Job Discussion Forums

CherylRynn · Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Portland, OR

Hi all,

I'm planning to take a TEFL course next spring, early summer (school and location yet to be determined), immediately begin a job search and hopefully land in Japan for my first teaching position late summer or early fall. Based on your experience, does anyone know what specifically Japanese employers are looking for as to TEFL certification? I have a B.S. in Social and Behavioral Sciences but lack the TEFL certificate. I truly don't want to waste my time at the "wrong" school getting the "wrong" certification that's not going to be worth a plug nickel. Help!!

CherylRynn · Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Portland, OR

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

They don't care where you got your TEFL from, in fact they don't really care if you have a TEFL. I'm not saying don't get a TEFL, it should help you with your teaching especially if you don't have any experience.

I would recommend getting a TEFL cert. that is at least 100 hours in length and has a teaching practicum component where you teach actual students, not teachers pretending to be students.

Hondo 2.0 · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

I've taught mock lessons to teachers pretending to be really tough students--not easy.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I meant as a student teacher. The actual teacher is in the classroom.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

This may be of interest to you

http://homepage.mac.com/tesolkyoto/

School of International training holds CELTA courses in Japan and Language Resources in Kobe has a 12 weekend course they run as well. Not for the fainthearted. There are no scheduled SIT courses for 2004 but CELTA is internationally recognised.

Its probably best to do a course after you have got your feet wet, decided whether or not you like teaching enough to spend serious money in getting trained. A one-week "quickie" course for $500 is not very useful in my opinion. You get what you pay for when doing a TEFL course.

You may do a course, spend a couple of thousand dollars and then decide that teaching is not what you thought it was or its too hard etc. A TESL course is only really worthwhile if you plan to stay teaching longer than a year, as you will not be paid extra for having certification in entry level jobs in Japan.

Tonester · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:25 am Post subject:

This is always an interesting and controversial topic. Well, after my life as a JET grinds to a halt I have a chance to teach at a private SHS and was told that having a Master's would not raise my salary at all (No, I don't have one but seriously considering getting one) but it would be good for the "Rinji Menkyo". I was told to do a Diploma in TESOL first to get the licence then while working there get an MATESOL via distance education. I'm not going to ask what is the best option because that question has been asked by every Tom, D i c k and Harry on this forum and answered in exactly the same way but I'd like to know if anyone actually has gotten a "Rinji Menkyo" and if so, what qualifications they had when they applied.
I currently have a BA in Japanese and because I like the ESL arena I am seriously considering getting certified.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Paul, when I took my CELTA years ago we did our teaching practicum in front of real students. The students did not pay for these lessons and knew we were student teachers, but they were highly motivated. It worked well for both groups.

Hondo 2.0 · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

When I wrote about teaching lessons to groups of teachers pretending to be tough students, I didn't have any deep meaning. I was just recollecting my experiences doing training at GEOS. At first, fellow teachers were very cooperative, and tried to make you look good. After six months on the job, they presented their interpretation of the toughest students that they had had. Teaching mock lessons to them was difficult. That's all.

To develop as a teacher, you need exposure to students. After my first teaching practica at university, there was a huge change in the attitudes of my classmates. All of us agreed that we were learning far more out in the schools than we were at the university. We lost patience for long-winded lectures that had little application in the classroom.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

Generally the answer to "Which TEFL should I get" runs something like this: the CELTA travels the best and carries the most weight, but there's a course in-country that actually offers a better education, more focused training, and is generally a bit cheaper.

If you plan to teach English for only one year, I reccomend you take that second non-CELTA option -- something offered in-country that has a very good reputation. If you might teach English for more than one year, take a CELTA.

The CELTA course is auditied (somewhat) by Cambridge and generally gets B+ scores for value and quality no matter where you take it, though some places are better than others.

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As for teaching mock students vs. teaching real students, my CELTA course had me teaching real and volunteer students. However, I can see the value of having a few classes where your teachers pretend to be students as they'll be able to drag you through some of the common tough spots that perhaps your genuine students haven't (for whatever reason).