Job Discussion Forums

[japanbound]

Could someone explain what types of journals Japanese universities are looking for job candidtes to have published in? I am also interested in a list of such publications. I have seen the ones listed on the JALT site and I figure that there are many suited to writers who have never submitted -- newbies, like me. Also, what types of article meet the qualification for what Japanese universities are looking for? In other words, would a study be the bare minimum or would a lesson plan be acceptable as well?

Thank you

[PAULH]

[japanbound]

Would a lesson plan published in a journal qualify as a one published work by a J. university?

Another thing...

I graduate from my current program in may, but I already possess a TESOL masters. i have not published yet, but I would like to begin, as best I can, securing a job in Japan beginning in Fall '05. I was thinking of going to Japan in June and studying Japanese for a month or two. Could someone share their thoughts on how the best way to go about reaching my goal would be.

Thank you

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

(From the Language Teacher)

Hiring committees are quite strict about applicants meeting the minimum stated requirements, typically age, credentials, and experience. Therefore, if, for example, the advertisement says you need five or more publications, and you do not, do not bother to apply (Washida, 2001, p. 65).

Once you have found an open position or university that interests you, it is time to begin preparing your application materials that provide documentation of your teaching experience, publications, and related experience (Washida, 2001, p. 64): namely, a CV or r�sum�, a picture, and select publications. For those who do not already have Japanese working visas, you will also be asked for elementary school through high school records as well as your college degree. To be considered for a full professor's position, you need publications, preferably good ones in large numbers (Washida, 2001, p. 87-8. Some universities or even individual departments have ranking systems for publications and presentations. Even if the university to which you apply does not have an official ranking system in place, some informal ranking will naturally exist; e.g., a TESOL Quarterly publication will carry more weight than a local newspaper editorial. My university--a national one--as well as those at which close colleagues of mine now work, value such achievements along the following simplified lines, from highest prestige to lowest: sole authorship in a refereed international journal, in a refereed domestic journal, in a non-refereed journal; shared authorship in any of the above (worth less than sole authorship); a single presentation at an international conference, at a domestic conference, at a local conference, and finally as a poster presentation. In short, publications are worth more than presentations, books more than articles, refereed more than non-refereed, single author works more than shared, and international more than domestic. Similar systems may exist in other universities and may differ slightly in details, but I trust they are basically the same.

You should submit papers to the highest level journals possible; if the paper is rejected and subsequent editing and resubmission fails, work your way down the ladder of prestige until your paper is finally accepted. Most important, do not feel intimidated. Journals interested in furthering the exchange of ideas and understanding will accept papers from anyone so long as the content is lucid and original. Furthermore, if you are currently working part-time at an institution, you can use that institution for your affiliation. In addition, this affiliation may entitle you to submit papers to the university's or even department's kiyo, its journal, which you should do. The ideal strategy is to submit to the kiyo preliminary drafts focusing on facets of your research, because kiyo are only lightly refereed, thus worth fewer "publication points," while continuing to work on the papers to submit more complete versions to international refereed outlets, making note that preliminary versions appeared in the kiyo. You can also publish works by yourself (Washida, 2001, p. 119-120). Lastly, try to choose catchy, concise, and attractive titles for all your works (Washida, 2001, p. 119-120), since most of your publications will likely go unread beyond the titles in the hiring process.

[japanbound]

Thanks for saving me hours, perhaps days, of work!