answer your question, I meant neither. I meant teaching English in Japan to Japanese students. That may involve "Japanese style" teaching or not.

Quote:
I understand that most places start then, but I'm trying to determine where the best places would be when I apply.
If you are available to start in mid-December, is that when you plan to start applying, or would you apply 2-3 months earlier? Earlier would be better, although openings drop precipitously after October and then pick up again in February. To expect to start in mid-December is unrealistic, IMO. You might get hired then by a dispatch agency to start you teaching in April, otherwise it would be very lucky indeed to start any job in the last month of the calendar year. People might say that there could be openings as dissatisfied foreigners bail out and never return during Xmas vacation, but to that I say two things:

1) They are dissatisfied for a reason that you should probably heed.
2) Such opportunities are pretty darned rare, IMO.

Quote:
Decent pay would mean livable wages that won't have me eating 25-cent ramen packages for the entire time I'm there. I've no debts, no loans, none of that. I have little that holds me back from having a flexible lifestyle.
You can probably figure that 125,000 yen per month will go to basic necessities. The lowest salary for a FT job I've ever seen has been 150,000 (totally unrealistic considering the cost of living, but if immigration is willing to consider that enough for a visa, so be it; I'd strongly suggest not taking less than 220,000). If "flexible" means being the least bit frugal, then you can trust me that you will not be licking ramen packages for meals. There are plenty of woeful foreigners who splurge their paychecks instead of putting a little thought into saving, so you might have been getting vibrations from those sorts. You don't sound like that type of person, so you can relax on that account as long as you go with the salary I recommended. For decades it was a standard across the board 250,000 minimum, and then poor economy has driven some employers into giving teachers the shaft in various financial ways.
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