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george31
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject: Assistant vs. tescher? |
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I have wanted to go to Japan now for years and will make my dream come true in th enext few months (provided i get a job). I have no uni degree , but i do have TESOL certification.
I have been searching some Japan job sites and there are ALOT of vacancies for AET (Assistant English Teachers). I also notice they earn usualy similar ammounts as some other jobs (ie �230,000).
Fair enough it is approx �20-�30,000 less than other jobs, but these plethora of AET jobs keep appearing in Saitama (where i am interested in going).
My Questions is :
Has anyone got any information about being an AET in Japan? I assume you work in Elementary School - any experiences? Is the Teacher usualy Japanese or Westerner? Do you believe it could be a help for a first time teacher (like me) to start as an AET? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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Without a university degree, you can't get a work visa. TESOL certification alone is not enough.
What is your nationality and age? You MIGHT qualify for a working holiday visa.
If not, you are out of luck. |
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chixdiggit
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 60
Location: ROK
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| Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski I'm not sure that was a real post. Seriously, just read it again. I think someone is messing with us.
Chix |
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Synne
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 269
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:26 am Post subject: |
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TESOL doesnt stand for much by itself.
Your only hope is the WHV (if your country offers it), which can be attained without a TESOL certificate.
WHV Jobs are becomming slimmer and slimmer these days in the English teaching environment. |
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george31
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 5:30 am Post subject: |
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Ok guys - firt thanks for replying - i know i can get a WHV (i am male australian under 30).
I just want to know about assistant teaching jobs. They list as you only needing TESOL. SO if anyong has any experience or information please could you post it? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Assistant vs. tescher? |
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| george31 wrote: |
IMy Questions is :
Has anyone got any information about being an AET in Japan? I assume you work in Elementary School - any experiences? Is the Teacher usualy Japanese or Westerner? Do you believe it could be a help for a first time teacher (like me) to start as an AET? |
I have not been an ALT or AET but I really think you will be hard pressed to be hired by a dispatch company or a municipal board of education on a working holiday visa. Officially you can not line up work before you leave Australia though immigration knows you will be going to work. Working holiday is not a teaching visa, for which the proper qualifications are needed.
Good luck with the job hunt anyway.
| george31 wrote: |
| IHas anyone got any information about being an AET in Japan? I assume you work in Elementary School - any experiences? Is the Teacher usualy Japanese or Westerner? Do you believe it could be a help for a first time teacher (like me) to start as an AET? |
There are literally thousands of foriegners who are teaching as AETs in elementary schools. Most of them are hired by the local boards of education or private conversation companies who send them to work in high schools
I have just visited several elementary schools in Nagoya Aichi area to observe the NET (Native English teacher, he is not an assistant as he plans and teaches the class himself, no team teaching).
The AET will teach the lesson according to the needs of the school he is sent to. Sometimes the guidelines are no more than to 'teach about culture' or promote international communication. The teachers I have met actually have lesson plans anc curriculums and make sure that students learn something by the end of the lesson. It is not just songs and playing games.
The Japanese home room teacher (the childrens class teacher) is in the room at all times as AETs are not qualified to teach classes by themselves. participation by the japanese teacher can be anything from non-existent (sitting at the back staring out the window) to team teaching where both partners play an active role in the lesson. Usually the HRT will speak only a little English is hesitant about speaking English in front of their students. Other teachers throw caution to the wind and dive straight into it and will act like students themselves in front of the AET.
Classes will vary depending on the school, grade, and even classes of the same grade will vary in students' and HRTs attitude. In an elementary school you will find that you are the only one who speaks any English at all, and perhaps one or two teachers. The dispatch company will provide some training and be a go-between between you and the client school, but knowing some Japanese will go a long way in a completely Japanese public school setting. You will be sent out by yourself to an elementary school and there may be no other foreigners around to meet or talk with.
The classes I have seen have up to 30-35 children in them, so you need to know how to handle large classes, and keep a group of 6 year olds amused and on track for a 45-minute lesson. What do you know about teaching kids? I'm sure they dont teach you how to teach kids in a CELTA course.
My feeling is that an elementary school or a B-Of-Ed will not hire someone on a part time working holiday/semi-tourist visa, especially as you will be working with trained, certified and experienced school teachers. I may be wrong here though. Your chances of getting hired with no degree are slim at best. |
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