Job Discussion Forums

[capper]

I made a few modifications to my post above. So, I encourage some of you who have already read it to have a another peak! Regards...

[diva]

I still think capper is the last (and very lucky) man standing.

I have a masters in Art History and my Japanese is still limited to 'Where is the bank?' But since 1996 I have pulled in 20 plus college classes/week whilst my wife did a job like paulh and did a lot of stuff on the side.
No kids. Shipped most of the cash home every month and got into property. This year I will be doing 10 classes a week, with 5 months yearly vacation and STILL be making more than a language school teacher. There is no　justice in this world. But I don't think my situation can be copied. Capper is the last one to do this before the dispatch companies take over.

Also, fail as many students as you want, professors, but catch up with them a year down the line and ask to see their grade sheets. Don't be too shocked if your 'D' has somehow turned into a 'B'. I teach at a very famous university (famous for sports stars) and all the jocks pass my English course no matter what I do. (Just like in the USA?) It's fun to let off steam on this forum but the silent Japanese professors are pulling the strings!

[capper]

Diva, I wouldn't by an means call myself the last lucky man alive. First, there are many people teaching a lot of p/t university classes weekly. Between college and universities, I teach 12 per week (3 classes per day for 4 days). I am sure some earn more than me because they work at schools that pay more. Also, it is possible to teach 4 classes for 5 days -- and that would obviously earn someone quite a bit more. So, I'm no slavedriver. However, the 2 hour business classes I teach 3 or 4 nights a week (at 6,000 per hour + transportation) are a pretty good addition to my schedule. It's also a nice mix of classes. My weekend TOEFL classes were so easy (as I knew the text blindfolded) and nice because I was able to really help those motivated students get their scores up fairly quick. Vocabulary building is a lengthy process but if you can teach the fundamental skills and strategies involved in TOEFL, you can sometimes give students a quick boost to their existing score.

Anyway, there are several schools that will probably never use dispatch companies for a portion of their English classes because they are too strict in the instructors they want to hire. If they ever go that route everywhere though, people like Paul H. and all his ESL education will become completely redundant and useless. The fact is they really are already!

[gaijinalways]

I put very little time into preparation for different reasons. First, on one day I teach the same lesson 3 times and then the same thing on another day. Plus, it doesn't matter how much time and effort you put in, you tend to get the same results. (I know because I have tried preparing and it was time wasted!). Also, if you have a good imagination (I suppose I do), you can wing a lot of really good activities in a heart beat on demand. Besides, what in the world do you need to prepare for a bunch of students that sit there (if they come) and do nothing for 90 min. -- or since many often come late -- for less time anyway!!!

Capper,

Maybe I am lucky, most of my students expect a little more than this. Of course I have 'a bag of tricks', ie.e stock warmers and closers, but I teach some students for a year, and the bag of tricks gets thin at some point. I also custom design some classes with no text (at the university's request). So are you telling me that you also don't prepare for your business classes either (or minimally, at best)?

I do have some repeat lessons, but I still spend a certain time looking on the web for ideas related to some of the content classes I teach. In addition, I have had some of the same students for 2 years in a variety of classes, so I can hardly use the same activities (or at least they need to be altered slightly, but there is a limit even to doing that).

Abu, as to some students successfully putting the bar on the ground, I know the feeling. Luckily I have had very few classes like that.


Also Capper, you haven't answered my earlier question, what level of universities do you teach at? In my experience, at the higher level universities, students will actively complain if classes are too boring (they'll visit your supervisor or complain to the administration). Of course, usually this alone won't get you fired, but it will probably put you on the fast track to getting the less desirable classes and/or schedule.

There are of course activities you can do with little preparation (and/or materials), but generally in my experience, a class only full of these kinds of activities will probbably not be too well coordinated and won't necessarily tie in per se with any text used.

My students tend to do a　little more than always showing up late, at least for the majority of my classes. Of course, one thing that you hinted at might be class size. As classes get larger and larger, it is more difficult to manage/facilitate and keep students actively enagaged.

Also, how much homework, tests, reports, etc. do you give? I had one discussion/debate (it was 2 periods with the same set of students) class that I gave where I found I needed more e-mail contact to help students prepare for some of the subjects they discussed and debated (reviewing questions, main pints, reasons behind the points, etc.). This added to my 'class time', but got me great feedback from the students.

This is why I cut back on some of my other work and to lower my stress. I go to the gym too (probably 1-2 times a week), and I do know some teachers who work pretty heavy schedules, but they take off 2-4 months a year to travel, and of course have a more extensive inventory of stock　material to teach from as they have been university teaching anywheres from 12-20 plus years (compared to my meager 4 years). In my case often I am still getting new classes (the more senior teachers tend to get the more content laden and better pick of their classes), so that often means getting acquainted with new textbooks in some cases (some classes have department assigned textbooks).

Probably one thing additional thing I would like to comment on is Cappers networking. My hats off to you,networking is key here (in addition to Japanese language ability) in Japan. I have been amazed at some places with the people they have hired simply because someone knew someone already working there!

I haven't been as lucky as you, as I have more travelling time to my campuses, though I have managed to cut it down for this next academic year. I am also trying to spread my work out as well, but sometimes it's not easy to coordinate work to fit the holes in your schedule, be not too far way, and not pick up classes that require tons of preparation (and pay well). In addition, sometimes your ability to continue some clases depends on the whim of the clients (renewing the contract), your relationship with the hiring agency/company, etc. It can be very unstable at times, with even some of the more experienced teachers having a semester where they have a 'hole' in their schedule because of 'a last minute' termination and they didn't have time to replace those classes as the hiring decisions for many contracts are sometimes made far in advance of the actual start of the classes (even some companies vet the teachers, as well as letting the client interview them or have the teachers demo in some cases).

[PAULH]

[ndorfn]

to the OP.

there are plenty of other sites for ELT to to act like idiots in japan, like bigdaikon, gaijinpot etc.

maybe korea doesn't have these outlets?

[capper]

[diva]

[gaijinalways]

It does depend on the university. And capper, a semmon gakko often has students that are maturity wise the same as juniorhighers, well sometimes highschoolers. The lower level universities are about the same, been there, done that.

As to holiday pay, most of the better universities all pay the full year. If you aren't getting that, than it is time to look for another uni post.

I certainly don't lose any sleep over it. There were times where I got pissed off and upset. However, I know much better than that now. You do the best you can and let the chips fall where they may. If the class is a disaster, it like would be with any teacher.

I would say it depends. Better teachers do generally avoid these disasters, but even they are not completely immune to the class that suffers a partial meltdown.

Otherwise, why bother? If it is required by the school, obviously I give them what I am expected to. If it is not necessary, I try and avoid homework because a majority of students never do it anyway.

I think if your focus is not just on making money, but on helping students to improve, you wouldn't need to ask this question. Most of my students actually do it, though I do correct some of it in class, as a class.

Where did you work full time before? Just curious. And if you and your wife both work, who watches/cares for the kids?


And as to your comments about what is done in Japan, I would second that. Splitting the family for long spells is a personal choice based on various considerations, but it's not necessarily the best choice overall.

[takamatsudaiki]

I try and avoid homework because a majority of students never do it anyway.

This is the kind of attitude you should never have in the classroom. Sure, many students don't do it, but you need to make sure that they do. That is part of the job of the teacher. Think about your role as a teacher. Are you just going to stand there, lecture, and hope the students learn everything from listening to you? I really think that this specific comment is fairly irresponsible of you. This is not to be mean or anything, just spitting out some tough love so to speak. I think you need to read the TESOL laws once just to get an idea of the role you play as an EFL teacher.

[diva]

[diva]

[capper]

[gaijinalways]

Just got offered 3 koma at a top-notch university in the Kanto area starting in April. So things are always improving. It seems that once you get a school or two on your resume, it's a snowball effect. Your next jobs are easier and easier to land. Looks like it's going to be a good academic year again.

True Capper, that's how I got my other work, but getting the first good school was difficult. Took a referral from a school that originally rejected me, now I work for them as well too. (sorry about the question about kids, I misremembered your earlier reply).

It isn't as simple as that. Some of the national universities (which could be considered the 'best') have shocking pay. I was offered a class at a 'brand name' college and would have made more at GABA.

Diva,

As I said, most of the better universities. I don't know if the rubbish ones pay too well anymore, those are the ones that are starting to use agencies, who generally don't give you all the holiday pay, if any.

[takamatsudaiki]