Job Discussion Forums

[SpencerDowling]

Hello,

I am enrolling in a CELTA course in April, but in the meantime I've been looking into the AEON schools, that say they hire all ages - I'm 49 with a Honours Bachelor of Arts (2013) and seek input from similar aged teachers.

What's the reality of getting hired (... or anywhere for that matter) at my age?

Thank you in advance.

[Rooster.]

It's definitely possible to get hired. If you don't get hired by Aeon look at other schools.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Note: the school year starts in April. With an undergraduate degree you are already able to work for Interac etc. (the higher-paying dispatch companies require a TESOL certificate- especially in Kanto. Interac does not require this). Honestly, in your situation, I would look at trying to be here for this coming April, because the vast majority of jobs for the entire country and for the entire year start April 1st. You might want to think about changing your plan from a CELTA to something less time consuming, that you could do in-person ASAP (over a few days). This type of company often advertising in small-place ads in newspapers. (I'm thinking Global TESOL, Oxford, etc). Not the best. But fast and give an introduction to the area.

A lot of jobs for ALTs and eikaiwa look at the TESOL certificate as a checkmark on their human resources checklist. Then, during the summer break, you could do a CELTA in Vietnam for example.

The reason I suggest this in you situation is that there is a psychological difference between looking at a resume of someone in their forties and someone in their fifties, especially someone just starting out in the country, and a CELTA really isn't well understood in this country. Starting your first job here before you turn fifty and studying Japanese like mad (speaking is far more important than reading) while doing it will help you here more than the difference between a CELTA and a kind of no-name brand TESOL certificate.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Studying Japanese and getting books on language teaching so you can speak intelligently about it in future interviews would be even better- do an amazon.ca or amazon.com check- there are many, many books on different subjects. I would start with a methodology book- maybe the one by Jeremy Harmer (The Practice of English Language Teaching [with DVD]) or Jim Scrivener (Learning Teaching: The Essential Guide to English Language Teaching [with DVD]) , plus a book on language teaching that is in some way related to your past experience or education (this will likely be an academic book).

[aaaronr]

Shane English School offers a Trinity program here in Japan. It's very similar to CELTA. You could do it during the August break.

[dove]

I was an older teacher in Japan. I had a lot of luck being hired for in-house company classes (business English, usually taught in the morning or in the evening). The companies that employed me didn't like the perky, fresh-off-the-boat type of teachers because they were often flaky, had no business experience, students didn't trust them, etc. Also, Japan's population is ageing.

[SpencerDowling]

Thank you for all the helpful replies so far. It means a lot. It's been both encouraging and discouraging as I currently navigate my way through a midlife career change. I know from some of my experienced EFL teacher friends, that they are already facing some ageism despite 20 years in the field, but I'm going to go for it anyway. I have nothing to lose, considering the lack of new grad options for my age (50 in June) at home. My undergrad was a double major from University of Toronto in Human Geography and Urban Studies, with a Professional Postgraduate Certificate in Fundraising Management (2014). The nonprofit sector is mostly short-term contacts and focused on hiring people in their 20s. I have had a few short-term contracts, including an annual 4-month contract in event operations, but have had to rely on my bartending background and part-time painting to survive. Thanks again.

[SpencerDowling]