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Laopooh
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:31 pm Post subject: University employment opportunities |
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Hello cafe bros. I taught in Japan with GEOS from 2003-9, and am now going to be graduating in May with a M.A. in Japanese Pedagogy. Unfortunately the job market for non-native Japanese teachers is pretty slim, so I've been thinking about going back to teach English. I really loved the job before, but would like to get a slightly more upgraded position if I were to move back.
Has anyone here found decent university employment over there? I put my resume below in case anyone had more specific suggestions based on my past experience. Apologies for the formatting! Any advice you guys could give would be greatly appreciated.
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Education
• Graduated from the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies
Yokohama, Japan, Fall 2012-Spring 2013
• M.A. Candidate, Department of East Asian Language and Literature
The Ohio State University, Fall 2011-present
• Graduate Non-Degree Student, The Ohio State University, Wtr/Spr 2010
• Bachelor of Specialized Studies: Science and Technology (Physics Minor)
Ohio University, Athens, OH, June 2003
• GRE: Quantitative [750](800) Verbal [700](640) Analytic [5.0](6.0) | [2011](2008)
Language
• Japanese fluency – [Level 1] Japanese Language Proficiency Test (2008)
Employment
• Graduate Teaching Associate, Japanese language
The Ohio State University, Fall 2013-Spring 2014
• Consultant, Online Marketing, G2Comix, 2012-13
• Graduate Administrative Associate, Japanese Collection, Thompson Library
The Ohio State University, Fall 2011-August 2012
• Waiter, Torori Izakaya (Restaurant), Chiba, Japan, April-August 2011
• Freelance Japanese to English Translator, June 2009-present
Translation of scientific/technical reports and manuals, travel guides, surveys, advertising/ad copy, comic books, presentations, journal/newspaper articles, etc.
[www.translationdirect.net]
• Freelance Writer for JR East Railway Company tourism website, June 2009-2010
• English Teacher, GEOS Schools, Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2009
Teaching English as a foreign language to students ages 3-70
Presentations
• Simple Ways to Improve Your Translation…and write more natural English
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, November 2012
Undergraduate Employment
• Technician/Programmer, John E. Edwards Accelerator Lab
Ohio University, Sept. 2000-2001
• Research Assistant, Laser Research Lab, Ohio University, 2000-2002
Internships
• Internship, Ohio Supercomputer Center, Columbus, OH, Oct. 1997-May 1998
Honors
• Graduate Fellowship, Foreign Language and Area Studies, OSU, 2012-2013
• Scholarship, Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, 2012-2013
• Robert P. Gecsy Physics Scholarship, Ohio University, 2001-2002
• C. Paul/Beth K. Stocker Scholarship, Ohio University, 2001-2002
• Freshman Merit-Based Scholarship, Ohio University1998-1999
Travel
• Round-the-world solo backpacking trip, 22 countries, 418 days, 2010-2011
Miscellaneous
• Club President, K1 Kickboxing @ OSU, 2011-12
• Black belt from Shouei Juku, Tokyo
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:05 am Post subject: |
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Nope. Sounds like you should teach Japanese in the US.
Just work at eikaiwa doesn`t make you qualified.
Often knowledge of Japanese won`t help you get a job. |
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Laopooh
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| Could you clarify? Are there specific qualifications that Japanese universities look for in instructors? I didn't mean that I was looking for a tenure track position so thought a masters in education + experience might be enough to get my foot in the door somewhere. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:39 am Post subject: |
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From what I've read on this forum recetly, Mitsui is a bit bitter at the moment regarding university teaching in Japan so perhaps it's best not to take what he says as gospel.
I'm no expert but I'd say you have every chance of being hired at a university, especially if you're prepared to work anywhere in the country. The only thing you're missing are publications. |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:44 am Post subject: |
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They generally want to see a related Masters and several related publications. That would mean something related to English teaching. As a foreigner it's unlikely there would be many positions open to you teaching Japanese pedagogy. So it doesn't put you in a particularly strong position.
However, if a university needs someone, they will take an unrelated Masters over no Masters, and would probably take Japanese pedagogy over say business studies or history. So it should push you up the ranks there a little.
If you aren't fussy, I think you'd get something. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Laopooh wrote: |
| Could you clarify? Are there specific qualifications that Japanese universities look for in instructors? |
mitsui is a university teacher - or was? - so, I normally read with interest what he has to say about university EFL teaching in Japan.
However, I do not agree that Japanese is not important. In fact, I believe that at many universities, especially the smaller, private universities, that they won't even hire highly qualified teachers if they cannot communicate well in Japanese at the interview.
Japanese language ability is extremely important at many small, private universities. In fact, I've heard from friends in Japan that they've actually had to do the interviews entirely in Japanese or partly in Japanese to demonstrate language proficiency. Regardless of how qualified one is, if you can't discuss your education, research or teaching in Japanese, you're not likely to get the job.
I think many universities will hire a less qualified person who is proficient in Japanese than one who is highly qualified but can't communicate in Japanese.
Which makes me wonder about the 21st Century program and Abe's push to hire 3,000 international scholars over the next few years. How are they expecting to communicate with these international scholars, because Japanese is not the lingua franca of science or business.
And Japanese teachers and admin staff have no intention, interest or willingness to become more international. They generally hate English, and don't really like dealing with, or even hiring, foreign staff.
Back to the question of the the important of Japanese language proficiency: whether it is more important than age, sex of the applicant, or research history, it's obviously a determining factor but also depends on the kind of university one is interviewing with.
For example, universities recently discussed on the forum like Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, and Kansai Gaidai University, Asia University, Kanda University of Foreign Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University - they don't require Japanese proficiency of applicants. They hire massive amounts of native speaking EFL teachers on short-term contracts and all meetings and correspondence and interviews are conducted in English, not Japanese. So Japanese language proficiency isn't required at these schools. However, bear in mind, these universities rank among the worst universities to work for in Japan.
Now, if you're applying to work for Todai, Meidai, Kyudai or Waseda, then you'll probably have to have done a lot of publishing and show that your'e active in your field along with having a doctorate. Japanese language proficiency isn't important. Many of the staff and professors are willing to use English in e-mails, meetings and interviews at these top ranked schools. In fact, isn't English deemed as an official language at Todai?
So when you ask if Japanese proficiency is important, it depends on the kind of school. |
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Big_H
Joined: 21 Dec 2013
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
They generally want to see a related Masters and several related publications. That would mean something related to English teaching. As a foreigner it's unlikely there would be many positions open to you teaching Japanese pedagogy. So it doesn't put you in a particularly strong position.
However, if a university needs someone, they will take an unrelated Masters over no Masters, and would probably take Japanese pedagogy over say business studies or history. So it should push you up the ranks there a little.
If you aren't fussy, I think you'd get something. |
^ + Some teaching experience to undergraduates won't hurt either.. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Just look at the job ads as I have for many months.
An MA should be in TESOL, Linguistics or English. That is about it.
I have taught for five years at a Japanese university, and have been here since 2000. I call it as I see it.
Where I currently work the chance of someone getting a job is less than 10% of the people who apply.
Since 2009 more Americans have come to Japan and now many jobs get too many people applying.
Prior experience at a university or at least at a private high school tends to be what is wanted. A few places aren`t so picky.
Six years of eikaiwa does stand out though, and doesn`t look good.
Some places prefer limited knowledge of Japanese as they want classes taught in English only so students would have to use English to communicate.
However many students do not want to do this.
I have had six interviews over the last month. Four at universities and two at high schools. Got another interview next week at a university in Saitama.
One place (a woman`s university) wants teachers to be good at Japanese in order to do the paperwork, but they want people with a MA in TESOL.
One university in Yokohama gave me a job and the interview was in both languages. My experience and MA is what counted.
The other places could care less about Japanese ability.
They wanted peole who had experience teaching particular subjects in English.
I don`t think Kanda, Kwansei, and Asia are bad places. They limit contracts, though. Kansai Gaidai has had labor problems but there are far worse places to work at. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
I have had six interviews over the last month. Four at universities and two at high schools. Got another interview next week at a university in Saitama.
One place (a woman`s university) wants teachers to be good at Japanese in order to do the paperwork, but they want people with a MA in TESOL.
One university in Yokohama gave me a job and the interview was in both languages. My experience and MA is what counted.
The other places could care less about Japanese ability. They wanted peole who had experience teaching particular subjects in English. |
Were you hired for a part-time job in Yokohama?
Could it be possible that if you are interviewing for part-time positions that Japanese language proficiency is not as important as it would be for full time positions? |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Maybe but at one place fluency was required.
The farther away from Tokyo the less picky they are.
Come on, it is late February. They need teachers for early April.
I will work in Yokohama but just once a week. I need a couple more jobs then I will be set. At this point I must take what I can get.
Either I can get full-time work for September or just leave for the US. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:27 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
Maybe but at one place fluency was required.
The farther away from Tokyo the less picky they are.
Come on, it is late February. They need teachers for early April.
I will work in Yokohama but just once a week. I need a couple more jobs then I will be set. At this point I must take what I can get.
Either I can get full-time work for September or just leave for the US. |
Good luck. Thailand is full of Americans who couldn't find a second university contract in Japan. Gotta go where the work is. |
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Jagariko
Joined: 14 Oct 2013
Posts: 40
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Could it be possible that if you are interviewing for part-time positions that Japanese language proficiency is not as important as it would be for full time positions? |
Definitely. A reasonable fluency in Japanese is required for the better - ie higher paying jobs - where you are expected to undertake committee work and teach more than eikaiwa.
For the bog standard 5-6 million a year three year contracts, where you will just be teaching English conversation or basic 4 skills, enough Japanese to communicate with office staff and low level students is generally enough.
On sites such as jrecin there are occasionally requirements for other masters degrees such as American Literature, S.E. Asian studies, international relations etc not just TESOL. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Jagariko wrote: |
| On sites such as jrecin there are occasionally requirements for other masters degrees such as American Literature, S.E. Asian studies, international relations etc not just TESOL. |
Why don't Japanese professors value doctorates? They only ever ask for master's degrees for most of the postings for both contract and permanent positions.
Someone has told me that it is because the doctorate is a recent degree in Japan and most of the older Japanese professors in the humanities only have a B.A. or master's. Virtually none of them have doctorates, therefore, they don't see value in hiring a doctorate, either.
Another told me that the Japanese view a doctorate as something you do before you retire. It's the last final great hurrah after a career of teaching and thinking about a specific field, which I have trouble believing.
At any rate, it's clear that Japanese professors in the humanities and TESOL fields do not think much of doctorates, which is good for us. You'd have to be insane to do a doctorate just to teach EFL at Japanese universities, jumping from contract to contract. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
| Jagariko wrote: |
| On sites such as jrecin there are occasionally requirements for other masters degrees such as American Literature, S.E. Asian studies, international relations etc not just TESOL. |
Why don't Japanese professors value doctorates? They only ever ask for master's degrees for most of the postings for both contract and permanent positions.
Someone has told me that it is because the doctorate is a recent degree in Japan and most of the older Japanese professors in the humanities only have a B.A. or master's. Virtually none of them have doctorates, therefore, they don't see value in hiring a doctorate, either.
Another told me that the Japanese view a doctorate as something you do before you retire. It's the last final great hurrah after a career of teaching and thinking about a specific field, which I have trouble believing.
At any rate, it's clear that Japanese professors in the humanities and TESOL fields do not think much of doctorates, which is good for us. You'd have to be insane to do a doctorate just to teach EFL at Japanese universities, jumping from contract to contract. |
I'm not sure where you've been looking, but most Japanese university professors I've worked with do have doctorates. And, I have noticed a steady increase over the last 5 years in the ads on JREC-IN (the Japanese version, at least) that say they prefer someone with a doctorate for English teaching positions. Many of the ads for permanent positions list a doctorate as a requirement.
I also don't believe that Japanese professors do a doctorate just before retiring. Going 'back to school' after one has been working is very uncommon in Japan.
I think the reason most ads only ask for a masters is because although they would prefer someone with a doctorate, they know they can't get people with doctorates to apply. I don't think it has anything to do with not valuing a doctorate, and, actually, most universities would prefer someone with a doctorate. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
I will work in Yokohama but just once a week. I need a couple more jobs then I will be set. At this point I must take what I can get.
Either I can get full-time work for September or just leave for the US. |
mitsui,
JREC and JACET are advertising a teaching post for Meiji Gakuin University that requires teaching 5 koma at the Yokohama campus and then another 5 koma at the Shirokane campus in Tokyo.
It might be within your interest to submit your application materails if it's near where you live.
Good luck! |
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