Job Discussion Forums

[shmooj]

Japan seems to be a hot destination for EFL teachers. I'd like to distill exactly why. I have a feeling it has nothing to do with teaching per se and I'd like to see if I'm right. So, in order to do that, I'd appreciate responses to the following question:

Focussing purely on teaching here and not on lifestyle etc and certainly not on pay, what makes teaching in Japan better than in other countries?

[Brooks]

probably the teaching experience you can get. It depends on the job, though. I have learned to be more patient than I thought possible. Take away the good salary and I would have stayed in eastern Europe.

I have to try harder here because we don`t just have to learn the language, we have to learn the culture too.
I find teaching in Japan to be the most challenging of any country I have worked in. So that means that if and when I leave, I feel I will be ready for any TEFL situation.

In the other countries I worked (Morocco, Poland, and Russia) mostly what I did was teach, but here I am doing other things too, like making and evaluating exams, ordering and evaluating books, meeting company representatives (Oxford, Longman, etc) and other things too, like singing in Japanese at school concerts with other teachers!

[guest of Japan]

You gain a greater sense of humility.



I guess you can tell from that, that I was having a difficult time answering the question.

[Gordon]

For teaching purely, I don't imagine there being many worse places than Japan. I haven't had a rewarding time teaching-wise here and students are so unmotivated. I enjoy teaching a mix of nationalities more.
I have learned to be more patient though.
You will like Korean students much more Shmooj, I did.

[unchi pants]

OK, focussing PURELY on teaching ...

[Lynn]

Wow, Gordon, I'd really have to agree with you there. I love Japan and will be returning soon for a visit and may even live there for a few years since I am married to a Japanese dude now. But the teaching alone is not very rewarding. Even in New York where I've taught many different classes at different schools, but my least favorite so far was a class that had 12 Japanese students out of 14. Of course there's always the exception.

If we do end up living in Japan, I wish I could do something other than teaching, but I don't think I have many options. other than being a hostest.

[cafebleu]

Although Japan is too expensive, salaries are dropping, and it can be difficult at times to deal with the institutionalised racism here, I prefer to teach here rather than in other Asian countries.

Maybe I have been lucky, but I have struck reasonably motivated students during the time I have been here. I have had my share of bad experiences regarding lazy, incompetent, Japanese so called `managers`, being cheated by another foreigner regarding buying his goods when I first came to Japan, and a few other things but generally the students have been great.

Generally speaking, the level of English is not great - that is another matter altogether. Japanese students` great advantage of so many years of English exposure in junior high school/high school/college/university, not to mention sometimes in kindergarten and elementary school, seems to make little difference to too many who struggle with rudimentary conversation. I am not going to even address the`But we only study grammar` excuse, as 6 years of grammar compared to no years gives an advantage. Period.

However, I have found Japanese students easy to get along with even if it can be frustrating that too many students make too little progress. I also think that it is easier to live in Japan which is relatively convenient and in which the people tend to make allowances for foreigners such as English teachers, than it is to live in other parts of Asia. Usually the Japanese are not in your face if they don`t like foreigners (unlike in South Korea) although if you are a Brazilian-Japanese harassed by gangs in Honshu that is a different matter altogether.

[Gordon]

Cafebleu, I agree that it is easier to live in Japan than many other places, but I don't think that was the question being asked. Japanese students, on the whole, are well-behaved comapared to most other people, but sometimes I wish they had more life in them. Sometimes they are so lifeless.

[TokyoLiz]

The kids here are generally unmotivated, but I find that the interaction with kids outside of class - in clubs, the hallway, lunchtime and in my office - to be the most rewarding part of the jr/sr high job.

I've taught internatnational groups of students and find that kind of teaching far more rewarding. The international classes, especially at the beginning level, really challenge me to come up with fun, interesting and pedagogically sound lessons. And the opportunity to watch the students' progress in the language is a reward in itself.

Here in Japan, I teach not only EFL in a junior high school, but also English essay style and English literature for returnee students. If it wasn't for this mix of challenging courses, I think I'd go mad.

Yep, it's the money, lifestyle and some old friends that keep me coming back, not the job, really.

Cafebleu said

[Glenski]

[shmooj]

C'mon Glenski this isn't confusing! Others managed to get it...

What makes a job in Japan worthwhile simply from a teaching point of view. You didn't answer the question but instead provided non-teaching answers.

... or maybe, by default, that is your negative answer - that there is no worth as far as teaching goes.

[avahanian]

This is rather interesting, because it seems to me that there are several groups of people here, but especially two of which seem to be at odds with each other (the hedonists vs. the professional teachers).

Here's my question: What is wrong with having a party lifestyle in Japan if you ALSO care deeply about teaching and dedicate yourself to your job?

Believe it or not, it IS possible to be a good teacher and have fun.

My other question is, why is it that some of you are so against the party lifestyle in Japan?

If you don't like the backpackers, that's fine....but why blame them for wanting to party? There are plenty of backpackers who come to Spain and expect to do the same.

As for the hedonistic males that visit Japan, you have to understand that many of these blokes come from places that are either so incredibly boring (like the UK or USA), or they look like Godzilla so they have no chance of meeting women in their home countries.

And they do hear the stories about Japan and naturally, they are curious.

But so what if they want to do this....that's their business, isn't it? It's better instead to hear the stories about these fools and have a good laugh!

[denise]

Hmmm, so many thoughts and ideas so far in this thread...

To answer the basic question, I have to say that... I can't answer it the way that it is worded. Looking purely at the teaching aspect of life here, I don't know if it's any more appealing than anywhere else. I've got a good job in a reputable, professional, academic place, so I'm happy, but I could find equivalent situations in many other countries.

What are the stereotypes of teaching in Japan? There are some positive ones, some negative. Positive: polite students--although there have been several recent horror stories about high school teaching. Negative: unmotivated students whose English, even after years of study, is appalling.

As to the backpacker/partiers--if they take themselves seriously while on the job--don't show up hung over, adequately prepare their lessons, seek out help, etc., then I personally have no problem with what they do outside class. I've defended backpackers a few times on this forum. The problem, in my opinion, arises when they don't realize that their actions can affect those folks who do this as a career. If a teacher constantly shows up late/drunk/unprepared and then skips town--on to the next adventure/country, it will be harder for other teachers at that school to win the respect and trust of their peers/supervisors/students.

d

[Glenski]

[Glenski]