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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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 Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:51 am Post subject: |
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Too much focus on writing.
Not enough on listening, speaking and pronunciation.
People with just BAs made the curriculum. They had to, but they don't see the weak points.
Since I am new I just have to go along.
This is the stupid side to this culture.
I will leave after March. |
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Shakey
Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
| I will leave after March. |
So have you been able to find any part-time university teaching opportunities in the Tokyo area? I've seen quite a few part-time announcements recently on JALT and J-REC.
I think if you do not return to the US, stringing together a number of part-time university teaching positions is the way to go. It gives you maximum freedom from the politics and other mindless duties associated with full time jobs. Unfortunately, it just may take a while to fill your schedule. Many times I have had offers from different schools but for classes that fall on the same day and same period, so I've had to turn jobs down.
Your wife may not like that you do not receive a bonus anymore, though, and pension, etc. But that's the trade off. Many people are happy looking after their own finances by investing their money if it means that they can be free from all of the other b.s. that comes along with having a full time job.
And I guess the travelling everyday might be a drag for some people, especially if it involves hopping back and forth from Kanagawa - Tokyo - Saitama - Chiba, which a lot of part-time teachers at universities seem to do in order to fill up their week.
I recall one interview where I told the search committee that I did not wish to travel an hour and a half to get to work once a week. The gaijin in the interview was really shocked that I turned the job down. He told me that it was the norm for part-time gaijin to travel an hour or more to get to work. I politely declined the offer.
Actually, I did this with two universities in Kanagawa. I hate commuting out of the city to these rural campuses, so I'd rather just sit tight for something else to come along rather than spend 4 hours on a train each day to get to work. Being patient worked out for me in the end, but I could afford to be patient.
Last edited by Shakey on Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:14 am Post subject: |
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That is what I did in 2014 but had no work on Friday.
I worked at three schools. Some places don't pay well and just give two koma. I worked at a good school on Tuesdays but it took an hour and a half at least to commute. I took two trains and a bus.
One university only paid for ten months out of the year.
I live in Kanagawa so I can go to Tokyo but Saitama is too far.
It helps that I will get published again in May. Every article helps.
I have an interview on Tuesday. Just for one day a week. Pretty demanding. Basically I have to talk about how I would teach academic writing. I have to give them a 90 minute lesson plan. I am half done. Students will learn to use a grading rubric and will have a checklist for any problems they have in writing. Both are in Japanese if needed. I think I will include a grammar exercise too.
Class size is 35-40 and students study engineering. They have to write a research paper. |
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Shakey
Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
I have an interview on Tuesday. Just for one day a week. Pretty demanding. Basically I have to talk about how I would teach academic writing. I have to give them a 90 minute lesson plan. I am half done. Students will learn to use a grading rubric and will have a checklist for any problems they have in writing. Both are in Japanese if needed. I think I will include a grammar exercise too.
Class size is 35-40 and students study engineering. They have to write a research paper. |
All that for a part-time position? And for a writing class? Sounds like a lot of work. Good luck, though. I hope you get the offer. I wouldn't mess with that, though. Not now at least. Maybe if I had a lot prepared beforehand from other jobs.
Sometimes, the lemon just isn't worth the squeeze. |
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matador
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 281
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 2:32 am Post subject: |
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Sometimes, the lemon just isn't worth the squeeze.
Yup! |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:03 am Post subject: |
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Well that is why people quit and they are looking for teachers every six months.
If I can put that on my resume it will make the next job easier to get.
I may just have to do business English too.
3,700 per hour is pretty low, though. |
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matador
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 281
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:25 am Post subject: |
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Make sure you get a letter of reference whenever you leave a place. It validates your experience. Scan it and file it away on your pc.
Business English: JPY3,700 an hour. How did you get to this figure? |
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Shakey
Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| matador wrote: |
Make sure you get a letter of reference whenever you leave a place. It validates your experience. Scan it and file it away on your pc.
Business English: JPY3,700 an hour. How did you get to this figure? |
You posted that you work in HK at a university. HK = Hong Kong, right?
So you are teach at a university in Hong Kong and have a consulting company in Japan?
You've mentioned just enough for it to seem confusing. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:34 am Post subject: |
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From a company that recruited me.
Lots of places pay less than 4,000 per hour. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:36 am Post subject: |
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Don't think I should ask for the letter since I don't think I would get a nice one.
That is what the union official told me.
I think it is just a personality thing.
Last edited by mitsui on Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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matador
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 281
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:50 am Post subject: |
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| All in Hong Kong! But i taught in Japan for 10 years before that.... |
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Shakey
Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| matador wrote: |
| All in Hong Kong! But i taught in Japan for 10 years before that.... |
Thanks. |
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