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Samurai Blur
Joined: 23 Aug 2009
Posts: 19
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 Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject: Will my degree give an upper-hand? |
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First I want to clarify that I'm not here to sound arrogant or insulting, and I appreciate your answers.
I have heard that in Japan (and many other Asian countries) it is possible to get hired with any bachelor degree as an English teacher. My degree plan however, is a Bachelor of Education in English (Language Arts, grades 8-12). My question is, will most Japanese employers look at my degree and choose me over someone with say, a degree in philosophy, business, or anything unrelated to English or teaching?
I understand that in as a new teacher, fresh out of school, I will be limited on the jobs I can get compared to those of you who are living in Japan currently, but I am interested to know if my degree will give me an upper hand being a new teacher, and once I gain the experience to land jobs requiring the applicant be in Japan with a work visa.
Also, as a side note I want to study for a master degree with a uni back home, online. Will working in Japan leave me with enough time to further my education if I take 6 credit hours per semester? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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They might hire you over the geography majors. Then, again, they might do what they usually do and go on the basis of personality and how well they perceive you to resist culture shock.
In these days of a flooded market, employers may scrutinize credentials more carefully, or not. |
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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Bachelor's Degrees are the new High School. No employer cares what courses you did best in in High School, nor would they care what you majored in for a BA. If you really want to distinguish yourself, I think, some experience and a TEFL/CELTA certification wouldn't hurt. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| And its having teaching licenses and Masters in teaching related subject that will really start openning doors for you once you are here. |
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Samurai Blur
Joined: 23 Aug 2009
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| And its having teaching licenses and Masters in teaching related subject that will really start openning doors for you once you are here. |
So will the teaching license I receive in my state help, and do they consider an online TEFL certification valid or will I have to travel to a school that teaches the course (mine doesn't have it)? |
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robertokun
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| Majoring in ESL and teaching for two years in your home country while saving up some money (and possibly getting a master's paid for by your school) would put you in the best position to teach English in Japan or anywhere abroad. Depends where you're at in college, what your commitment and level of patience is, and if that interests you or not. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:53 am Post subject: |
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| Samurai Blur wrote: |
| So will the teaching license I receive in my state help, and do they consider an online TEFL certification valid or will I have to travel to a school that teaches the course (mine doesn't have it)? |
The license will open doors in international schools, but you usually need 1-2 years of experience in your homeland using it first. |
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Yawarakaijin
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 504
Location: Middle of Nagano
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:29 am Post subject: |
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You want to know what will give you the upper hand?
#1 Be in Japan.
#2 Don't be a freak/provide a nice photo. That means shirt/tie, nice outfit.
#3 Have a little experience
#4 Let employers know that you can adapt to any situation.
#5 Don't make demands in a cover letter/initial contact.
You have the job.
It sounds simple yet so many people are incapable of pulling those five things off.
Since I have started my new position I have had to look at hundreds and hundreds of resumes. Some of the pictures attached to job applications would blow your mind. Giant dude slam dunking a basketball over his 9 year old student. Guy wearing 1970's tennis shorts riding a mule in the grand canyon. Guys pulling off 1970's Sears catalouge poses.
Simply unbelievable.
For anyone looking for work in Japan from overseas I have to say one thing. Get your butt over here. It is very hard to judge a person's character even after a face to face interview. Even after meeting someone 3 or 4 times it is possible to make a wrong call. Hiring someone from overseas simply based on a phone interview is risky in my opinion and I avoid it at all costs if possible. The big schools have to do it because of the sheer number of positions they need to fill. |
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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| Yawarakaijin wrote: |
You want to know what will give you the upper hand?
#1 Be in Japan.
#2 Don't be a freak/provide a nice photo. That means shirt/tie, nice outfit.
#3 Have a little experience
#4 Let employers know that you can adapt to any situation.
#5 Don't make demands in a cover letter/initial contact.
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I'm spot on for 2/4/5.
#3... Does almost three years teaching in Korea, two of those at a public High School count? I'm really hoping it does as it will be the crutch that gets me the job. I don't have much else to go on aside from a BA and copious amounts of eagerness just short of desparation (I tell employers that I can make their interview at any time).
I keep hearing that Japanese employers count teaching experience in Korea as... well, nothing. |
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Yawarakaijin
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 504
Location: Middle of Nagano
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:47 am Post subject: |
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I may take some flak for this but I will put it out there anyway.
It seems to me that Japanese employers, even some big companies, place medium to little importance on their employees' actual degrees. The right degree gets them into the right field but after that the stress seems to be on in house development and training. This mentality seems to be the norm in Japan even in large companies that seemingly specialize in one field or another.
I highly doubt that a "lowly" eikaiwa really cares whether or not your degree is in philosopy, history or english. If you are shooting for University jobs than of course the situation is totally different. You will absolutely need to show the credentials they expect a professor to have.
I hate to say this but the crop of people I interview would absolutely shock you. Be in Japan, be normal, and you are 90% on your way to being hired. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:48 am Post subject: |
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#1. Be in Japan, or be able to attend the interviews held outside of Japan, no matter whether they are near you.
#6. Have the right personality for the employer, his staff, and his students.
#7. (Sometimes) show that you know what you are doing in the demo lesson.
| Quote: |
| Does almost three years teaching in Korea, two of those at a public High School count? |
Sadly, in most cases I would have to say no. It will vary with the employer, however. I would say that despite your experience in Korea, you stand a good chance of landing only the entry level work:
ALT (dispatch agency or JET program)
Eikaiwa
Business English schools/agencies (perhaps)
No direct hires, AFAIK, but who can say? It has not been the norm, I can tell you that. |
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Imseriouslylost
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| Yawarakaijin wrote: |
| The right degree gets them into the right field but after that the stress seems to be on in house development and training. This mentality seems to be the norm in Japan even in large companies that seemingly specialize in one field or another. |
Thats good. Sounds like the opposite of Canada where you need a PhD to be a taxi driver for no other good reason than needless degrees widdle down the resume desk pile.
| glenski wrote: |
Quote:
Does almost three years teaching in Korea, two of those at a public High School count?
Sadly, in most cases I would have to say no. It will vary with the employer, however. I would say that despite your experience in Korea, you stand a good chance of landing only the entry level work: |
Thats sad. Experience is experience, right? It should show that someone has the capacity to adjust to another culture and a foreign education system.
Also, from what I know, an ALT in Korea has more responsibility and independence than an ALT in Japan. All the forums and applications I've gone over all seem to stress that the ALT is an assistant teacher and in no way the centre piece of the classroom.
Yet in Korea ALTs are almost always the centre piece and often teach unassisted (for better or worse). |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Imseriouslylost wrote: |
| Thats sad. Experience is experience, right? It should show that someone has the capacity to adjust to another culture and a foreign education system. |
Yes, and my best guess is that for those employers who don't value such, they must be thinking that unless the experience is in Japan, the other cultures must be too different to be considered as equivalent experience.
| Quote: |
| Also, from what I know, an ALT in Korea has more responsibility and independence than an ALT in Japan. All the forums and applications I've gone over all seem to stress that the ALT is an assistant teacher and in no way the centre piece of the classroom. |
Yes, most of the time and ALT is truly an Assistant. Teaching solo like that in Japan is illegal. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| Imseriouslylost wrote: |
Thats sad. Experience is experience, right? It should show that someone has the capacity to adjust to another culture and a foreign education system. |
Most employers will not normally consider it as teaching experience that counts, but many will take accept it as evidence that you can commit to a job and that you won't easily succumb to culture shock and bail out early.
It's not much, but it may give you a slight edge over many of the other applicants who are applying fresh out of uni having never had to hold down a full time job and who probably have little or no experience living abroad. |
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