Job Discussion Forums

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

I'm a second year JET and have recontracted for a third, so I have a while to go here yet, but does anybody know of any recruiter who recruits specifically for Private High Schools? At the end of my third year my Visa will be ending, but getting a renewal probably wouldn't be all that hard. I have a slight preference for SHS just because it's a different level than I have been doing (and I'd like to both see where the English education goes after JHS and like the idea of working with higher level grammar and kids who hopefully have attained a higher level of English). I'd rather not go back to Canada just yet (when I do it'll hopefully be to do an MA in Applied Linguistics after which I'd probably work in a college or university) and would like to spend more time here (I'm in the Kanto area and like it here, but am not opposed to going to other areas as well).

My qualifications:

-An honours BA degree in the History of Music (this has been useful in my current job mostly for playing guitar and getting the kids to sing along in class- you can make your own arrangements of songs to use the target language that way) and English Literature
-A year long (full time, on campus, not by distance) university TESL certificate (I'm planning on making teaching ESL my career).
-Prior training in advertising copywriting (I am planning on not doing this for my career)

I will have the three years on JET (JHS, elementary school, one year volunteer as an adult eikaiwa instructor, with the usual extra classes for kids going to the US for sister city exchanges, editing and rewriting communications from my town to the Sister City etc):

I also taught a language camp for teenagers (none of them were Japanese; all of them were Mexican) in Canada (teaching, designing all materials and curriculum etc myself -with the exception of the final presentation skit requirement- for back to back classes from 8 to 2) for a summer.

I have six months volunteer teaching experience of adult immigrants in Canada (about half of it was part of the TESL certificate practicum- plus another three months university ESL classes, this was the rest of the practicum, for the most advanced ESL students and the least advanced ESL students at the unversity) .

If it matters, I also have prior experience in editing and writing for arts companies (music related) and writing commercials for a Classical radio station and copy for a full service communications company (advertising and public relations)

My Japanese level is intermediate (I'll probably be able to pass the 2kyu pretty shortly) and I also have an advanced level of French and an intermediate level of German (not much use for them around here, though so they are getting rusty).

I know a couple of teachers at Private High Schools around here and they tell me that the schools are going to recruiters because the quality of some of the previous Foreign English Instructors or ALTs has been a bit low.

So if you have any ideas, could you PM me?

Thanks!

[canuck]

Be prepared for a paycut and good luck. Knowing someone is your best route in. I think the only thing that seperates you from most other teachers would be your Japanese ability. The chances of being hired directly through the school is becoming slimmer and slimmer. Start looking early next year, but be prepared for reality if you have to take a paycut, not get paid for your summers etc.

I really think dispatching companies are evil. Lucky I don't have to deal with that senario. Good luck.

[Sweetsee]

I'd say a dispatcher would be your best route in. You' d take a pay cut but you'd get your foot in the door.

Who knows, the school may approach you, if you are good. Happens all the time.

Good luck to you.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Are there dispatch companies or people who specialize in Private High Schools where the teacher hopefully has an opportunity to teach more than a JET ALT (the foreign teachers at the private schools that I know do a lot more in the way of actual teaching, lesson planning, grading etc then most JETs I know)?

The only dispach companies I know are the kind that are essentially just competition for JET- public elementary, JHS and SHS schools where (in my experience) the ALT has a limited role (and the companies occasionally have pretty iffy reputations).

Am I missing something?

[Glenski]

I wouldn't be so sure about that pay cut, canuck, unless you are talking strictly about salaries from a dispatcher. I'm hired directly by my private HS and get paid more than a JET ALT.

I agree that the Japanese ability will be a plus, especially if you are expected to take part in meetings and if you ever have to deal with low level kids (yes, even in HS).

Playing guitar will not mean anything for HS kids. At that stage of the game, they are in full gear for college preparations, not entertainment. That also means your advertising copywriting, editing and writing for arts companies, and writing commercials are pretty meaningless, too. Figure on teaching classes in TOEFL preparation and/or college entrance exam prep, essay writing, and late stage oral communication.

[canuck]

[guest of Japan]

Their are companies that specialize in private high schools only. My company is one, but honestly, I do not recommend it. I won't go into details, but you'd be better off not working for them.

[Sweetsee]

The dispatcher I worked for sucked but guaranteed 300,000 a month,
better than a sharp stick in the eye.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

But how did you find him/her/ the company? Just look it up in the yellow pages?

[Sweetsee]

Many companies, though not mine, are mentioned on this site. I came accross an ad in monday's JT. It is a relatively small company.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

ok.

Thanks everyone.

[Big John Stud]

GambateBingBangBOOM wrote:

Are there dispatch companies or people who specialize in Private High Schools where the teacher hopefully has an opportunity to teach more than a JET ALT (the foreign teachers at the private schools that I know do a lot more in the way of actual teaching, lesson planning, grading etc then most JETs I know)? The only dispach companies I know are the kind that are essentially just competition for JET- public elementary, JHS and SHS schools where (in my experience) the ALT has a limited role (and the companies occasionally have pretty iffy reputations). Am I missing something?

Yea some dispatch company are low like USCOM! However, most are pretty good. I know of one that dispatches to private schools. After a certian amount of time, you school has the option to hire you directly.
There is a thread about the agency on this board.

[moot point]

BigJohn, what's the name of that agency?