Job Discussion Forums

[candykisk]

Thank you guys for all of your insights. It seems like what a lot of you are saying is believable, but I have some classmates who only have an MA and less than 3 years teaching experience and they taught/are now teaching at Toyo University. Also, Kwansei Gakuin University is one that only requires 2yrs exp.

-Maitoshi, I have university teaching experience but not in Japan.
-Thanks rtm for the job listings websites, I will definitely check those out.
-Timothypfox, what do you mean "teach a wider range of students?" Also, could you help me figure out where I could find jobs in private junior/high schools in japan?
-GambateBingBangBOOM, what is DISPATCH?

[kzjohn]

Dispatch is when there's an intermediary between you and the hiring school, a kind of outsourcing.

The school (school board) just wants warm bodies, and goes to an agency which 'provides' (dispatches) them to the school.

The dispatch agency pays the minimum possible wage to the teacher, while charging the school or school board more...

You are employed by the agency, not the school. If you quit or something, the agency plugs another person into your teaching slots.

Avoid this if at all possible.

[timothypfox]

Candykisk,
what I mean by a wider range of students is that when you teach at a university (particularly in Japan), you will namely teach students from a particular program that need English. You may get lucky and teach English "Literature" students, but most of the time you will be teaching engineering, or pharmacy - students in a specialized field. Their range of interests, and hobbies etc. are much more limited than high schoolers who are trying to figure out their dreams and doing school clubs etc and still watching tv and movies and listening to music.

Students at universities may not be that motivated to learn English. But, students at a junior high or high school at least need to take an Eiken test.

Jobs you will have to take time - and by time visit all the popular boards regularly - and it make take a couple of years. You can also join local Facebook JET pages for the area of Japan you want to look for a job and get the word out.

[candykisk]

Thanks kzjohn for that, haha I will make sure to stay away from it. It sounds complicated and unnecessary!

Okay timothypfox I will inbox you for a list of those boards. But I see what you mean in having a wider range of students with teaching high schoolers. The thing is, I actually prefer those more specialized types of students and that's why I'm teaching adult ESL now. But perhaps I only get a taste of it in the U.S. because students don't have to know what they want to do as freshmen.... can Japanese freshmen spend their first two years of college figuring out their major and then specialize the last two years as is common in the U.S.?

[mitsui]

No, they have to choose a major quickly.
It is possible to change but most don't and some end up disliking their majors.

[candykisk]

[mitsui]

Yes, and have to do overtime, if they manage to get a job.

[rtm]

[Maitoshi]

And after all those year of J education, they are pretty pliable.

[nicenicegaijin]

That is what education is, in general. All it is is social conditioning, in the west and in Japan. It only appears different, but if you did deep its is the same.

[Maitoshi]

In this way, certainly.

[wonmi]

Hi all,

A little different from candykisk's situation, but i wanted to learn a little more about teaching adults in Japan if I only have a TEFL certificate. Candykisk mentioned aeon, westgate, etc. Someone also mentioned to me about GEOS or NOVA. Also, is BERLITZ still alive? Are they more for kids? or for older students? Are there other private english school companies where the students are either college age or older?

I'm sure I could just find postings for individual small schools, but I wanted to look at companies that have branches in bigger cities. Any tips? Thanks in advance!