Job Discussion Forums

[guest of Japan]

Hi everybody.

For those of you who remember me, I'm just checking in. I hope everybody is well. It's been nearly three years since I came back to the US, and I'm finally able to think longingly of Japan. Here are some quick updates for those who care.

Working for Boston Public Schools in a high school teaching physics and biology in a special education behavior program. Hard as hell, but good money.

Just had a baby boy named Kai in October.

Mostly finished with an MA in education. I have 3 classes left.

That sums everything up pretty much.

Be well,

Mark

[Brooks]

so how was it to get certified?
I am thinking of going back to the US in the next 2-3 years so I am wondering how it will be.

My wife will have the interview at the embassy in order to get the green card.

Sounds like moving back to the US means I will have a lot to think about.

[gaijinalways]

Hey Guest, long time no hear. Glad to hear everything is working out.

Congrats on the boy!

Yes, I'd like to hear about the certification process as well if you'd care to share.

[azarashi sushi]

Hi Mark!

Nice to hear from you and congratulations on the job and your son! Well done!!

I finally made the big step and am leaving Japan. It was long overdue but am finally leaving on the 14th.

It's funny... I was so down about Japan and couldn't wait to leave. But after I made the decision to leave and bought my ticket, it all doesn't seem so bad anymore! Oh well.

Take care and keep in touch.

[markle]

Hi Guest,
I was starting to be regular when you left so you might not remember me.

As with aza I'm heading back to Oz, early next year. For me, I'm making 2 lists, one with all the things I want to do as soon as I get back, and the other all the things I want to do before I leave and won't be able to do for a while.

As for commonality I'm hoping to get certified for teaching back home.

[guest of Japan]

Hey all! Happy to be of help.

As for certification, I had a leg up. When I went to Japan I had a cert in middle and high school history. It expired while I was in Japan. I researched which states had certification requirements that were a bit easier for me to get without a masters and MA fit the bill. I had to take a couple of tests and then get verification from my college that I had indeed gone through a teacher training program. It took a long time for my cert to finally come through. Unfortunately, having a cert in history didn't mean much once I got it. I had maybe five interviews for history jobs in two and a half years, and didn't get one of them. The teacher job market in MA is exceptionally tight, and I should have been better prepared for that.

I started subbing at a nearby high school just outside of Boston when I first arrived. In a short time I became there number 1 sub. I started to get a lot of long term assignments with more responsibility and pay. I ended up doing a lot of physics and special ed. I also ran the after school homework center for them. These experiences and some very nice references got me the job I have now. I'm actually on a waiver for special education. I'll need to pass a test on teaching reading and do some paperwork to get my special ed license. Typically that license requires a practicum, but my doing the job takes care of that. That license is a little harder than most to get due to the practicum, but special ed jobs are the easiest to get. Typically in MA, once you get your first license it is easy to get for other subjects by just taking very difficult exams. I've been working on passing the physics exam for quite a while.

If you are heading in without a teacher training you'll want to get yourself into a program. There are a lot of schools that do one year accelerated programs with practicums. What you need to do varies by state.

Words of advise:
Don't expect much out of your Japan experience. Most schools think that people teaching in Japan have perfect jobs with kids inspired to learn.

It's very difficult for Japanese spouses to find work. The Japanese companies in Boston were sexist and cheap. My wife eventually started working for a non-profit school that I taught ESL at. She was finance assistant when she left to give birth.

The economy is terrible, so everybody is making cuts. It is not a good time to be out of work, and school districts are all looking at where they can make cuts. The only safe jobs are special ed and ESL (better know Spanish) and the chem and physics are pretty secure.

Hope that helps. Coming home and getting your life going is a long process.

Mark

[guest of Japan]

Oh! Thank you for the congratulatory messages. Az and Markle, good luck in your moves. I hope you're going somewhere with good food, cause that will make all the difference.

Mark

[azarashi sushi]

Thanks Mark. I'm going back to Sydney... Starting to get really nervous about it, but yeah at least the food is good. Sydney is very multicultural so there is a wide variety of really authentic ethnic food.

[markle]