Job Discussion Forums

[fat_chris]

I have applied to a few MA programs in TESOL. Even though such a program will take two years to complete, I am already beginning to think of places where I may wish to work and live after I have my degree in hand.

Japan is high on that list.

I am curious to know from you Japan vets what brought you to Japan in the first place and how did you arrange your first job (out of country/in-country). Where did you teach and with which outfit? How long have you been/were you in Japan? Generally speaking, what is your abbrieviated list of pros and cons to teaching and living in Japan?

Ideally, I would like to gain a position at a Japanese college or university and I have been in correspondence with a few from this board who have given me a very good idea as to what it takes to get such a position.

I've asked this question before and I'll ask it again: would JET be an appropriate way to get one's foot into the Japan door, even though that person would be 33 and have two master's degrees (read: would JET turn that applicant away because of perceived "overqualifications?")?

Many thanks in advance.

fat_chris

[fat_chris]

Naturally, I would be interested in applying as a JET ALT.

[Glenski]

Been teaching since 1998.
Circumstances that brought me to Japan were pretty unique. A brief (and incomplete) bio is on www.teachinginjapan.com in case anyone's interested.

How I actually came to Japan to teach is also fairly unique. I answered an ad right on this web site and got interviewed in my home country (not by the Big Four, either). My employer paid my airfare and rent. It was a nice 3 1/2 years with that culture center/language school, and they have since gone entirely to part-time teachers and a greatly reduced number of classes.

I have compiled a list of pluses and minuses of living in Japan, and it's too large to post here, but if you are interested in seeing it (Excel format), drop me a line.
[email protected]

You probably already have learned that university jobs require a master's degree plus publications as a bare minimum, but I just thought I'd reiterate that for those who don't know.

Someone with 2 masters degrees might be considered as overqualified for JET. What are the masters in, though? Your age would not be a factor, since they hire up to 41 nowadays. JET is one way to get your foot in the door, yes, and because of the daytime schedule, you are free a lot during the day (even though you are in the school), and your nights are free. How you use that free time is up to you. Many JET ALTs complain of such down time. IMO, enterprising people would use it to improve their language skills, learn more about the culture/customs, make friends or contacts for later teaching opportunities, etc.

[Gordon]

I am a kind of enigma here as I was hired to teach at a university (1.5 years ago) from outside of Japan having no previous experience teaching in Japan. I was interviewed in Canada as the university owner and Dept. head flew out to give interviews. I came because it was a good opportunity and the economy was going down the toilet in Canada. I had a great job in Canada, got paid more than I do now, but I knew with budget cuts that I would be laid off soon. I really enjoy living here and it is a great environment for my family. I plan on staying a few more years and no major complaints.

[Sherri]

This is my case and do bear in mind that the answers are just my point of view, and I live in Tokyo which also influences my answers...

Q1 I am curious to know from you Japan vets what brought you to Japan in the first place

I came after teaching a few years in London (I am American) and wanted a change.

Q2 how did you arrange your first job (out of country/in-country).

I came on a tourist visa and found my job within a week or so, but this was in 1991 and things are tighter now. I also had experience and an RSA cert, and a masters (in another subject)

Q3 Where did you teach and with which outfit

At first it was for an agency dispatching teachers to different companies, then after a couple of months I changed to a private language school dealing mainly in interpreting and translating classes, but also with English classes. They only hire people with TEFL experience and qualifications.

Q4 How long have you been/were you in Japan?

You can do the math, I came in 91. I came here intending to stay for 6 months or a year! I should say here though that I have had enough and plan to leave soon.

Generally speaking, what is your abbrieviated list of pros and cons to teaching and living in Japan?

This is hard to say, what kept me here is (in no particular order)
--ease of living, convenience, it's clean, it's safe (from a woman's point of view)
--great job and good salary
--able to travel abroad several times a year
--fun place to go out
--nice people, both Japanese and non-Japanese

I could say much more but those are the main points.

Bad points, I find that the longer I stay the more I realize how much I will not fit in here. I am married now and have 2 kids. I have to interact much more closely with the community than I had to when I was young(ish) free and single.

Other points that make Japan less attractive for me are mostly related to having a family now, education issues and quality of life. If you are single then it really won't affect you.

I can't comment on the JET qs as I have no experience with JET. Do as much research as you can, bring loads of money to start up and get ready for an interesting time.
Sherri

[denise]

I chose Japan because it was one of few places that would allow me to pay off my student loans after getting an MA. For the next several years, I will be severely limited in terms of where I can teach--I've got those damn monthly payments to worry about! (Funny--MAs are supposed to open doors--for example, I could not have gotten my current job without one--but in terms of countries, getting my MA closed a whole bunch of doors that were open when I just had my TEFL certificate! Not that I regret the MA, though!)

I found my job back in the States. It's a satellite branch of an American university. I don't teach the actual university classes, but I teach in the English program that prepares students for the university classes. They pass through the English program, stay here and start taking college courses for credit, and then transfer to the States. (In theory, at least.) It's a great program staffed by caring, qualified teachers and administrators.

I think I'll skip the pros/cons list--I'm sure the folks who've been here longer than me (I've been here just over seven months now) are more qualified to comment anyway, and just before I left Japan for the holiday season I was really fed up with it. I'm trying to be more positive and less critical, so I don't want to think about the cons just now.

d

[Gordon]

Sherri, I understand what you mean about the education here. I trust that that is what will drive me from Japan. I still have a few more years before my daughter is in grade one, but when I see what kind of student the schools in Japan create.....

I also want to add that the money was also a force in bringing me here. I love to do an overseas trip or two/year. I couldn't do that back in Canada. Next month we're going to the Philippines for a month.

[bshabu]

I first came to Japan as a college student. Before hand I spent the first two years of college wondering what I wanted to do with my life. I took a Japanese class due to a recommendation from a co-worker at the college radio station. From then on I wanted to come to Japan.

I transferred to a 4-year Uni. The Japanese Head there told me I should go to Japan and study. The next year I went to study in Shiga. I didn't want to leave, but needed to finish up and graduate.

Finally I graduated and came to Japan. That was over four years ago. Don't plan to leave.

[Canuck2112]

I'm here because I have a lot of school ahead of me, and I'm not ready to get into graduate work just yet. Japan has always struck me as interesting...a definite 180 degree turn from my life in Canada. So far, my expectations are a little off, it's actually about a 90 degree shift.

"Broads" are definitely not on my list of reasons to be here though. I really miss western women, and I've only been here a few months

[Laura C]

Chris -- As I always say (and don't seem to be tired of saying it either! ) here, go for JET if you can. It is the best deal you will get imho.

I can't say for sure if they would think you overqualified, but I wouldn't think so. You could always email them and ask?


Good luck with your jobhunt.

L

[fat_chris]

Glenski,

I have a master's degree in German. I will enroll in a master's degree program in TESOL beginning Fall, 2004.

Canuck2112,

That is by far the coolest avatar on Dave's. Talk about 80's Explosion. All you need are the Facts of Life girls sprawling all over the hood of K.I.T.T. and you will have struck gold.

Japanese, Western--in my mind all women from all walks of life are beautiful.

Laura C,

After surfing the JET website, I would apply to JET without worrying about being "overqualified." According to the website some sponsoring organizations in some districts ask for teachers with experience (as well as Japanese language skills) and the list of duties states that ALTs may help with the training of teachers and production of curriculum materials--I've done that before and enjoyed it--would love to do it again.

I think it is Celeste in Fukuoka who is a JET and has a lot to do with training programs for teachers there. Is that true, Celeste? If so, tell me more!

Many thanks to all for your informed insights. It's nice to hear the good, bad and ugly about Japan. I want to learn as much as possible before committing myself to an idea (or an institution if I go crazy in the meantime).

[Celeste]

So you want to become a JET ALT? Do it! We need all of the experienced people we can get on the programme, in my opinion. My predecessor was a fresh university grad, and I think that she was given an overwhelming task. (I do part of my ALT - Assistan Language Teacher - job teaching elementary school, and the rest of it doing teacher training and reseach and development. When I started this job, I felt massively underqualified to do a lot of it and I had already been teaching for several years and had a TEFL certificate.) When I was hired for this position, it was luck of the draw that I was placed here at the education centre, and not in a junior high school. I am campaigning strongly for more training of ALTs as well as the Japanese teachers, but this may well be as futile as pleading with the sun to rise in the west for a change.

In your interview for the JET programme, as well as in the essay, you should emphasize that you are flexible and patient. THe main concern that I hear from teachers about working with me and a few other highly experienced or trained ALTs is that the teachers are worried about thier own skills being shown up. (The teachers are even more worried that we might cause them to lose face with the administrators.)

I remember in my interview, they asked me whether I would find a human tape recorder job fulfilling, and I responded that if it came down to that, then I would have to find other work within the school, such as starting language clubs or participating in other community events to satisfy my own sense of accomplishment and personal growth.

THey liked that response. As it happened, I never had to resort to plan B. This job keeps me pretty busy.

[TokyoLiz]

Celeste wrote:

[Lynn]

I first came as a college exchange student 1994-95. I have a degree in Asian Studies: Japan. My boyfriend (now husband) also had to leave Hawaii, where we went to school because his student visa was expiring. I really did NOT want to teach ESL, but it was the only thing I could do to stay in Japan. I was lucky enough to get sent to "inaka" so my Japanese skills skyrocketed as well as my love and understanding of Japan.