Job Discussion Forums

goman72 · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject: EFL Teacher with hearing aids

Dear All, I have applied to the JET program (2005 intake), have an BA Honours degree and a CELTA but also wear hearing aids in both ears. The hearing loss is around 30% but the hearing aids make up for most of this loss...

My question is the following:

The Japanese (being the Xenophobic people they are - gross generalisation I know - but that's the impression I get) ... would the Japanese consider me a 2nd rate teacher because of my 'hearing disability'?

(Glenski, maybe you could give me an answer here as I have put Hokkaido as my number 1 choice)...

Cheers,

Chris

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

This is the first time any physical disability has come up to my knowledge. I would think that unless you are seriously impaired even with your aids, an employer wouldn't think anything at all about that as a factor in hiring you. Expect a question or two about your dependence on it and how much you "need" it, but that's about all.

Anyone else know differently?

P.S. Noise levels in Hokkaido are no worse or better than anywhere else, especially in the classroom, unless it's winter and the snowblowers are being used outside the room. Consider yourself lucky if you can turn them off when election trucks come blaring by. Wink

Celeste · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:37 pm Post subject:

Really it shouldn't be a problem. THe hiring is not done by the supervisors themselves, but by a team in your home country that is usually composed of one Japanese Embassy representative and 2 former JETs. They generally comply with equal opportunity hiring standards that we expect in the west. When you arrive in Japan, however, prepare to face a little discrimination. You are best off to tell your supervisor all about your condition immediately and to reassure them as to your capabilities to do the job. THere have been cases of supervisors who jump to conclusions about written infromation about medical conditions (that is written in English and they can't really understand it) and not sending ALTs to schools very often because of it. (Office days are the number one complaint from JET ALTs - we get too many of them at school holiday times)