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Drizzt
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 229
Location: Kyuushuu, Japan
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 Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject: For my situation will ALT JET experience look bad on my CV? |
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Hello to everyone in the Japan forum!
I have been teaching ESL at the university level for about 2 years now (1 year in China and finishing up a year in Mexico). I want to begin a master�s in applied linguistics in 2007 in the US, but if I am not accepted into the university of my choice, I am considering the JET programme as a back-up plan (in order to live in Japan, learn Japanese, get some more experience, and hopefully save a little cash).
I am wondering if experience as an assisstant teacher in a high school setting will look bad on my resume, since I already have experience teaching independently at the tertiary level -- considering my long term goals are to eventually secure my master�s and continue teaching at the university level.
Thanks for any tips! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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I have no experience with this directly, but here goes.
JET is sometimes not even known within Japan, so experience on JET may be only as good as you make it out to be. Conversely, there are employers here who refuse to consider that JET experience means anything towards teaching. So, as is often said here, your situation is "case by case".
As for whether an employer in other countries (including your homeland) sees JET as worthy or not, I guess my first comment may apply more than any. It just depends how you portray it. |
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luckyloser700
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: Re: For my situation will ALT JET experience look bad on my |
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| Drizzt wrote: |
Hello to everyone in the Japan forum!
I have been teaching ESL at the university level for about 2 years now (1 year in China and finishing up a year in Mexico). I want to begin a master�s in applied linguistics in 2007 in the US, but if I am not accepted into the university of my choice, I am considering the JET programme as a back-up plan (in order to live in Japan, learn Japanese, get some more experience, and hopefully save a little cash).
I am wondering if experience as an assisstant teacher in a high school setting will look bad on my resume, since I already have experience teaching independently at the tertiary level -- considering my long term goals are to eventually secure my master�s and continue teaching at the university level.
Thanks for any tips! |
You might want to try contacting the departments at some of the universities you're interested in attending and working in directly. I've always found university department people to be pretty receptive to your type of question. Besides, you don't have give your name; professors love to give advice and share their wisdom.  |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:49 am Post subject: Re: For my situation will ALT JET experience look bad on my |
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| Drizzt wrote: |
I am wondering if experience as an assisstant teacher in a high school setting will look bad on my resume, since I already have experience teaching independently at the tertiary level -- considering my long term goals are to eventually secure my master�s and continue teaching at the university level.
Thanks for any tips! |
Where do you plan to teach after graduate school? E.g., if it's in the States, nobody will care (the lack of a PhD will disqualify you for most full-time university jobs anyway). If it's in Japan, such experience may actually help. |
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Drizzt
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 229
Location: Kyuushuu, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:14 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice everyone.
As Glenski said, it�s probably mostly about how I portray my experience to prospective employers (those not familiar with JET at least)
Taikibansei, my long term goal is to get a master�s in applied linguistics, and begin teaching university level in either Taiwan or Japan (although it seems nearly impossible to find full time work for the university level in Japan from what I�ve read on the boards). Eventually, I would like to return to the states to teach community college level. |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:26 am Post subject: |
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| Drizzt wrote: |
| Taikibansei, my long term goal is to get a master�s in applied linguistics, and begin teaching university level in either Taiwan or Japan (although it seems nearly impossible to find full time work for the university level in Japan from what I�ve read on the boards). Eventually, I would like to return to the states to teach community college level. |
With luck/patience, your MA and high school teaching experience in Japan, you should be able to get a full-time teaching position here--say, with a contract of 1-3 years. However, you probably won't be able to get a long-term or tenure-track position. Furthermore, depending on which state you plan to live in, community college positions should also be available.
Don't know much about Taiwan.... |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:51 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, good advice above. Some places can be picky about hiring JETs and it often depends on the attitude of the person responsible for hiring. Policies can quickly change at the same university (it did at mine). One possible way to get around that is to write on your CV or resume that you worked for_______ (insert name) High School or Junior High School. Just something to consider... |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:50 pm Post subject: Thinkin' about the future: JET?!? |
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I will complete my MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York this spring and I am also considering the JET Programme.
Furthermore, I am currently a full-time ESL teacher in a New York public elementary school with K-12 ESL certification.
Am I "overqualfied" to be an ALT in JET (will have an MA in TESOL and already have substantial TESOL teaching experience on the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels in Austria, China, and the US)?
One question I have is: are there opportunities for me in the field of teacher training as a JET member?
Many thanks!
fat_chris |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:14 am Post subject: |
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One question I have is: are there opportunities for me in the field of teacher training as a JET member?
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chris,
I answered in your separate post everything except this question. In my opinion, JET teacher trainers are probably veteran JET ALTs (maybe even CIRs). Trying to get in as a teacher trainer without JET experience might not be feasible, simply because you don't have the experience of teaching with Japanese teachers, so how could you train people on something you don't know? Just my opinion, and I hope some JET trainers will respond to clear it up. Have you inquired directly to JET or to www.bigdaikon.com ? |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski,
Many thanks for your replies. As always, they're most appreciated.
Cheers,
fat_c |
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