Job Discussion Forums

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

Thanks for the tips. My private instruction so far has been successful to a degree because my students are beginners and I can translate English into Japanese. I wouldn't know where to start if I couldn't communicate in Japanese. I'll pick those books up on Amazon or something and study up. Thanks again.

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I don't think he'll have a problem with that book. In another thread he stated that he's Japanese and implied that he only left the country six years ago (maybe to do a degree?) and came back to visit parents before getting stuck here.

THIS THREAD

OP,

Do you have a passport from an English speaking country? I've known people who have actually been hired by conversation schools only to lose the job before they started based on their passport (it was a European passport, but not from an English speaking nation).

Cool Teacher · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:03 am Post subject:

Have you applied to GABA? I tihnk they are usually very enlightened on hiring people so they dont discrinimate about what country people are from I heard. Confused

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

Yea. I tried Gaba, but got turned down with the limited positions they had available and fierce competition. They also don't want instructors to use Japanese, which is where I had thought I'd have an upper hand.

I've been in Japan for a year, but had originally planned to be here for 2 months or so to visit parents. Now I'm pretty much living with my parents and feeling totally lost. I guess an important point to mention is that I can't read Kanji because I never thought I'd live in Japan. I speak the language because my parents speak it, but it's somewhat limited.

What seems to land the most interviews for me is just cold calling or knocking on doors, but I somehow end up at the bottom of the heap.

I have an interview tomorrow for a gig teaching kids, but having never taught kids before, we'll see how that goes.

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

Man... I would kill for a porterhouse and a 40 oz. king cobra right now. W0rd.

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

Don't know what a porterhouse is, or significance of the king cobra... but can I assume that the interview went not so well?

EDIT: If porterhouse = mobile home... I still don't understand why the king cobra.

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

A porterhouse is a large cut of steak similar to a T-bone but with more substance.

As far as the workplace is concerned, I guess I'll have to wait a week or so before the decision for a 2nd interview is met.

I'm givin'er!

Doin' what I can... ain't ez.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Porterhouse is a steak- a big ole slab o' meat.

King Cobra is malt liquor (not even popular malt liquor). It's dirt cheap (like less than 3 dollars for 40oz). Tastes like crap.

If you can afford a porterhouse (instead of a Double Whopper), then a better plan would be to go with real beer.

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

Oh yea.. the King Cobra. It's a malt liquor that comes in a 40 oz bottle that is the prize "beer" of the ghetto. It's cheap and gets the job done when sparkling water cannot.

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

You beat me to the punch. Yea. I'd prefer a bottle of fine Pinot.. but hey, romance isn't always part of the gig when you're hangin' with the boys at a football game.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Isn't ALWAYS? Shocked

sometimer? usually? Smile

hardly ever! Very Happy

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

Okay then... Embarassed

Never heard of the steak thing, or measured a drink in ounces before. We only pretend to be users of imperial measurements to try to show we are different from our European neighbours Very Happy

So whilst you wait, do you have any feelings about how the interview went or the company itself? Did you click with your interviewer(s)? Does the company seem decent, or do you think you might be dooming yourself to slavery out of desperation?

Here's hoping you get good news soon.

Jamerikoi · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo

Thanks for the positive responses. I think the place is looking for people that present a slightly different abmience with regard to personality, but we'll see. It's more of a day care center utilizing English than a school. It might be fun!