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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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 Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:52 pm Post subject: Prospective EFL/ESL teacher seeking advice |
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Hello folks,
I am an Applied Linguistics undergrad at a Canadian university planning to teach in Japan after I graduate. I am very keen on teaching ESL at the elementary/secondary school level, but I am afraid that I may not succeed in securing a teaching job in Japan solely because of my ethnic & religious backgroud. The fact is I am an East African muslim who will be travelling as a naturalized Canadian citizen. Furthermore, I'll probably be married after my graduation as per my culture's customs. I realize I'd probably be better off teaching in Indonesia or Malaysia, but I prefer the idea of teaching in Japan much more than relocating and teaching in a 3rd world muslim country. Considering my unique bio profile, what are my chances of getting hired through the JET programme? I am a realist, please don't be afraid to be brutally honest with me. Thanks & cheers! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: Prospective EFL/ESL teacher seeking advice |
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| calidhuux wrote: |
Hello folks,
I am an Applied Linguistics undergrad at a Canadian university planning to teach in Japan after I graduate. I am very keen on teaching ESL at the elementary/secondary school level, but I am afraid that I may not succeed in securing a teaching job in Japan solely because of my ethnic & religious backgroud. The fact is I am an East African muslim who will be travelling as a naturalized Canadian citizen. Furthermore, I'll probably be married after my graduation as per my culture's customs. I realize I'd probably be better off teaching in Indonesia or Malaysia, but I prefer the idea of teaching in Japan much more than relocating and teaching in a 3rd world muslim country. Considering my unique bio profile, what are my chances of getting hired through the JET programme? I am a realist, please don't be afraid to be brutally honest with me. Thanks & cheers! |
What will your nationality be ? Will you travel on a Canadian passport? Plenty of non-whites teach in Japan, including African-Canadians and Japanese-Americans.
What can your wife/spouse do in Japan? You can not support two people on a teaching income here, though they can get a dependent visa and work part time. Many schools wont rent accomodation to couples with non-working spouses. You may need to arrange your own accomodation.
PS ALTs working in elementary schools here are hired through private dispatch companies and JET teachers work in junior high schools. As long as you have a degree and a Canadian passport your chances are as good as any. |
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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I am a Canadian citizen. My real concern is how well I would actually fare in Japan considering my ethnic origin. Similarly, do public schools in Japan regularly avoid JET applicants who have dependents? The reason I ask is that I just can't imagine moving to Japan while single. And yes, I'll be marrying a girl from my own community. I'm too 'old school' I suppose, which is probably why I'm not too intimidated by the general low income standards for teachers in Japan. Please advise! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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| calidhuux wrote: |
| I am a Canadian citizen. My real concern is how well I would actually fare in Japan considering my ethnic origin. Similarly, do public schools in Japan regularly avoid JET applicants who have dependents? The reason I ask is that I just can't imagine moving to Japan while single. And yes, I'll be marrying a girl from my own community. I'm too 'old school' I suppose, which is probably why I'm not too intimidated by the general low income standards for teachers in Japan. Please advise! |
Your question, reading between the lines, is because you have dark skin and dont look like an English speaker. 'Citizen' sounds to me like you have a right of residence in Canada but still carry a foreign passport. This may have a bearing if they dont consider people from your country to be native speakers. You need to apply through the japanese embassy in Canada, and each application is judged on its merits.
My only advice is drop the ethnic hyphens and apply as a Canadian 'national'. Schools here want native speakers of English with Australian, New Zealand, British or American passports. Teachers here come in chocolate, white, black and every shade in between. What do you mean by your 'ethnicity' and why should this impact whether you can teach English? Do you want to work for a school that only considers your skin color and not your suitability for working here?
JET accepts married couples but 300,000 yen a month is not a lot of money to live on in Japan for a married couple and it may be a good idea for her to work part time. If you are not intimidated by low income I just ask what you will do for money if your spouse doesnt work? Do your old school standards include her staying home in a foreign country where she doesnt work and doesnt know anyone?
it may be OK for you out and about and working but its incredibly stressful for a foreign spouse stuck at home all day in a small apartment with nothing to do and not knowing anyone. Im not one to tell you what to do, but thinking about your spouses needs as well as your own is an important part of marriage
As far as being a Muslim is concerned. Do you have any dietary needs or religious practices that may affect your ability to do your job? Most japanese food contains meat products or stocks containing meat. You dont have to eat pork but if meat is a problem for you you may have problems. You can get halal meat in Japan.
You will be expected to work Monday to Friday on the JET program and on weekends if you work for a conversation school. You can not take days off because of religious observances, unless you use your paid holidays.
JET teachers are not employed by schools but by boards of education who send ALTS to work in local schools. The schools wont care whether you are married or have dependents but you have to get through the interviews and meet the requirements of local education boards. As I say some will accept couples but this is not guaranteed. |
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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Well said, Paul. I obviously don't expect my wife to sit around the house and do nothing all day. It is Japan we're talking about here. According to my research, it is very easy for native speakers of the English language to teach private ESL lessons in Japan. When I was describing myself as 'old school' I was merely referring to the conservative nature of my culture/lifestyle. I come from a highly educated generation of immigrants to Canada, so please don't allude to the negative gender stereotypes associated with the muslim world. It isn't relevant to our discussion. I am simply curious about Japan as a potential career choice. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the positive feedback you have provided me thusfar. Cheers!
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:52 am Post subject: |
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| calidhuux wrote: |
Well said, Paul. I obviously don't expect my wife to sit around the house and do nothing all day. It is Japan we're talking about here. According to my research, it is very easy for native speakers of the English language to teach private ESL lessons in Japan. When I was describing myself as 'old school' I was merely referring to the conservative nature of my culture/lifestyle. I come from a highly educated generation of immigrants to Canada, so please don't allude to the negative gender stereotypes associated with the muslim world. It isn't relevant to our discussion. I am simply curious about Japan as a potential career choice. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the positive feedback you have provided me thusfar. Cheers!
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OK your wife can teach privates at home. Some questions for you:
Has she ever taught English before?
Does she know how to plan a lesson and know what is best for a student?
Where will she find students? Most teachers here advertise or get them through word of mouth. some hand out flyers.
What will she do when a non-English speaking prospective student rings up wanting a demo lesson and wanting to know how much you charge?
Does she know what to charge per lesson and per student?
Where will she teach them?
What does she do about sudden cancellations and no-shows?
Can your wife explain to students what errors they make and why they are making errors, and how to correct them?
Most people teaching privates here have full time jobs and teach privates to supplement their teaching income. People teaching privates full time have spouse and resident visas, a place to teach them and teaching experience (you will need a classroom, books, tapes and teaching materials) and a pricing plan.
Im not saying it's impossible but teaching privates is more than hanging out a shingle and hoping students drop by because one is a native speaker. My experience of teaching privates is that many want English lessons for nothing, they expect you to entertain them and they dont realise learning a language requires HARD WORK. Its the rare student that will last more than a month or two before they get bored from handing over money for lessons.
Because there are no upfront deposits or entry fees its easy for private students to drop out or stop coming to lessons with a private tutor. be prepared for a lot of cancellations or no-shows. The first few lessons are out of curiouslity but you really need a hook to keep them coming back for lessons or you end up continually scouting for new students.
I didnt mean to cast aspersions over your religion etc. My knowledge of Muslims is via the English language media and I admit they get a bad rap. However its hard enough working here as a foreigner in a non-English speaking country but add in religious and cultural considerations the gap in understanding can only increase and culture shock will be a problem too.
PS It may be japan but working in Tokyo or Osaka is very different than working in a small provincial town where you may the only foreigners for miles around. japan is a small country but provincial and urban attitudes are very different among Japanese. |
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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:37 am Post subject: |
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| Your general insight regarding teaching privates in Japan is the primary reason I can never work at eikawa schools. It is too informal in design to achieve anything of real pedagogical value. However, I do understand your point of view. In hind sight, I must admit that the whole spouse factor isn't something I have considered thoroughly enough. Japan is, without a doubt, a tremendous challenge. Maybe I should just face the music and forsake this silly pipe dream. It's way too risky, while on the contrary I have personal contacts in both Malaysia and Indonesia that can guarantee me solid teaching positions upon request. Isn't it ironic how we humans always strive to attain the impossible? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| calidhuux wrote: |
| Your general insight regarding teaching privates in Japan is the primary reason I can never work at eikawa schools. It is too informal in design to achieve anything of real pedagogical value. However, I do understand your point of view. In hind sight, I must admit that the whole spouse factor isn't something I have considered thoroughly enough. Japan is, without a doubt, a tremendous challenge. Maybe I should just face the music and forsake this silly pipe dream. It's way too risky, while on the contrary I have personal contacts in both Malaysia and Indonesia that can guarantee me solid teaching positions upon request. Isn't it ironic how we humans always strive to attain the impossible? |
If you have a degree then an eikaiwa or a JET positiion are about your only options. Only eikaiwas recruit outside Japan and JET hires once a year. If teaching at a language school is beneath you all though you have no expeirence then there are not many options. You have a degree in Linguistics but its purely theory, little practical and you still have to teac h students find a job and support a family
If you read other posts some eikaiwa teachers say their students DO learn as they are motivated, they attend classes and speak English regularly. the only way to learn is by doing and sticking at it. Knoccking schools for the way they employ teachers or deliver their product is deceptive and counterproductive
I teach at a university, see my students once a week for thirty weeks of the year and see little progress in that time. A NOVA student may go three times a week and see good improvement in 6 months.
I'm not you, but I do know that pay in Indonesia is not good considering the cost of living there. Indonesians make in one month what a NOVA teacher makes in one day in slaary so salaries will be commensurate. Thailand and Cambodia are supposed to be great lifestyles but dont expect to get rich teaching there on local salaries. |
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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| I respect your opinion about eikawa versus formal teaching practices, since you definitely have the credentials and the experience to prove your point. Similarly, you are also probably correct about the salary difference between Japan & Indonesia/Malaysia. My problem is that I have been studying Japanese to fulfill the language requirement portion of my Applied Linguistics (not General Linguistics) undergrad programme, and it seems like a terrible waste not to be able to put some of my academic training into any good use before tentatively committing myself to any graduate studies in my discipline. I don't want to be like the majority of my professors who have earned their positions purely through collaborated publications instead of extensive years of fieldwork. Surveying L1 language attrition phenomenon in bilingual industrialized communities doesn't really require too much legwork now, does it? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| calidhuux wrote: |
| I respect your opinion about eikawa versus formal teaching practices, since you definitely have the credentials and the experience to prove your point. Similarly, you are also probably correct about the salary difference between Japan & Indonesia/Malaysia. My problem is that I have been studying Japanese to fulfill the language requirement portion of my Applied Linguistics (not General Linguistics) undergrad programme, and it seems like a terrible waste not to be able to put some of my academic training into any good use before tentatively committing myself to any graduate studies in my discipline. I don't want to be like the majority of my professors who have earned their positions purely through collaborated publications instead of extensive years of fieldwork. Surveying L1 language attrition phenomenon in bilingual industrialized communities doesn't really require too much legwork now, does it? |
Can I ask you what you ultimately want to do with your degree? Do you want to become an academic in Canada? Do you hope to make a teaching career in Japan?
What are your long term goals? You sound as if you are are serious about gaining skills in ELT, but the other side of the coin is you risk becoming overquallified for many of the entry level jobs here. a masters degree is simply way too much for what most schools and the JEt program require. At NOVA etc you are an English speaking warm body, getting your students talking in English about Japan and foreign cultures.
The pay you get will certainly not make a large dent in your student loans and you will probably think a Linguistics degree is wasted working at a place like NOVA. My feeling is you may have to lower your expectations a tad, be prepared to start at the bottom and realise you dont know everything there is to know about language teaching. I came here years ago and learnt by the school of hard knocks, working at eikaiwas, companies, teaching kids, though most of my career has been in universities.
As for Japanese, kudos to you for studying Japanese but its not a skill that employers ask for. English only is used in class and most students wont speak in Japanese to you. You can use Japanese OUTSIDE the language school in daily life, with shopkeepers, landlords, friends etc. japanese IMO is icing on the cake, is useful for getting around this country but as a vocational skill is not in demand unless you have other skills. People here pay you to speak English, be a bum on a seat and keep students coming back. Pay is low now as you have more foriegners than jobs, people willing to work for low salaries and teaching English is not considered a high-prestige profession.
Studying Linguistics and acting the academic is fine, but you stll need to get down off the ivory tower and earn your wings here. Most people dont care what you study at university where you study or how many degrees you have. the degree is for immigration only to obtain your visa.
If you just want to come here for a year thats fine and i think you can manage if you have no student loans, you are frugal with money and are prepared to work hard.
It will take several months to get used to living here, learning the ropes and finding out where jobs are and how to apply for them. race may be an issue but i think its a minor one. As long as you have a valid visa, are reasonably presentable and dont appear unteachable or conceited you will be OK. if you wave a masters around and think you know better than your employer you may have problems. Most language schools here just want a cheap foreigner who wont rock the boat and will do what they are told.
Firstly work out what your short term and long term goals are, decide what you are willing and not willing to do and see how to best market yourself to employers here. Show a bit of humility and be a team player. They are not looking for academics but work horses here. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:22 am Post subject: |
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If you keep halal you're in for a rough ride (similarly anyone who is Jewish and keeps kosher). Pork and seafood (and their by-products) are found almost EVERYWHERE. You can't even buy an innocent-looking package of Japanese Doritos because they are cooked in pork fat... So even if you were to go vegetarian, many vegetarian dishes still contain trace amounts of pork.
This means you would have to cook for yourself at home, and not consume most (if any) pre-packaged, processed, or manufactured foods. 
Just some food for thought (if you excuse the pun). |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| Get you Masters then think about coming to Japan with your wife. |
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Tue
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:50 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The fact is I am an East African muslim who will be travelling as a naturalized Canadian citizen |
Whats wrong with just saying you are Canadian ? Glad to see you won't have a problem using the passport when it suits you.
| Quote: |
| I come from a highly educated generation of immigrants to Canada, so please don't allude to the negative gender stereotypes associated with the muslim world. It isn't relevant to our discussion. |
Funny I can't see anything Paul said that you lead you to say this. Considering you needed to state this in your first post, it seems to be a big issue for you and no one else here. Please get off your religious high-horse and listen to the good advice being offered. |
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calidhuux
Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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Tue, please don't pawn off your tactless right wing ethnocentric polemics on me. It is bad enough that Canadians have to cope with the new tories in power. To the rest, I thank you all for your constructive advice.
PS. In response to Paul's questions, after several years I would like to eventually move on to complete both levels of graduate studies in my field of study. Similarly, I find the lack of competition for instructor/professor level positions in Canada to be quite appealing. However, my affinity to teach L2 comes from my innate ability to easily relate to most ESL students due to my pleasant experiences spent learning English as an adolescent.
Last edited by calidhuux on Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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shuize
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Tue wrote: |
| Whats wrong with just saying you are Canadian ? Glad to see you won't have a problem using the passport when it suits you. |
| calidhuux wrote: |
| Tue, please don't pawn off your tactless right wing ethnocentric polemics on me. It is bad enough that Canadians have to cope with the new tories in power. |
Ah, just what Japan needs, another Canadian with issues. My advice: deal with your cultural / identity bagage before you get here. Most Japanese students will not appreciate East African/Muslim/Canadian distinctions anyway. As noted above, race probably won't be an issue unless you make it one. But when asked, you'd still be better off just answering "Canadian."
P.S. If you have a problem with conservative governments, you ought to know Japan has been ruled by the "conservatives" almost uninterrupted since the end of World War II. |
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