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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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 Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:00 am Post subject: |
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| alexaspiringteacher wrote: |
| Glenski - I thought the phrase 'human tape recorder' was a metaphor for crappy lessons - I didn't actually think it was meant literally. Yikes! I think I know enough about how to teach kids that if I was asked to do that I might just run out screaming. |
I taught 4 years in a private JHS/HS in Sapporo. Pretty well-known prestigious place, they said. All 3 years of the JHS had this aspect of human tape recorder, despite the fact that it was obvious the kids didn't like it from middle of second year. I toured a German visitor around one day and peeked in on such an exercise. The visitor was astonished that such stuff continued past the first year.
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| Seriously, not that I'd discount public schools in Japan, but it would certainly be a 'cultural experience'. As much as I'm for learning from other cultures, to be honest I'd prefer being able to put in to practice tried and tested western teaching methods. It's best for the kids, and that's the whole point isn't it? |
It may or may not be best for the kids. You are going to have to keep that in mind. How something is taught elsewhere may be successful for pedagogical reasons, or for cultural/social reasons. Japanese students are not used to certain ways of teaching, and to ram them down their throats will usually fail. My colleagues who have attended TESOL conferences in the U.S. often run into this 2-sided debate over how to teach.
Plus, if you are an ALT in Japan, you may or may not even be allowed to create a separate lesson plan. Eikaiwas often hire people without any teaching experience or credentials simply because they don't want people storming in to introduce anything new to their curriculum. They are satisfied with the status quo which keeps butts in seats and money in their coffers. Japan is pretty resistant to change.
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| 2. In this sense, money is less important, but I strongly feel as an international citizen prepared to travel worldwide, I should be paid an international market rate. If money didn't matter I'd be teaching in a mountain village in Nepal. |
Just what do you call an "international market rate"? There is none, as far as I know. You get paid the going rate for the country you enter, period. Unfortunately, even in a developed country such as Japan, that can be a crappy wage. Salaries have been going down here over the past few years. What used to be a given "standard" of 250,000 yen/month is no longer. You might be offered a job with 30-40 hours of classroom time per week, plus other responsibilities and get no copayment into health insurance, plus a salary of only 180,000. I've seen such ads.
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| Also I'm thinking long term - I don't desperately need to make decisions immediately - my CELTA course runs part time August to November, so I'm tentatively looking to move Jan-March 2012. However, I have itchy feet and it's playing on my mind that I could be set up abroad and getting paid by September this year. |
That's already fairly tight timing even for Japan. Keep that in mind. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:29 am Post subject: |
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1. Even if you live in another country, it's pretty easy to live in a bubble and not get cultural immersion.
2. Unfortunately with the economy the way it is and Harvard grads not finding work and looking to teach English, it's hard to get paid more. Honestly, I think that the international market rate, for someone starting out in TEFL, is probably $600 to $1000 a month. And that may or may not include housing, flights, or visas depending on where you go. Some places liekk the Middle East, taiwan, Japan, and Korea pay more. The ME is more for people with experience. Asia is possible, you can make more than $1000 a month, but world average, I'd say is about $1000.
3. I don't know. Maybe. Some people get very culture shocked. Speaking from 6 years in Peru and gaining citizenship, I can tell you it's the LAST place I'd like to go to.  |
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Denizen
Joined: 13 Nov 2009
Posts: 110
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| US$2,000 per month at today's exchange rate is 160,000 yen. Most entry level ALT jobs in Japan will start you at around US$2,900 gross, or around 230,000 yen. However, this amount is at the whim of varying exchange rates, which are as predictable as the weather. |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: |
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| alexaspiringteacher wrote: |
Nickpellat - Thanks for the pointer towards EF (Education First) - I'll certainly look in to them. I must admit I'm slightly hesitant about english language schools in china and south korea because they seem to offer only 10 days holiday. I'm not a slacker but coming from a british state school where I get 12 weeks holiday, that's pretty crap. I don't expect that but more than 2 weeks would be nice. I'm also a bit put off by the pollution in chinese cities. Is it really all that bad?
2. In this sense, money is less important, but I strongly feel as an international citizen prepared to travel worldwide, I should be paid an international market rate. If money didn't matter I'd be teaching in a mountain village in Nepal.
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1 - If you went to a Chinese University or similar, you'd get the long holidays. When I worked in a Chinese vocational college I had 6-7 weeks for Winter break, and about 10 weeks for summer break. Wages are normally lower though (perhaps �500 per month), and the support etc you mention is likely to be non-existent. Classes of 40 students, no books, seen once a week, and not streamed by ability can be regarded as normal.
2 - The money thing. Hmmm, International citizen and International market rate? I dont think that is likely to be realistic TBH. I have a friend who is a chemical engineer for a major oil company, he is now looking at contracts all over the world and yes, he can probably get International citizen/market rates, big ex-pat contracts etc. TEFL isnt like that for 99% of people working in it. You have to be more realistic I think.
I have just applied for a job with a UK language school, British Council registered, and if I am lucky enough to be employed by them (and competition is fierce) I will be lucky to get �14 an hour for a 30 hour a week contract. Take out tax, NI, rent/utilities and travel expenses...doesnt leave a lot.
Edit - Just done the math on that job....I think if I am lucky enough to be offered 25 hours at �12.50 an hour Ill be lucky! 30 hours at �14 p/h isnt going to happen without an MA/DELTA and top notch experience!
Compare this to a job in China where you work 15 hours a week, have housing and utilities included, and still end up with �500 a month as disposable income, and it could be asserted that you are getting a generous package as an International citizen 
BTW - I cant tell you much about pollution in Chinese cities, I tend to stick to countryside and town type environments in less polluted areas. Location is Number 1 to me!
Last edited by nickpellatt on Sun May 08, 2011 11:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dedicated
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 972
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:48 am Post subject: |
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nickpellatt,
If you have an MA and DELTA, why on earth are you even considering language school work? Try university pre-sessional courses which offer between �600 - �700 a week + free, or possibly heavily subsidized , accommodation on campus.
These courses can be for 12 weeks, 8 weeks or 5 weeks, and you get your foot in the university door for possible vacancies in September, as you will be " tried and tested" by then. This saves the university advertising and interviewing and is how most people are recruited these days.
Check out the jobs.ac.uk website or baleap website. |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Sorry Dedicated, I just went back and edited that last post to say 'without an MA/DELTA', I dont have either!
I made the post to illustrate the 'International Wage' point. With many language schools in the UK offering �10/12/14 per hour, and being incredibly difficult to get in with, it puts salaries into perspective a little. |
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