Job Discussion Forums

[Raniken]

Hi,

Hoping to get a little advice about job prospects and future potential from some of the more experienced university teachers that frequent these forums.


I have an MA in Applied Linguistics and I am about to begin the 2nd year of a PhD program in Education with a concentration in Applied Linguistics. I am finding the PhD program to be a poor fit for my interests, and I am strongly considering dropping out. I taught in Japan (through ECC) about 7 years ago, and really enjoyed the experience. I know some Japanese, but it is all at a very basic level. Since moving back from Japan I have accumulated 1 year of teaching ESL at College, 8 months of teaching academic writing to ESL students at university, and 2 years work as a writing tutor at another university (native and non-native speakers of English). I have one publication at this point, but should have another 3-4 articles coming out this year – 2 in commerce and 2 in applied linguistics.
Is it worth pursuing my PhD, or would be current experience level allow me to get/maintain good positions in Japan?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[timothypfox]

Look at job postings to see how your qualifications stack up... It's adjunct city over here or terminal 3 years contracts galore. I imagine a PhD could only help... I've heard those that make it into permanent positions are very good networkers.

[rtm]

[Solar Strength]

[Solar Strength]

Oh, and ideally - be under 35 years of age!

40 is too old in Japan, not only to be a TEFL teacher, but to get a university teaching job.

An American teacher I know left Japan to go back to the U.S. and earn a M.A. TESOL degree. He returned a few years ago at 41 and has not been able to land a full time university teaching position. He's been told that he's too old.

He's humping it as a part-timer running around Kanto several days a week - Tokyo - Chiba - Kanagawa - Saitama.

Ageism is a factor. Some Japanese university job postings that I've seen recently explicit state: Under 40 or Under 35, even.

[steki47]

[qwertyu2]

Since more and more applicants for the relatively few full-time positions available have a Ph.D. and good Japanese, why would universities settle for less?

[rtm]

[mitsui]

I think it depends where you work. Age can be a factor, but where I work, it is not.
My boss is over 60, and I work with a Canadian who is over 50.
Every teacher starts on the same salary, regardless of age or experience.

Some schools are getting really cheap, so if they can cut costs, they will.

A Ph.D looks good but would you want to work at a university with a limited contract if you have a doctorate? I know a Finnish woman who works at a university in Tokyo. The Ph.D certainly helps, as her Japanese is not so good.

At this point I would say either proficiency in Japanese or a Ph.D will get you a golden ticket.
Otherwise, I don`t think it is worth it anymore. I may return to the states next year.

[qwertyu2]

[rtm]

[mitsui]

I work at a private university.
My former boss has a Ph.D.
He tends to show up to classes late.
Basically, as long as he does his "research" or writes, it doesn`t matter.

I think I prefer high school, because there the focus is on teaching.
Where I work it seems that research trumps teaching, but other schools are like this too.

[mitsui]

So I would say that you have to know your limitations.
I don`t want a doctorate. I am at the 3kyu level of the Japanese test.

At best I can get a limited contract. If you are fine with that kind of life, ok.
To get a limited contract, one needs a MA and publications.
This trumps Japanese ability, at most schools.

I found a school in Tokyo that demanded at least 5 publications and 5 presentations. It just seems that schools are always raising the bar.
With the declining birthrate, there will be fewer students and too many teachers.

Some people just teach part-time at a few places. I heard talk about some schools having limited contracts for part-time teachers too.
At this point, you have to either fight and join a union or get out.

[Solar Strength]

There's a good discussion on Gaijin Pot forum right now about university teaching. Glenski and Ken44 have posted some interesting comments about what is in store for university EFL teachers in Japan over the next 2 or 3 years.

Where is Glenski, by the way? I thought he'd be all over this thread.

Finally, is there a difference in terms of what the expectations are, Mitsui, at national vs. private universities? You mentioned your previous supervisor had a doctorate but kept the admin. out of his hair as long as he published papers.

Isn't the work culture more like a government bureaucracy at national universities as opposed to a business-like culture at private universities?

[mitsui]

I assume Glen is just busy.

I don't know about national universities.

Frankly things don't look good, and I doubt things will get better.