Job Discussion Forums

Eager2teach · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject: Middle age teachers in Japan

Hi,

I'm a mid 40's American male. I am researching Japan. I would like to correspond with similar people to hear their experiences. I am in Prague right now and it is really for younger teachers. They make you travel all over the place, spending half your day on trams and subways. I find it exhausting!

Ideally I'm looking for a city that's fairly slow and quiet. I'll let the youngsters party in the usual places.

thanks!
John

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Hi John

Did you post this in the Japan thread? You should.

What you describe in Prague will probably also apply in Japan. But with longer commutes.

At your age, you'll be most welcomed to teach business courses but those stationary language schools (=long hours) would look for younger folks willing to accept a lower wage.

nickelgoat · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 5:44 am Post subject:

.....

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I started teaching at 41 in Sapporo. That was 8 years ago. No reason why an enthusiastic person in his 40s can't get work here. Save your "slow and quiet" attitude for outside of class, though. Even in a business English course, students want to see some energy.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hello John,

Prague sounds nice, been there long?
I am 45 and teaching senior high school in Japan.
Lots of work here for hard workers.

Enjoy,
s

Sherri · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:05 am Post subject:

Hi Sweetsee
Are you the same Sweetsee who is pregnant and expecting a baby this summer? You are having a baby at age 45?! How is that going? I had number 2 baby at age 41. Take care. You must be taking maternity leave soon. Put your feet up and relax.

Bye for now and good luck
Sherri

abufletcher · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:08 am Post subject:

The issue for me is not "middle age" per se but what stage in your career you're at.

It's obviously going to be hard being a "mid-age" person in "just-started" sort of job. In a perfect world only "beginning-age" people hold entry level jobs. And hopefully by the time one reaches "mid-age" one is also "mid-career" and is therefore eligible for mid-career type jobs.

I face this issue in contemplating whether to try for a tenure-track type job back in the US. I'm pushing 50 with 20+ years of overseas teaching experience but would be entering the US system on the lowest rung of the ladder -- a rung often occupied by folks just out of grad school and glad to have any job at all in academia. Most of these jobs pay up to $20,000 a year LESS than I'm earning in Japan!

BTW, I've always considered EFL to be an active sport where I expect to be sweaty at the end of a good class.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

At the end of class Abu? In my university there isn't any air-con. I sweat within 2 mins of entering the class. Smile

I know what you mean though. I sometimes wonder when I hear of teachers who sit down in class. 95% of the time at least I am on my feet. Even when they're working I think a teacher should be actively monitoring a class.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Due July 31 Gordon, thinking earlier though.
Thanks for asking.

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

This might only apply to my JHS I teach at, but there aren't many "old aged" teachers. There are the young, new ones who are in their first year (~24), and there are others who have been teaching for awhile and are tannin sensei's now (have their own class) who are around ~30. But after that, there is a significant gap, as the next teachers are in their late 50's.

I've heard its because teaching (especially at JHS) is pretty stressful here and teachers look for a career change years into their teaching careers. Not sure, but just wanted to share this with you.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Plenty of work here, not all of it well paid. Many of the older people I know here have been here a while, though, some as long as 20 years. Hence, they have carved out pretty good positions generally, but it's also making contacts as well, that's a big part of it pursueing good jobs in Japan.

abufletcher · Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 4:36 am Post subject:

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I hear that Abu, the old hands to pocket ratio jumps big time.
It's all good, though.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

I know a lot of long term residents in Japan. Most are either teaching part-time at a few universities, own their own schools or have been in a good situation for a long time. The people I know didn't usually come here in their 40's.

The older you get, the harder it is to teach in an eikaiwa. Good luck with your choice Eager2teach.