Job Discussion Forums

[Wolf]

Here's the Japanese word for lecturer:

http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?1Q%B9%D6%BB%D5_1_

And here's how we get described:

http://www.nova.ne.jp/houjin/gaikokujin/gaikokujin.html The first five kanji in red. They read "Gaikokujin koushi."

講師 (that works on my computer, might not show up - this isn't my strong suit.)

So there you have it. We are not faciltators of language learning who try to help students develop the skills they need to learn and use EFL. Oh, no. We are (or were in my case - not in Japan) a bunch of lecturers who stand there and talk and talk and talk.

So, my eikaiwa bosses told me to get the students to talk no matter what. But then they turn around and advertise us as lecturers. That word makes a world of difference in how the student is going to think of the class.

Personally, I think they're being insideous byastards. What we do is better described as "Kyoshi"- "teacher." (you can look it up at the first link if needs be.) They want us to be all friendly and informal (I once got in troube at NOVA for ADHERING to the no socializing policy) and then when they advertise to the Japanese, they slip in this word. The message being "oh, our classes won't be any different from what you've come to expect, so you needn't fear the unknown in any way."

Well, comfort is good. But lying to get it? Over something that's as important as the teaching apporach we are expected to take in every lesson?

Comments, anyone?

[Vince]

The term koushi struck me as odd the first time I heard it. My wife and I dragged out our dictionaries and examined the term, and it seems to have a different connotation from the English lecturer. In fact, koushi can be a compliment, because it implies that you're a specialist of the subject. People call you sensei because that's the common form of address when speaking to a koushi and people of other such positions.