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Chris21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I noticed you avoided answering a very simple innocent question, too, about your university interviewing experience. Why is that? |
Sorry, I didn't answer it because I doubted whatever I said would be convincing enough for you, since it's not supported with quantitative data, references, or statistical modelling  . Anyway, I've personally interviewed at unis dozens of times, been active in JALT and other professional organizations in Japan, and am currently employed as both a full and part-time uni teacher. I'm certainly no expert, but from my experience, and from what I've heard from others, it was much easier to slip through the hiring cracks 10-15 years ago.
markle wrote:
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| Really 'ski, why waste your time with these yahoos? They made these broad unsubstantiated statements because they know they won't be challenged by majority of people on this board that think that University positions are out of their reach because of some nefarious conspiracy against them, not because they lack the pertinent qualities, paper and otherwise. |
Markle, have you become Glenski's official protector? I don't think you understood the crux of my argument... I am in fact suggesting that nowadays uni positions are more out of reach than in years past because of the lack of pertinent qualities (as you put it).
Now that I think about it, I think there was a Language Teacher article from a few years ago (that has sometimes been cited in these forums) that explains the increasing standards required for a uni position. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, I didn't answer it because I doubted whatever I said would be convincing enough for you, since it's not supported with quantitative data, references, or statistical modelling . Anyway, I've personally interviewed at unis dozens of times, been active in JALT and other professional organizations in Japan, and am currently employed as both a full and part-time uni teacher. I'm certainly no expert, but from my experience, and from what I've heard from others, it was much easier to slip through the hiring cracks 10-15 years ago. |
Fair enough. That answers my question about how you know so much about the strange questions asked by uni interviewers. And, I will reiterate that I agree that probably more people slipped through the cracks years ago in terms of their qualifications.
It doesn't say whether earlier teachers had more social/mental problems, though. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski,
I don't care how "hard you worked" to get your job. The fact is, you don't deserve it if you don't have a PhD in SLA, Education or TESOL. Save me the B.S. about your school being a science university and wanting someone experienced in biology and chemestry. |
MOD EDIT Why would one need a PhD to teach basic English? I know that Glenski teaching about science but I taught in Korean Universities. There was nothing being taught that needed a PhD to do. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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Beyond that, some people with clear social problems which would have prevented them from getting hired in a more discerning job market, managed to slip by in the interview process.
So, today's pool of potential teachers are mentally and socially better? Again, where is the data? This is not a flamer's question, Chris. I have seen quite a few people like you mentioned, newly hired and old guard, so I just wonder where you get the notion that uni teachers now are any better. |
And for that matter, are professors in the U.S. or any western country without social problems? You should read "Excellence Without a Soul" by Richard Harris. Professors in most countries are not hired because of there personal or social skills. I believe that if someone did a psychological study of professors in the US we would find that some of them are really social misfits. |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:28 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| And for that matter, are professors in the U.S. or any western country without social problems? You should read "Excellence Without a Soul" by Richard Harris. Professors in most countries are not hired because of there personal or social skills. I believe that if someone did a psychological study of professors in the US we would find that some of them are really social misfits. |
A very good point, JZer. I agree, and so would many others, that PhDs tend to be a little socially maladapted.
But regarding your earlier comment about your experience teaching EFL in Korean higher ed, I'm blown away that you'd make such a...well, "dumb" statement.
The Answer: Of course! Foreign, professional, educated instructors should be getting the best positions at korean, Japanese - or wherever - universities. Not the Backpackers or B.A. holders in Business Administration!
You're talking about a specialized field of knowledge. If you're going to do the job well, you need to have a depth of knowledge and experience in SLA, TESOL or languag learning (applied linguistics / linguistics / education). Why you would suggest that B.A. holder or Backpacker have access to the teaching positions in higher education in Asia, quite frankly, baffles me!
MOD EDIT |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:13 am Post subject: |
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You're talking about a specialized field of knowledge. If you're going to do the job well, you need to have a depth of knowledge and experience in SLA, TESOL or languag learning (applied linguistics / linguistics / education). Why you would suggest that B.A. holder or Backpacker have access to the teaching positions in higher education in Asia, quite frankly, baffles me!
MOD EDIT |
First I never said that a backpacker should or should not have access to those jobs. I merely stated that to teach freshman English in Korea, I doubt a persons research or PhD will make them any better than someone with an M.A. or maybe even someone with a B.A.
To me you seem more interested in your self interest or the current standard of teaching at a university. I think that someone with a B.Ed. and teaching experience would probably make a better freshman English instructor than someone with a PhD in linguistics. There is not much of a link between SLA research and teaching freshman English. |
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kittyfye
Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 46
Location: was Korea, now Albuquerque
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| Despite the pandora's box, I appreciate the info, especially Glenski's pointed response to each of my questions. Thanks~ |
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Chris21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| First I never said that a backpacker should or should not have access to those jobs. I merely stated that to teach freshman English in Korea, I doubt a persons research or PhD will make them any better than someone with an M.A. or maybe even someone with a B.A. |
Teaching is not the only duty of an English prof. Advancing the knowledge base in the field is just as important, not only so languages can be better taught in the future, but also for the university's status (maybe a cynical motive, but realistic nonetheless). PhDs give profs the skills for producing fundamentally-sound research, something that most BAs wouldn't be able to do. Where would we be without the research provided by Dornyei, Swain, JD Brown, Nation, etc, etc, etc? Surely being a good teacher is crucial, but the importance of research shouldn't be dismissed. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Teaching is not the only duty of an English prof. Advancing the knowledge base in the field is just as important, not only so languages can be better taught in the future, but also for the university's status (maybe a cynical motive, but realistic nonetheless). |
Yes advancing the knowledge base is an important aspect of a professor but I think that for most jobs in Japan we are talking about a low level instructor who is not paid or expected to do research. You can find these jobs in US universities as well. People with M.A.'s who specialize in teaching more than research. I think you can easily find M.A.'s teaching low level Chinese, Spanish, French, and German courses in the US. I don't know if that is true for England or Australia. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| kittyfye wrote: |
| Despite the pandora's box, I appreciate the info, especially Glenski's pointed response to each of my questions. Thanks~ |
Isn't it amazing how I was the only one who really answered your original post? Tangential conversations aside, folks, I think kittyfye would appreciate and really benefit from others answering.
Just as a reminder:
Tell me about your job:
1. Are you provided housing?
2. Are you able to save much each year? If you dont mind my asking, how much?
3. Is this your career, or just something you are doing between careers?
4. If yes to #3, then tell us your subject of expertise (what you teach), what your research interests are and if your work is generally respected by the Japanese to whom you answer.
5. Do you see yourself staying in a Japanese uni for a long time, or are you on your way out soon?
6. Finally, is tenure possible for foreigners? |
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Chris21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:40 am Post subject: |
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| Yes advancing the knowledge base is an important aspect of a professor but I think that for most jobs in Japan we are talking about a low level instructor who is not paid or expected to do research. You can find these jobs in US universities as well. People with M.A.'s who specialize in teaching more than research. I think you can easily find M.A.'s teaching low level Chinese, Spanish, French, and German courses in the US. I don't know if that is true for England or Australia. |
Fair enough, but if we continue along this line, why not just do away with MAs as well, and hire Nova teachers? |
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ripslyme
Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 481
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| Chris21 wrote: |
| Fair enough, but if we continue along this line, why not just do away with MAs as well, and hire Nova teachers? |
Heh - it's already begun as the dispatch companies have started to make inroads into the university system. The end is definitely near! |
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