Job Discussion Forums

[MTR]

I agree with the previous couple of posts. Keep it simple! Five minutes is way to short to teach a lesson. Have a clear but simple objective such as teaching the names of five foods, animals, sports or colours (although they may prefer colors).

Bring a visual aid such as flash-cards. Visual aids are a huge help when teaching and will show that you made some effort with your preparations. Drill the words and then introduce a simple game that allows the students to use the new vocabulary.

Your demo may be to people who speak English very well but remember to treat your audience as though they are kids with little English ability. Don't over explain things, speak clearly, use simple language (very simple), gestures and flashcards.

The main point of the 'lesson' is to check you have the right personality for the job. Just relax, smile and engage with your audience and im sure you will do just fine!

Good luck!

[BobbyBan]

[wintersweet]

Yes, not to pick on Suwon23's idea but that's a perfect example of "too much" and "not specific," and also not grade-level appropriate. Don't do this.

("Ordering food" is also, as mentioned, way too much and too general for five minutes at a junior high school level.)

[gwynnie86]

Well. I practised this on my dad but in Japanese (a language he has NO ability in) and in 5 minutes he could say the Japanese words for red, blue, yellow, green, black, white, yes and no. So, if I could teaching him that without a word of his native languages, I can do the same in English for Japanese students, right?
Basically I have cards in the 6 colours I mentioned... I do have the written names inside on labels but I may or may not decide to use those too... if I just get them to repeat the names of the cards after me, THEN do it without me saying anything (prompting if they struggle) a couple of times... and then hold up a random card and ask them what it is... THEN, if there's time - "Is this green?... Yes (thumbs up) or No (thumbs down)?" or "ok - show me something green!" and gesture to the room as a whole.
I had my dad running to touch apples. It was great. My TEFL teacher was also right - adults love these little kiddy games

[tillymd]

Your lesson plan is perfect! Good Luck, or should I say Gom ba te!

[gwynnie86]

Arigato?
Well. I feel moderately confident about the interview... I feel terrified at the thought of being in Japan, alone, and the thought of teaching. But I can cope with all that. My main worry is being f***ed over and ripped off by Interac... the things I read about them varies but it's generally not good.
However, I do wonder how much of it is written by spoilt people who have had it great all their lives and expect way too much from the world. In the same way I've stayed in some decent hotels in various places which have had terrible reviews from people... do people just expect luxury and class wherever they go? The whole point of my travelling/working plan is to experience the REAL world, not to live in a fantasy bubble where visits to other countries are like charming little visits to the zoo. Does that make sense?

[tillymd]

Gwynnie,

You will not be alone, Japanese people are extremely hospitable, and you can hang out with your coworkers. If you do not like interac, you can find another job easily. Contracts can be broken with little consequence, another school can get you a new work visa.

It takes a couple of years to really get going in Japan, but it is worth the effort. I worked in 5 different schools for a few years before I started getting private jobs directly with companies teaching business English.

As far as living in the real world, who is to say what is real or not, we are all just spinning around on this planet in the milky way wondering what our purpose is and why we are here. I wish I had some answers!

Tillymd

[gwynnie86]

Ahh, but if I only stay in Japan for the 6 months that my short Interac contract offers and don't renew it or stay on? Or will the time fly by too quickly?