Job Discussion Forums

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:06 pm Post subject:

Definately go with something like Bread suggested. It's good because it's simple and can be easily demonstrated (beginners are not going to understand much in the way of verbal instructions) and it can be easily adapted to accomodate a 1-to-1 lesson or a group.

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Thanks! You guys are awesome!

I could coach just about any sport and feel incredibly comfortable doing it, but teaching in front of a class makes me nervous. This stuff is intense!

LaniB · Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 35

How did you go, Shiggy?

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

shostahoosier · Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Posts: 30

Like the others say:

1. Keep your lesson VERY SIMPLE.
2. Have LOTS of REPETITION.
3. Be CONFIDENT and ENTHUSIASTIC.
4. Make sure that your demo plan IS NOT a few seconds/minutes SHORT.
5. WEAR A SUIT (not a simple shirt and tie, or sweater and slacks like one of the yutzs did in my group)
6. Do a quick refresher on grammar and spelling.

And most importantly - SMILE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

I actually declined the second interview after what I saw they made Aeon teachers do during the 4 hour interview. It wasnt bad but it just wasnt for me.

Good luck!

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Having to jump through a few hoops seems entirely acceptable if the result is that I get to live in Japan.

shostahoosier · Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Posts: 30

I'm not sure if you're replying to me..but just in case I'll try to explain my reasoning... Very Happy

The last two places I worked in the US were "dream" jobs, but the work environment made my life at home miserable. I'm never putting myself in that position again.

...it wasnt the process of applying to/interviewing with Aeon that turned me off...it was what I would be doing once I got to Japan (outside of teaching), and that just didnt appear to be something I would have enjoyed.

I've met some people who have worked at Aeon. Some liked it and some did not. Its different for everyone I'm sure.

I was also under the assumption that it wouldnt take as much start up money as being an ALT would, but the woman at my interview told me to go with at least several grand.

The final straw was that I interviewed in May of 2009 but they said that the earliest positions wouldnt be available until early 2010 (with some exceptions of course). I didnt want to wait around that long for a job that I felt so-so about to begin with.

Either way good luck at your upcoming interview!

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Today, I met with an ELL teacher who worked with my mom. She gave me some more lesson ideas and let me borrow a few books.

My question is: do I need to design my own lesson plan or can I simply photocopy a few pages from one of these books?

She also stressed that each lesson needs to follow the Listen, Read, Write, Speak method of teaching.

LaniB · Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 35

Make your own. It's specified in the materials they send you before the interview: must be your own original plan. But it's ok if you follow one of the plans she's given you and tweak it a little - don't show up with obviously copied materials.

In my interview they stressed repetition and in the example lesson she gave us (we pretended to be her students before lunch + before we gave our lessons) she held up object cards and made us repeat after her a few times and then 3x fast. She said controlling the speed of repetitions makes it more engaging. Because AEON is a conversation school concentrate on the "speak" side of things.

I've been offered a position with AEON, waiting to hear if I got the school I wanted or not Very Happy

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

That's what I thought. Well, cool.

Thanks for your help, and congratulations!

*edit* I'm unable to pull the trigger on this lesson plan. I decided to use "fruit" as the topic and am going to select four fruits to be the focus of the lesson.

However, my brain function is being blocked. I don't know how to write this up, what format to use....etc.

I have an idea for a game at the end, and I think I know what to do at the beginning, but I need to fill the middle part with some sort of writing exercise. Hmm.

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Nope.

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Bummer.

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

It's cool. AEON made teaching look more like work than fun.

Are there any companies that hire people to teach in actual schools, instead of business-like clinics?

Also, the hours they want you to work are not...something I'd enjoy.

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318