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FierceInvalid
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject: A Couple Questions |
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I'm thinking about making the switch from Korea to Japan sometime in the near future. I'll probably use one of the big 4 to get in and go from there. 2 questions for the moment:
1. I have about 3 years EFL experience and a TESL certficate. I've read that the big 4 (and NOVA in particular) prefer complete newbies in their hiring. I don't have a CELTA or MA or anything, but should I gloss over the qualifications I do have?
2. I just read on another thread that you have very little say in where you're placed if you get hired by one of the big companies. I figured that might be the case. I'm pretty flexible, but I do want to work in a fairly large city. I understand that this is where most of the jobs are anyway, but is this a realistic expectation in most cases? Do your preferences get completely disregarded? In a company like NOVA, for example, they must have more than one opening at any given time...has anyone ever been given an "OK, this is what we've got open right now...what's your preference?" choice?
Thanks for any help/advice. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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| 1. I have about 3 years EFL experience and a TESL certficate. I've read that the big 4 (and NOVA in particular) prefer complete newbies in their hiring. I don't have a CELTA or MA or anything, but should I gloss over the qualifications I do have? |
I think the first question to ask, considering you have been teaching in Korea, is whether you have a bachelor's degree. "Complete newbies" isn't all they hire, but you still have to be legal. |
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FierceInvalid
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I think the first question to ask, considering you have been teaching in Korea, is whether you have a bachelor's degree. "Complete newbies" isn't all they hire, but you still have to be legal. |
Hahaha, fair enough. The Korean foreign community has the reputation I'd assumed it had, then. Yeah, I do have a degree. |
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C76
Joined: 13 Jun 2003
Posts: 113
Location: somewhere between beauty and truth...in Toronto. ;)
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: A Couple Questions |
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| FierceInvalid wrote: |
1. I have about 3 years EFL experience and a TESL certficate. I've read that the big 4 (and NOVA in particular) prefer complete newbies in their hiring. I don't have a CELTA or MA or anything, but should I gloss over the qualifications I do have? |
Fierce, I have a newbie question for you regarding your first question.
Is a TESL somehow considered inferior to a CELTA?
Your "I don't have a CELTA or anything..." made me wonder. 
Also, I do not mean to offend you by offering what I have heard, instead of what I have experienced. (Mind you, I have heard/read info from experienced people.) However, I have read here on Dave's boards that the Big 4 prefer new newbies. The greener, the better. Some people on Dave's boards have suggested that the Big 4 count on newbie's naivete concerning teaching methods, etc.
I don't want to hijack your thread, but if someone could mention whether or not the above info is accurate...I think that would be advice we could all use. |
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BenJ
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 209
Location: Nagoya
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| I am a qualified and experienced ESL teacher but was offered a job with Nova - I was unable to take it however until I had a fixed address (heading over with my partner) but was advised to simply contact Nova in the city I am going to and apply directly once I had an address. |
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FierceInvalid
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 4:33 am Post subject: |
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Is a TESL somehow considered inferior to a CELTA?
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I think a CELTA is more respected and recognized, probably due to the fact that it's standardized and monitored. A "TESL certificate" is completely unregulated and can mean anything from a weekend seminar to a much longer and more intensive course. My TESL, classroom and prac, took about three months to complete.
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| The greener, the better. |
I'd heard that too, particularly in reference to NOVA - that's why I asked about it. But it seems I don't have that much to worry about. Besides, I think I'd prefer ECC to NOVA anyway based on what I've read - though who knows what options will be open to me. |
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Wolf
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 1245
Location: Middle Earth
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:02 am Post subject: |
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Hi, Fierce.
When I got hired by NOVA, I asked for the same thing you want: A big city. Well, I got my wish. They sent me to Nagoya (the only one of 27 in my group. I wasn't thrilled with beng in Nagoya over Osaka, but many people seem to like living there, and it grew on me as I made friends, settled down, etc.) A request that general ought to be easy enough for somewhere like NOVA to address.
NOVA does hire experienced teachers from time to time (like the other poster here.) Being green helps. But being new to Japan often is equated with "green" anyway. If you want the job, just try not to push your own ideas about teaching during the interview. One person's advice. |
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Shonai Ben
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 617
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:41 am Post subject: Experience counts too |
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I was an experienced efl teacher also when I went to nova for an interview.They offered me a position and sent me a contract but I was offered a position with another company,so I turned nova down.
Nova was really only my backup plan anyway,in case I couldn't find another job.I really had no desire to work for them.Just wanted the visa.  |
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