Job Discussion Forums

[Glenski]

Based on a statement made by someone here recently, I thought about this. We know JET ALTs have a limited lifespan, so there is no need for JET to provide any career development, yet they do provide seminars throughout the year, don't they?

Some of the Big Four eikaiwas provide similar things.

I am in the process of negotiating with my private high school to do something along these lines for the native English speakers. We are informed of seminars (in our area and at our sister schools far, far away) and given a small sum of money to use in this regard (as well as to buy books), but nobody really ever uses it. Besides, the seminars are almost always in Japanese anyway, and few of us would be able to understand them. I am looking to get some sort of language training out of my employer, in whatever fashion is agreeable to both of us. Why? Well, I am an assistant homeroom teacher (2nd year students), and whenever I have to deal with the HR by myself, it's a struggle to communicate in English with them, and my Japanese is too poor to even understand what instructions I have to give if they are more than basic schedule changes. When the instructions are too complex, they usually tell me to find another assistant HR teacher (Japanese) to give the students their updates. It's frustrating, not just because other people have to help me, but because I feel a strong sense of responsibility in my job. We recently had 2 days off due to influenza absences, and I wasn't even aware that someone else was told to call my HR students' parents to confirm whether they were sick or ditching school. I'll have to see what the school does for me.

What, if any, career development do the rest of you FT teachers receive? Please describe your position and institution as well, so we have some basis for comparison. Thanks.

[guest of Japan]

Hi Glenski,

In case you've forgotten I'm working in a high school through a placement service.

I'm sad to say that I'm given no professional development in either language training or English teacher training

I've recently taken the efforts into my own hands. For professional development I've started taking a certificate course through Tokyo Language Arts College. I realise that you already have a cert. but their advanced certs might be of interest to you. Perhaps you could get your school to pay for them. I was unsuccessful at that.

Of course as you know JALT and some universities (Columbia for example) offer seminars, but I have no idea if they do anything in Sapporo.

As for Japanese, there must be a reputable school in Sapporo. There isn't one anywhere near me now, but I'm hoping that I can find one after I move in March. Perhaps you can get your school to cover some of the tab.

As I get a pretty long summer holiday, I'm planning to take a 4 week intensive Japanese course this year as well. However, I think you've said that you are not so fortunate with your holidays.

From talking to my present employer I gather that employers are hesitant to invest in the quality of their workers now (especially if they are foreign) because of the fear that the employees will take their advanced skills to greener pastures. Instead, employers hire people who already have the skills that are important to them.

Anyway, as you are a direct hire by your school you may have a little more luck than me.

[PAULH]

Glenski, no offence buddy, and I know you are doing the best job that you can, but working in a high school with no knowledge of Japanese is like trying to drive on three wheels. teachers dont want to have to hold your hand or do things for you anymore than you dont wnat them to but that is the reality of the situation. They want the foreign teacher of course, but they dont wnat to have to spend the extra time translating every little memo that goes out.

Maybe you could get them to fax everything to your wife if need be, and she can let you know. I assume you have a mailbox where notices are sent?

At my university I have not had any training provided from my school, except being allowed to attend JALT conferences. Going to Temple came out of my own pocket and my current studies are self-supported. My school assumes I have the skills and qualifications needed to do the job and anything else I want to do, including getting extra qualifications and learn japanese, is extra.

I think you really need to see about making some time to take Japanese lessons, though Im not sure whether the school is really required to provide or fund them, as its not really part of your original job description. They can hardly expect you to communicate with students if you dont speak the language, so in a sense they are steering around you re notices and keeping you informed.

Sometimes I have gone to school and found out the days have been switched or its a holiday without the office telling me. I try know to keep an eye on the calendar, watch the notices that go out and try and keep in the loop about holidays etc.

[Sherri]

Glenski
At the private language school where I worked in the 90s (Simul Academy in Tokyo) we had 4 hours a week built into the contract for professional development. It included workshops run by people in-house and occasionally from outside, small group meetings to discuss materials and peer observations. The private school I later went to work for (Congress Institute) had 2 hours a week built into the contract for much the same thing. Both schools also paid for JALT membership too. Things may have changed since I haven't worked for a couple of years.

I hope you can negotiate something that works out well for you.
Sherri

[Glenski]

Paul,

No offense taken, but I never said I had "no knowledge of Japanese". It's just too weak to understand the majority of meetings, including the briefings we get every morning and afternoon prior to homeroom. The school and I both knew what we were getting into by hiring me and certain co-workers with (much) less than perfect language skills. This includes me having no preconceptions about my school being obliged to offer any language lessons or support for such.

That's besides the point I wanted to make here, which was to solicit information on what other people have in the way of development opportunities at work. That's all.

(Perhaps I went a little overboard in describing my situation. Thanks to all for providing some advice. In that light, guest of Japan, you are right in all of your assumptions. My school schedule allows for extremely little time off. There is certainly no way in Hades we could get 4-weeks off. Even our summer "vacation" is broken up by meetings, special study support classes, extracurricular activities, etc. For what it's worth, my co-worker and I are starting our negotiations by focusing on the mandatory extracurricular activities. We want to get those canceled in lieu of professional development. Those activities are pretty useless anyway.)

Looking forward to others posting on the original topic.

[Gordon]

I am teaching f/t at a university, so I have different circumstances than most. I have a generous budget that allows for conferences and books, but not in courses or Japanese language development. I am applying and planning on starting a Masters in July. My university won't pay for any of the courses, but I can buy the books on my budget. I wish there was some professional development on my campus, but they leave that up to us to find. All in all, I am happy with the situation.

[Celeste]

Glenski-
What you may not realize about the seminars provided by JET is that they are mostly peer taught. Sometimes this is great;other times it is a case of the blind leading the blind.

I am currently lobbying for ALTs in my city (JET and private) to receive more teacher training.

As far as being kept informed, I have to trust in my supervisor who is generally very good but sometimes we have embarrassing incidents like me showing up to a school at the wrong time or on the wrong day. Everyone takes it in stride, myself included.

[Brooks]

there seems to be a glass ceiling in Japan.

Foreign teachers come and go. People that stay longer are not in the norm.

I guess we have to think we are like immigrants (if we stay and marry Japanese people). We have to keep learning the language, and it takes a lot of time. I didn`t start learning Japanese until I was 30

The future may be brighter. Now we are trail blazers, but it can be a lot of work, and it takes a lot of patience.

[Brooks]

I am lucky.
I get 150,000 a year for books and supplies. Or I can use it for conferences. The Tokyo government provides the money for private school teachers.
Once I used part of the money for a trip to Poland where I did observations.

For professional development, it is up to me when I have the time.

I know of conferences and workshops, but they tend to be on weekends.
I have to be at school on Saturday, so I would rather catch up on sleep.

Last year I had to write an article for the school`s journal, and I volunteered to write again this year.

I think we need to be self-starters at work. It isn`t always easy. Some people I work with are burned out, jaded, or cynics, and I try to avoid their negative attitudes.
I guess the way to go is to join an organization like JALT as a way to meet people who are interested in teaching and want to learn about professional development.

In regard to documents in Japanese, well I show them to my girlfriend or to my teacher. They help me with what they say.

At my school, foreign teachers cannot be assistant homeroom teachers.
I was told that Japanese teachers need to be able to teach and to counsel their students. I find that I can do that with returnees (we have quite a few
returnee students).

[TokyoLiz]

Some of my coworkers, both foreign and Japanese, participate in professional development activities, but receive no budget at the moment. As many of you know, I work at a private jr/sr high school in Tokyo.

The English teachers keep each other informed about events offered through publishers and JALT. Some of us have attended JALT events, International House activities and other pro d thingss.

I'm scrambling too much right now to attend because I've only been at this school 6 months. I'm still settling in. I anticipate taking Japanese language courses, some inservice teacher training things and getting ready to do a distance masters degree in TESOL over the next year.

We get a budget for books and materials, but right now the annual amount is at the discretion of the administration. We haven't tapped them out yet

Like a lot of teachers who've had a long affair with Japan, I'm reasonably conversant in the language but still illiterate. I have at times at other schools prepared team teaching lessons in the language, but I need to work on my grammar and vocabulary in order to do it fluently. I didn't start learning Japanese until I was 26.

Oxford University Press is doing a tour of Japan right now - Reading if FUNdamental. You can get info at

http://www.oupjapan.co.jp/events/

They aren't going to Hokkaido I don't think. Sorry.

[PAULH]

GLenski

I checked the JALT calendar page for events in Hokkaido- there is only one listed at the moment
http://www.jalt.org/calendar

non-members can attend JALT events for a 1,000 yen door fee

Sunday, February 22nd, 2004, Hokkaido Chapter
Adapting Textbook Activities on the Spot
Speaker: Rebecca Arthur, Poole Gakuin University
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (13:00 - 16:00)
Description:
This workshop will demonstrate a variety of ways to adapt textbook activities in the classroom, on the spot, without almost any preparation.
Place: Hokkaido International School near Sumikawa Subway Station
Cost: members free; "One-day members" 1000 yen.

[denise]

I teach in a psuedo-university setting--in the intensive English program of a satellite campus of an American university. My co-workers and supervisors all seem to believe in the need for professional development, and we informally share ideas and lessons, but sadly we really don't have any infrastructure or budget for development. There are observations of new teachers (and of more experienced ones, but I think they happen infrequently), and I'm sure I could get some takers for peer observation, but it's just not happening. It's a shame--we're a dedicated and qualified staff.

We recently ended up with a bit of a windfall due to a change in the way we sell our books, and at a staff meeting yesterday our supervisor asked for our suggestions as to how to spend it. One of the teachers suggested that it be used to get us all memberships in JALT--something that I have been meaning to do since I got here but just haven't gotten around to. I'd love for the school to fund it, both a) because it'd save me some money, and b) it'd be tangible evidence that the school supports its teachers' development.

d

[TokyoLiz]

Denise,

JALT offers a group membership, doesn't it?

But what does JALT provide for its membes, exactly? Perhaps somebody can tell me about the advantages. I'd like to learn more before I pitch this to the admin at my school.

[shmooj]

I may be a little out of date but apart from the monthly The Language Teacher jounal (useful and not highbrow) and quarterly JALT JOurnal (pretty technical and highbrow) the only other thing is discounts at JALT events which, if your local JALT chapter is half dead and you can't be bothered to go to the lengths of Japan to go to the conference each year, is worth very little.