Job Discussion Forums

[mitsui]

I used to teach by myself at a high school in Tokyo, but now I work in Kanagawa, at a private high school.
Every class has to be team taught, except the club after school.

Is this because the curriculum changed and classes should be in English,
and the JETs are not up to the task,
or is this just Kanagawa's department of education, making foreigners be ALTs because we are not certified in Japan?

In Tokyo, the certification can be waived, so teachers can teach alone,
or in Shiga, certification from your own country would be accepted.
Thanks.

[timothypfox]

I don't know. But, since no one else has posted I'll share about my work in Kagoshima Prefecture. I work at a private high school here and have a permanent ALT licence from the Department of Ed here (that only works in the company I work for). That makes me an ALT right?

Not really. At my school I solo teach all of my classes which are largely supplementary - in addition to the regular English curriculum. In first grade it is Eigo Kaiwa, largely a listening course with some speaking, and then in the 2nd grade it shifts more towards writing. The 3rd grade course is almost entirely writing. Then I also have to teach several Eikawa classes at our neighboring junior high as well. So, if you mean the need for teaching certification can be waived to solo teach, or the requirement to have more than an ALT license to solo teach at a private school - that must be what's going on here.

[Didah]

Mitsui,

About 15 years ago (I know a little dated) I team taught with a Japanese-national English teacher at a private high school in Sano. It was my first teaching job and I was hired because they fired the other native English teacher and needed somebody to fill in. A friend of mine's wife was a recruiter for these types of programs and I got the job. Originally, I was kind of like the native pronunciation "teacher." The students' English was terrible and the Japanese teacher's English was not much better. During the lesson, she kept interrupting me and it wasn't working out. Either I was also going to be fired or I would have to quit, although, the job came with a nice rent-free apartment and the school had a great indoor pool. Anyway, we came to an understanding where we divided up the work. I started teaching conversation and she taught English grammar in Japanese. I tried to align my lessons with her grammar points. At the same time, I was working on a TESOL certificate through UCLA extension which was very helpful. Anyway, in 2003, I left Japan and returned to California to get my teaching credential in English Language Arts and ESL. Since then, I have mostly worked at the high school level both in the States and overseas, however, getting back to Japan on a full time basis in an international school has evaded me. Maybe your school and that teacher would be willing to divide the workload? It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Also, I have noticed that you are interested in getting into public or private school teaching in the western United States. I recently received an email from the Clark County School District in Las Vegas. They seem to need a lot of teachers and they offer alternative routes to credentialing. I have looked at their pay scale and it is competitive. It is certainly a lot cheaper to live in Las Vegas than a lot of other states -- including California and they don't have a state income tax. I am seriously considering returning to the U.S. next year and I am looking into this as well as some other things in California. I am not a recruiter. Here is the website:

http://teachvegas.ccsd.net/?utm_source=teachersteacher&utm_medium=email%20&utm_campaign=teacherteacher31715%28Camille%29

As they say in the old country,
Gambatte

[mitsui]

I am certified in Arizona (even highly qualified) but not sure about reciprocity for Nevada.
I think I would have to at least take a couple Praxis tests.

[Didah]

Hi Mitsui,

I didn't realize that you were certified. That certainly makes a difference for you. I know that Nevada has reciprocity with California. I know when I looked into Arizona, there is reciprocity, but I would still have to take the Praxis because I am certified in English by course work and not by testing. I am not sure if that applies for Nevada but there should be something on the website.

Since you are in Kawasaki, if you had the time, have you thought of subbing to get your foot in the door at the Yokohama International School or St. Maur. I know there are a few second tier international schools in Tokyo and a few with mostly Indian students? It is really hard to get into these schools from overseas. It may be easier from where you are -- especially since you have a teaching credential. I also know that the DOD schools on the basis will accept teachers from outside for subbing. It is one way to get your foot in the door of a system that is all but closed up with all the cutbacks and base closings. However, in Japan, at least in your area, Yokosuka is still pretty big as well as Yokota Air Base but that would be quite s commute for sub work. All of this may be hard since you already have a full time teaching job.

Good luck

[mitsui]

Well already got an e-mail from Nevada.
That was quick.
They even advertise in the Boston Globe.
They really have a shortage, but it makes me wonder why they need so many teachers.

Yokota has cut back. I met one teacher who used to work there but his job was cut. They only hire teachers from the US, who are certified and have experience in the US.

I work full-time and at most I am an Eiken examiner when I have time.
I work 9 Saturdays a year.
I get more pay than some university instructors but I really have to put in the hours.

At the school 10th grade is for conversation, 11th is for expression which includes debate and speeches, but this curriculum should be revised.
For 12th it is mostly just Japanese teachers and an OC elective, I think.
It is tough when the curriculum is mandatory for all students and boys can sleep in class and not have to deal with academic probation or get reduced time in the clubs.

[Didah]

Hi Mitsui,

That was quick. I am in the process of filling out the CCSD application. It is kind of an arduous process. Fortunately I have most of the documents on a portable drive I have with me. As for why they need 2,000 teachers, I think the teacher demographic may match the local demographic. This is only my opinion, but I would imagine there are a number of teachers who think that Vegas may be a cool place to live. Then, they discover that it is not the same as visiting the strip on the weekend. Kind of like some teachers I worked with in China who had visited on a package tour and then when they actually came to live and teach it was a whole different experience. I have found that some first time teachers overseas don't realize that they are working the same as in their own home country where daily life doesn't stop and the grocery shopping has to get done, bills need to be paid and there is the same daily commuting grind to work. Not the same as an all inclusive tour where you stay in nice hotel rooms, the bags are carried for you and the days are filled with fun diversions and inclusive meals. Yet I digress.

Another advantage you would have in Las Vegas is teaching to a large English Language Learning population. I was told they are looking for credentialed teachers with ESL experience and the ability to teach subjects across the curriculum using ESL strategies.

I'm going to complete the application and see where it goes.

I noticed that you wrote that you teach a speech and debate class. When I was at Sano, the English department chair called me in and told me to prepare a student for a speech contest that was held among the dozen private schools in their group. He actually wanted me to write the speech and teach the selected student how to pronounce all of the words. Silly me, I thought that was a bad idea and defeated the purpose of a public speaking class or to qualify for a speech tournament. I suggested that we have a school-wide speech competition and the winner would go to the tournament. I happened to have a friend visiting me from California who taught public speaking and mass communications at a college. We had nine students who signed up for the contest. We helped them with the speeches and they pretty much wrote them on their own. In the end, a girl won the contest with a speech about how Japanese teenagers should practice cultural traditions, such as the tea ceremony, to have better manners and respect. She went on to the regional competition and took third place. The first and second place winners had lived abroad for many years (who the Japanese endearingly call "returnees") and had near flawless pronunciation of speeches written by native English teachers. I was very proud of my student.

My two years at Sano were in classes a lot like yours. I feel your pain. As much as I would love to get back to Japan, I could never see my self back in a Japanese high school.

By the way, since you are a credentialed teacher, have you ever thought of looking into the Chinese bridge programs in "international" schools of all Chinese students who want to go to colleges or universities in the U.S.? They pay upwards of $3,500 a month plus housing, airfare and some medical insurance. In the program I was at, I taught 20 hours a week and had another 10 in lose office hours.

[mitsui]

Never heard of it. Where are these bridge schools?

Despite the fact that I have a MA, I think I still have to take three Praxis tests for Nevada, to be certified in language arts.
I think I could get the ESL endorsement though.

Nevada seems picky about reciprocity.

[Didah]

The bridge programs in China all under different categories. Them may be listed as AP or IB programs. Many that just cater to Chinese nationals don't require a teaching license even though the advertisement may say so. I have seen some advertised here on esl cafe. Another place with more listings is at tieonline.com. It cost around $30 or $40 to join (I can't remember) but many of the schools listed from China are this type of school. There are many of these programs listed through a search on Google. One program that I know is pretty much always looking is Dipont.

I hope this helps.

[mitsui]

I think Nevada sounds better, although I think besides three Praxis tests there are also the US constitution and Nevada constitution tests.
Nevada law test too? Seems like a bit much.
161 dollars is quite a bit to pay to find out if I could get certified.

I read people need to filter the tap water in Nevada.
Arizona water seemed fine to me when I was there.

My teaching experience in Tokyo at a private high school was accepted. At least three years was needed.