Job Discussion Forums

[scattydove]

[B0RGNINE]

I just finished a single-term contract with Westgate about two weeks ago. Overall it was an okay experience. Keep in mind, situations always vary, and so my experience may not reflect the one you might have.

THE PROS: They're quite organized as far as logistics are concerned, they took care of everything... visa, apartment, postal bank account, and Alien Registration Card (though, I did have an issue with picking my card up... it was nice to have the help in getting it, but then not being allowed to leave work a bit early to go to the ward office to pick it up didn't make sense to me, am I not required by law to have it in my possession? I finally got it TWO days before I flew out!). They also supplied me with a cell phone (which only accepted incoming calls... I couldn't make calls, but better than nothing). They also prepared detailed printouts of how to use all the appliances in the apartment (the apartment, though small and overpriced at 81,000 a month, was very new, clean and nice and was equipped with a clothes dryer incorporated into the shower that was loud and probably not very green, but did what it was supposed to do).

THE CONS: The daily commute was awful... but this isn't necessarily Westgate's fault... this is just life in Tokyo. Though I would sometimes smolder a bit when, 55 minutes into my daily hour commute, I'd spy the gigantic apartment block I walked past every day on the way to campus. That said, they did pay for all my work-related travel. As some of the earlier posters had mentioned, we were forbidden from all contact with our students outside the school. Though I thought this was a bit silly, but whatever. However, what I thought was even more strange was that they forbid us from socializing with the other regular professors at the school as well. The only thing I could come up with is they were afraid that we might somehow become too friendly with professors, and somehow get hired on directly by the university, cutting out Westgate as the middleman? Understandable from a business perspective, but come on... really? If there was a no-guests rule, I didn't hear of it, and I had plenty of guests as well as occasional overnight guests and suffered no complaints. Another thing we were told was that when quizzed as to our employer by anyone outside the school, we were to say that we were employees of Westgate Corp., but under no circumstances were we to mention that we worked for Westgate... in their eyes, we were to be seen as nothing less than professors at their college/university. Therefore, I enjoyed all the prestige of professorship (at least, among my students) without the salary or benefits. Seems underhanded and schemey to me of Westgate. Most everything was done at their absolute convenience in this sense. I have mixed feelings about my supervisor. It's obvious why they chose her. She was tremendously organized and motivated, and I can't help but be a bit envious as I wish I were a bit more like her in these ways... On the other hand, there was a bit of neck-breathing that did happen. As a holder of an MA in Curriculum and Instruction in TESL, as well as having my state teaching credentials and my ESL endorsement combined with my experience teaching at a university-affiliated Intensive English Program for a few years, I feel pretty confident in my abilities as a teacher. Though I'm humble enough to know that I'll always be improving my classroom practice... I felt like I was often treated like a novice and often talked down to professionally. The first few instances were tolerable, but after a time I began to feel the lecturing was didactic and patronizing. It was difficult to avoid becoming resentful at times. I did my best to be pleasant and bite my tongue.

I also have my thoughts about Westgate's program, and the success (or lack of success as the case may be) in its implementation. I taught both accredited and elective English classes. The elective classes were fantastic. Students were very motivated and the classes were usually no larger than 8 students. However, the accredited classes were a joke. The classes were filled with a minimum of 25 unmotivated and sleepy students (with a few, shining exceptions). Any kind of authentic, summative assessment was impossible and was reduced therefore to a formality done for the sake of appearance. Furthermore, attendance was the single largest consideration concerning student grades. Attendance accounted for 60% of the final grade, and interestingly, 60% was a passing grade. What then would a student have to do at a minimum if he/she hoped to pass? 1. Come to class. 2. Stay awake (clandestine text messaging is optional). That's it. However, I'd like to offer Westgate a stay of execution on this point. I don't believe that if Westgate were to suggest to a given university that they make the accredited classes smaller, requiring students to perform, and introduce authentic assessment measures, they'd be turned down flat by the university for simple logistical reasons. As it is, it seems Japanese universities, much like the public schools, merely pay lip service to English study, and to force a real change where the same number of students are required to take English courses but are also expected to perform would be an expensive and demanding undertaking (more teachers, smaller classes, more time, real assessments, etc.). But at the same time, I don't know that Westgate isn't entirely happy to participate as they have because I'm sure that by supplying English "professors" with leaner qualifications, offering their instructors cut rate salaries and truncated contracts where they do not have to pay them while school is out of session, and being able to constantly refresh their legion of instructors with unsuspecting, but shiney/smiling new faces, Westgate's profits should be very handsome. Here the motivation, Westgate being the profit-driven organization that it is, is obvious and not surprising in the least. Good for Westgate... though it's money wasted for the students' parents.

All in all, it was neither a bad nor good experience for me. Since finishing my contract, I've been applying to universities for positions directly. I've listed my Westgate experience on my resume, but I've not bothered to ask for a letter of recommendation, because here again, I've been told that the letter would be written by someone in the Westgate corporate office, someone I assume has never seen me teach. I just don't feel like bothering under the circumstances.

Anyway, if the OP or anyone else has any specific questions, feel free to send me a private message.

[B0RGNINE]

Oops, I wish I would have proofread the post before I posted it.

I meant to write that I finished my contract two MONTHS ago, not two weeks. And I also meant to write that we were not to tell students that we worked for Westgate, only that we worked for the university we were assigned to.

Sorry for the errors.

[justaprofessional]

[mspxlation]

So when you say "guest houses," do you mean LeoPalace-type apartments or rundown slums where each resident has a 4.5-mat room?

[B0RGNINE]

[the yellow brick road]

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[mcatt66]

what is a typical work day or work week like?. . i just finished up teaching in Thailand in which i worked Mon-Fri 7:30 to 4:00. . but only taught 20 of those 40 hours. . had be on campus when not teaching. . is it similar hours?

[Dominic-Pax]

[mrbbkk]

There salaries are cheap and their apartments are expensive. Furthermore you can't bring overnight guests.

So get a different job and get a better apartment for less.

It's simple, don't you think?

[evolving81]

I was under the impression that the salaries were good.

[silver_butterfly]

I'm certainly curious about Westgate, and even after reading their website I stll think some things are a little unclear...!

For those who have actually worked there (and even re-signed), what are the vacation times roughly, how much time do you actually get off, is it 'paid' time off like public school etc etc?

Do you follow a curriculum or are you expected to make all your lesson plans from scratch?

Can you find your own accommodation if need be (and would you recommend that as a better option as you can pick your own location, find somewhere cheaper and have your boyfriend stay over without worrying about 'breaking the rules')?

I've actually never worked in Japan before, I'm planning to head over when I complete my 4th and final contract (I'm currently in Korea) with the same school this coming summer, so I'm thankful for this website so I can find much more needed information!

[myothercarisabackpack]

I had an interview with Westgate Corporation over a month ago and today I received the standard rejection letter.

I have two years experience teaching ESL in Korea, a master's degree in Writing, a TEFL certificate, and I've worked as an editorial assistant for a year.

I'm pretty sure I'm qualified, so I don't know what they are looking for in a candidate. Maybe the fact that I'm 31 years old is a problem?

[Imseriouslylost]