Job Discussion Forums

[wbil]

I'm looking into starting eikawa teaching in Tokyo and wanted to get some perspectives on how the interaction is between teachers and the locals, expats, etc.. Some of the past postings that relate to this seem to say that teachers are somewhat sterotyped as migrant workers, low-skilled workers and such. I'm wondering if this is generally correct and if so, if it hampers the ability to making new connections/friends or just networking in general.

What's the social life like for eikawa teachers? Do they hang out w/ other teachers, coworkers, students?

[markle]

Overall, Japanese a quite reserved and are hesitant to establish a non working relationship with foreign teachers for a number reasons (f. teachers are around for a short time, company policy, language barrier etc)
In the end it will all come down to what kind of person you are. If you are outgoing and easy going then you will find plenty of friends if you tend to let other people make the first move then you might find making friends hard going.

[kdynamic]

Eikaiwa teachers (not so much English teachers in general but eikaiwa teachers in specific) have a reputation for being young, unable to speak Japanese, disruptive, and oblivious to a lot of Japanese customs and decorum. Oh yeah, and drunk a lot.

But of course there are lots of responsible people in Eikaiwa too. I think how well you can speak the language plays a big part in how much you can get out of the 'English bubble' and interact with the non-eikaiwa community. But everyone gets the chance to make the experience what they want it to be for themselves.

[Apsara]

Possibly it was a case of honne vs tatemae (true feelings vs public face), but Japanese people I met outside of work often seemed quite impressed when told I taught English- totally unjustifiedof course, as I was completely unqualified.

I don't teach English any more and most of my Japanese friends haven't ever been to an eikaiwa, but I have never had the impression that they see eikaiwa teachers as drunken louts. The general public impression isn't really that bad, I'm sure- if it was, why would they pay millions of yen for lessons from that kind of person?

[JimDunlop2]

Interesting question, to be sure. This requires another Zen answer.

Although English teachers are referred to as "sensei" just like any Japanese teacher, doctor, lawyer, elected official, etc, the title doesn't always come with the respect that is generally associated with it...

In my job, I find people to be MUCH more honest with their sentiments... The ones that are uncomfortable calling me "-- sensei" don't. They call me "--san." It bothers me only a little bit, and I'm very Japanese about the whole affair -- I would never correct them openly, for instance. Usually, those are people who don't really know me, and in actual fact are quite often, technically speaking, kouhai to me at the school where I'm teaching. But hey, if that's what it takes for them to get over their insecurities, whatever. Everyone else knows that I am their "sempai"... So if anything ever comes up, regardless of what they call me, I still have seniority.

At the same time, there IS a certain stigma attached to English teachers. I have met a number of people who have had, or still have a Japanese spouse or girlfriend where it becomes a point of contention between them... I.e. There is a certain pressure to move out of Japan, because the Japanese spouse feels like she is losing face and honour with her friends and colleagues, being married to an "English teacher." Why? Teaching English is often seen as a temporary endeavor and not a long-term career choice. Hence, they feel (and they perceive others around them to feel) that they are married to someone who has no career.

In terms of being seen as a low-skilled, migrant worker -- I can't say I've ever encountered this, nor do I know someone who has had that experience. It's not like you're coming in to work in a factory or auto plant, like many Brazilians or Peruvians. (I don't say this as a negative thing, but it does tend to be that way)... Japanese people are generally smart enough to tell the difference, but I'd say that regardless of your country of origin, if you are NOT Japanese, there will always be a certain sense of "us" versus "them." Your foreignness will speak much louder than your occupation.

Having said all this, many people are mature enough to look beyond all of this and see you for who you really are. I teach a private student who is a full professor of virology and an AIDS researcher at Tokyo Medical University -- and for him, even though we don't "talk shop" very often, the fact that I have a science degree in psych and genetics made it possible for us to be friends and for me to teach him English. Obviously he can see that we've shared some common background through education (as well as the fact that we both love sumo and golf) that made things possible. When he was looking for an English teacher, he told me from the start that he wanted someone who was "appropriate" for him... So I was certainly glad that he felt that I fit that bill.

I find that quite often I can distinguish between those who really want to get to know me and establish a relationship and those who just want to chit-chat superficially, by the questions they ask me. The latter boils down to questions about where I'm from, how the food, weather, culture is in Canada. The former asks completely different questions -- what did I study in uni, where did I work in Canada, how long am I planning on staying in the city where I live (as opposed to "Japan" as a whole, or just outright asking me when am I going home)... I have a few really good Japanese friends... But like any other close friends, they are few and hard to come by.

sorry for the long-winded answer.

[Firestarter]

I'd concur.....on these sites, many people claim that Japanese people generally look down on eikaiwa teachers and I really think that's an unsubstantiated claim. To say that Japanese people feel that way is no less of a stereotype than to say that eikaiwa teachers are all irresponsible yobs.

Basically, if you're a yob who works for Nova, Japanese people will see you as a yob. Conversely, if you're a bright and responsible individual who works for Nova, Japanese people will see you as such. Where you work has little do with it and if it did, would you really care about the opinions of such people?

[Glenski]

[PAULH]

[buddhaboyjp]

[angrysoba]

[wangtesol]

You are thinking of opening up an eikaiwa and you want to know that is though of English teachers? Is this going to determine how you treat them? Whether you are going to enroll them into shakai hoken? A very odd post. How about you treat them as full nihonjin with equal rights and respect as you would a Japanese teacher?

Most English teachers have far better critical analysis education than the average Japanese eikaiwa or juku worker. Most know how to debate, argue reasonably, see another point of view, and tolerate problems that arise in cross-cultural communication. I cannot even see too many non-English teachers even knowing the word cross-cultural communciation.

English teachers are usually not here because of family, military, corporate or religious connections. They got here by their own accord and some represent exemlary living manifestations of individual free will.

In labour cricles, if you are in a union in Japan as a private language school teacher (i.e., in the service industry) then obviously you are not on the same social ranking as a Japanese service industry worker since you will be thought of as one who is only here temporarily (though it may not be the case).

And if you don't speak Japanese, then how can you compare to another worker in the service industry? If you don't speak the language how can you assert your rights in the workplace? Some gains are being made by migrant workers who work in the service industry, but since many teachers choose the flight response (just leave the job or the country) over the fight response (a legal dispute) when it comes to labour disputes, the battle is very much uphill.

However, some Japanese labour and human rights organizers do recognize that English teachers are on the leading edge of civil rights issues in Japan.

However, for society as a whole, their views of foreigner workers is greatly influenced by the media coverage the 350,000 South Americans who were brought into Japan in the 1980s and 1990s's (he number of visas issued to English teachers numbers only about 15,000)

And the 15,000 English teachers get caught up in those government policies that discourage further foreign settlement (ie, no minority language rights, government snitch lines, fingerprinting at the border, limited contracts, no anti-racism laws).

Regarding individual Japanese though, of course if someone has had a good experience with foreigners and can see through the anti-foreigner propaganda of the government then I find their view of English teachers is rather reasonable - we deserve the respect and rights of any nihonjin. So, don't cheat your English teachers out of their rights.

You can find out more on workplace laws at http://www.nambufwc.org

[Sweetsee]

Back in the day, out at night meeting people it was, "Oh, English teacher". And that would be the end of that.
Personally, I don't think I ever met a friendly English teacher, and I used to get out every single weekend. Okay, that is not completely true and a gross generalization but I stick to it. Just look at this board as an example. How many posters here have anything nice to say to each other? I always use folks' names, greet them, thank them, compliment them and nary a nod. Then again, I stumbled on to this profession. Oh well, such is net life I suppose.

Happy hump-day,
s

[Like a Rolling Stone]

[PAULH]

[Glenski]