Job Discussion Forums

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Fat Chris makes a valid point.

I've turned down two jobs this year and the people offering them seemed miffed. Why did I apply, only to refuse the offers? The ads made no mention of compensation. Only after the offers did I find out that they were offering half of what I'm making now. The only reason I'd leave is for more money so why would I accept their offer?

They could have saved themselves the trouble by outlining the conditions up front and then only getting applications from those interested.

And no, there was no "standard" I should have known. Both were for oil companies, one in Algeria and the other in China. Their offers were so far of line with what is "standard" I can't see how they'd get anyone but a local or an East Indian who will work for less (and before you start, I'm not saying they wouldn't be qualified)

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Here at our school, too, we have received some resumes with faulty construction, inconsistent capitalization and even one candidate who presented us with two spellings of the name of the town in which he worked...

Oh, dear, what to do.

Of all the applicants we looked at, only one had a TESOL/TEFL qualification.

Where are all the hungry TESOL people? Are they not coming to Japan any more? I've met a few foreign career teachers here in Japan, but very few of them have a recognized TESOL diploma, and I've never met a MA TESOL graduate here. The only teacher I've met who is working on an MA TESOL is a Japanese.

In order to teach communication skills in a language, you've got to be a lot more than just a genki entertainer or a solemn lecturer.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

The qualifed people are here. Espececially in the bigger cities. Temple and Columbia are pumping out many MA Linguistics people every year. Not to mention all the university MA people. Competetion for University jobs is fierce because there are so many qualfied candidates.

The money well, it's not what it used to be but if your thrifty and or dilligent you'll can still do well.

What's missing is things on the Japan side. Especially when it comes to rewarding teaching experiences.

Rember that thread? I think Smooj started it. It faded pretty quickly!

Also what passes for English language education in this country is pretty sad to say the least.

For these reasons, and others, I'd say many people, devoted teachers or not, often tire of Japan and go back home and teach in the public school system or do whatever.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

fat_chris, sure I'd look at somebody with an MA with ESL pedagogy in his/her studies. But there are so few.

Mike L., none of our applicants were educated here in Japanland. They're all North American or British.

Where are all these Temple and Columbia grads going?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Liz,

Im one of them (class of '94) and I know a few people in Kansai that have been through Temple in Osaka.

1. University jobs in Kansai and Tokyo.
2. high schools
3. Doctorates at Temple or overseas.
4. Back home.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Liz: What kind of hiring is your shcool doing? Eikaiwa? Private High school? etc

If the pay isn't there qualifed people usually aren't either.

And where are you? Many people are fussy about location.

These things may have a lot to do with the lack of "certfied" teacher's resumes comming into your school.