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Ministry proposes skills for Japanese English teachers
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rxk22



Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
TokyoLiz wrote:


Many private schools prefer foreign teachers who already have Japanese language skill and those who are acclimated to Japanese culture. They also want people with TESOL or middle school/high school preparation or certification.

My colleague and I have PGCE and TESOL, respectively. We teach our own classes.

JET provides a stipend for TESOL training, and a basic Japanese language training course. Those ALTs who have acquire both TESOL certification and language skills are valuable and can likely find positions that pay more than entry level salary.


But private schools can choose how they operate, with some major freedom. It's nice, but public schools are just a different beast.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Foreign teachers are not the only ones who can be lazy.
What about JTEs who
1. Don't speak English at work
2. Avoid foreign teachers
3. Don't plan or at least talk about lessons with the ALT
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
weigookin74 wrote:
Give lots of teachers 6 month sabbaticals studying English and TESOL at local universities with one to two months spent in an English speaking country like they do in Korea.


The thing is, there currently are various programs which allow teachers to take time off and study more English at local universities...and even abroad. Few Japanese teachers of English take advantage of them willingly...even though the government pays most (in some cases all) the expenses.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Having JTEs study abroad is important in two ways

1. They get better at English
2. They learn a new culture

In my experience some JTEs were so intolerant and just expected foreign teachers to do things the "Japanese" way, and if they did not they could be ostracized or harassed.
JTEs must learn to deal with foreign teachers and must make allowances for their cultural background.
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TokyoLiz



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 12:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Rxk22, absolutely, private schools can demand a lot more of their teachers, and may have the non-Japanese teach solo, hence the requirements.

JET ALTs I worked alongside, and some I've met recently, are already qualified teachers, or Japanese majors with solid literacy and communication before they arrived.

About public - some school boards in my area hire directly. They want TESOL qualified Japanese speaking staff. The BoEs advertise the jobs, but in reality, the hires are usually recommended or invited by other teachers in the community.

If you're working as an ALT for a hakken vulture, then a pulse and a suit are all you need.
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
rxk22 wrote:

I think it would be amazing to simplify JET and make it so you can transition into a perm job within the BOE somehow. The ALT dispatches need to go, they simply stifle quality. Get people here, and retain them. That is how you get quality teachers. Constant turnover isn't the way, and they need to stop more or less encouraging turnover.


Again, interestingly enough, MEXT (the Ministry of Education) agrees with you on this! Indeed, in 2005, MEXT sent out a letter to all public high schools and junior high schools requesting that they consider hiring "優れた" (highly talented) JETs/ALTs with "単独で授業を執り行う能力" (the ability to teach independently) to permanent contracts. (I have a copy of this 3-page letter.) Since then, MEXT has also instituted several new policies to make this possible.

As one example, this link takes you to the MEXT homepage for 特別免許状, which is the Japanese term for one type of license created for this very purpose:

http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/kyoin/1326555.htm

There are six links at this site. All are important. Several explain the general procedures AND include statements about how MEXT wants schools to apply for these special licenses in situations like highly talented ALTs.

In other words, MEXT has been asking public schools for over ten years now to hire good foreign ALTs to permanent positions. (Private schools can certainly utilize these policies as well.) Sadly, very few schools are taking advantage of these opportunities. Furthermore, too many foreigners are unaware of this...and too many schools are using their ignorance against them.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schools want to save money. They care most about this.
They don't seem to care about the quality of teaching.
They want limited contracts for foreigners, and sometimes even for Japanese.

I even heard of a university in Tokyo thinking about just outsourcing some teaching to Berlitz for 2017. So, they could get rid of part-time teachers and just leave it up to Berlitz.
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TokyoLiz



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Taikibansei said

Quote:
Again, interestingly enough, MEXT (the Ministry of Education) agrees with you on this! Indeed, in 2005, MEXT sent out a letter to all public high schools and junior high schools requesting that they consider hiring "優れた" (highly talented) JETs/ALTs with "単独で授業を執り行う能力" (the ability to teach independently) to permanent contracts. (I have a copy of this 3-page letter.) Since then, MEXT has also instituted several new policies to make this possible.


I've held 特別免許 tokubetsu menkyo, special license on the merit of my TESOL diploma and years of teaching experience. The school initiated the process, not me.

What are the advantages for a school, besides allowing special licensees to teach solo?