Job Discussion Forums

techshots2 · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

Hi,

I've been in Korea for 1 year now and considering my second gig in Japan.
I hope I'm much wiser now and would like some recommendations for schools, public or private, that really care about the teachers and students in the whole process of learning English.

I really appreciate any recommendations you could provide.

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

www.etgjapan.com

http://www.cicom.co.jp/english/index.html

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

If by "public and private" you mean mainstream schools, not conversation schools, then you are not considered eligible for most of them yet. That means direct hire. If you don't care about being an ALT, get hired by JET Programme (gotta interview in your home country, tho) or by ALT dispatch agencies (and suffer the poor quality).

Even so, if & when you get to the point of being hired directly by private or public schools, don't expect that much seriousness in their teaching practices. It will all depend on you. We foreigners are just there for the listening practice and the OC classes, mostly. You might get some reading or writing classes, but the bulk of your work will be OC, and the whole point of learning English in junior and senior high is not to learn to speak, but to get through the college entrance exams.

partialtone · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 137 Location: CA

I'm sorry but I found the question, "which schools really care about the teachers and students," hilarious! Not to make this too holistic, but find a school on the planet that doesn't care about where the next paycheck comes from and I'll eat my shoe.

The real question should be, "which school isn't so deep in to someone's pocket that can afford to care."

partialtone · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 137 Location: CA

info: ex ca-pub school and ex-nova teacher to give a little hope Laughing

maingman · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 12

Avant ten or a little over good months in Korea

one bad hakwon (correct sp?) though...

can any one ppleaase advise if there any worthwhile. proficient

agencues or recruiters like the mass throng (of the latter)
there are in Korea

Cheers Wink

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

maingman · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 12

not drinking Wink

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Lyrajean · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 109 Location: going to Okinawa

Just a note: even if you go the JET route. How seriously you get to take your teaching depends a lot on your placement. the teachers you teach with, your school, resources, etc...

I am based at the "HS of last resort" for most students in my area. Most of my students don't give a hoot about english and aren't even going to college. Even though in my area, 'cause of the US military presence, it would seriously help them in their likely customer service jobs after HS.

Average exam score is about a 35 out of 100.

The smart teachers realize this and focus on making english enjoyable and fun for the students. Sometimes changing the focus from language learning to cross-cultural education is all that works. Participation in itself is a success. And learning english is difficult for students who may, and often do, lack basic literacy in their native tongue. Every once and a while. I get a student who has been abroad, or is "half", (although these kids usually try to hide in class) who want to practice their english with me.

All said you enjoy the kids who are interested but sometimes its hard to enjoy the teaching or even get a good feel for what teaching techniques work well because of the overall pervasive attitude of 'don't care' from the students. Things that make it more difficult are teachers who have a hard time dealing with the difficult classes, or don't know how to use an ALT, or who cancel your classes to try to cram more memorization-stuff in before the exam.