Job Discussion Forums

[may be going]

hi, i'm a qualified teacher with masters in educ. the RSA/CELTA. i have a year's uni experience in thailand, 2 years uni experience in korea, college experience in sydney and for the last 7 months have been teaching EAP at a univ. in oz and will continue to do so til early next year. i'm 31 and teaching is my career.

i'm not here to give my resume, just wanted to save time with questions that might arise later.

what i want to know from those in the know is the likelihood of me getting uni work in japan. i see ohayosensei now and then and other sites and it seems most jap. unis want the kit and kaboodle re. quals including publications.

i know i have the quals but not the pubs. i have tje experience and excellent references from all former employers. but it seems that most unis employ from within japan. so my main question is how likely would i be of finding uni work if i went to japan on my own and sussed it all out?

i have a few friends there so they might be able to help with saving money initially re. accomm. etc.

or is there any better way from those in the know, of qualified people getting uni work in japan? i'm not expecting the red carpet treatment. i would just appreciate some info. on how to get even a toe in the door. i would love to work in japan but with my experience and quals i don't want to go the nova route to get up and running.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated. cheers

[PAULH]

Full time: with no publications no way


Part time: possible. Most schools will give teachers up to 6 (even classes a week and you will be juggling a couple of schools.

Getting jobs is often not about what you know, its who you know. You can improve your odds by doing a couple of things

1. Gaining experience. teaching at a foreign/Thai university doesnt count for much and exp. at a Japanese university is better but you have to be here first. Chicken or the egg?
2. Networking. Joining JALT, ETJ or one of the Japanese teaching organisations, attending JALT meetings, even presenting. You can look in JALT magazine for jobs but those jobs have 30 or 40 people or more going for each one as most foreign teachers dont read Japanese and chase after the English-language postings. Many jobs I hear about are by word of mouth and I have passed on more than a few to people that get handed to me for distribution from people in-the-know.
3. Knowing where to look. IMO you are restricted if you dont read japanese as many postings (80%) are on Japanese bulletin boards or are written in japanese.
4. Put your resume into Japanese. If you dont read Japanese get it translated.
5. Best time of year for jobs is November-December as most schools decide on teachers by late december or early January who


PM for more info

[PAULH]

About Duties and Qualifications
Internationals are often hired for select positions that are meant to complement the majority of staff positions held by Japanese nationals. International ELT professionals are almost invariably expected to teach English speaking and listening skills as a primary responsibility. At the tertiary level, duties may also include English writing and reading skills as well.

Especially at national and public schools, foreign instructors teach the larger, survey-type, "service" courses, while Japanese nationals teach the smaller, so-called "advanced" classes geared towards junior and senior students working to complete their majors. Since university instructors and professors are expected to plan, implement and evaluate their own classes without help or collaboration, it is vital for candidates to show experiences and abilities that indicate a capacity to adapt quickly and teach independently.

Experience
Generally, it is preferred that all applicants have at least two years of experience teaching (in order of desirability) 1) at a Japanese university or college, 2) at a junior or senior high school in Japan, 3) at an overseas college where the subject taught was EFL. Being able to show a successful track record with Japanese students is extremely helpful. The reason is simple: hiring a non-Japanese represents a great investment in time and money; this will have been wasted if the international proves unable (as a significant proportion do) to complete the full-term of his or her contract.

Qualifications
Having a master's degree in either TESOL or applied linguistics has been considered de rigueur (though such a qualification is only now becoming common among Japanese teachers). Recently, however, a significant number of positions have required a degree in another speciality (such as business), either in addition to, or in lieu of, the more traditional TESOL-related degree. Three publications are the usual minimum requirement for employment consideration at many schools, especially for the "kyouin" positions. Having more is helpful, but be careful about seeming to pad your resume with marginally relevant publications.

Age
Age is another important issue: it is often very difficult for foreign nationals above the age of 35 to find full-time employment in Japan at the tertiary level unless they have either a significant amount of experience teaching in Japanese universities or an impressive publishing record. Having both is often necessary. If older teachers do manage to find work, it is often because a particular department really wanted them for a particular speciality.

To be fair to those departments who seem guilty of "age discrimination" here - one thing else must be said: if promotion in many places is still based on seniority, and if departments are under scrutiny and criticism for making promotion too much a matter of course (i.e. ageing), then it makes very good sense for a department to hire the youngest candidate available. Such age bias often applies to Japanese nationals as well as international candidates.

Japanese Language Skills
Finally, there's the sticky question of Japanese ability. Some universities include intermediate to advanced Japanese skills among their minimum requirements; many do not. The general rule seems to be this: Japanese skills are rarely necessary to qualify for short-term, "gaikokujin kyoushi"-type positions; most schools offering long-term "kyouin" positions, however, expect you to be reasonably conversant in the language before applying.

Furthermore, while schools located in the bigger cities (e.g., Tokyo, Kyoto, etc.) rarely ask for Japanese ability, schools located outside these metropolises almost invariably make Japanese skills one of their requirements. As the competition for employment among foreigners is often quite fierce in the major metropolises, learning some Japanese might be just the thing to separate you from the pack.

[PAULH]

Finding Open Positions

Contrary to conventional wisdom, most Japanese universities do advertise some or all of their positions. In 2000, 96 of 99 national universities, 67 of 72 public universities, and 249 of 480 private universities publicly announced teaching positions (Monbukagakusho, 2001a). Though every issue of The Language Teacher provides a list of Internet job resources, as well as jobs, under the section title "Web Corner" (see, for example, "Web Corner," 2002), I would like to provide a supplementary list, with comments as to the selection of jobs listed. Perhaps the best source for locating a Japanese university position is the Japan Research Career Information Network (hereafter, JRECIN; jrecin.jst.go.jp). Some other online resources that occasionally carry Japanese university positions include Dave's ESL Cafe (www.eslcafe.com), TESOL's freely accessible job site (tesol.jobcontrolcenter.com), the Chronicle of Higher Education's Career Network (chronicle.com/jobs), the Linguist List's "Jobs in Linguistics" (www.linguistlist.org/jobsindex.html) the American Association for Applied Linguistics (aaaljobs.lang.uiuc.edu/current.asp), and DaiJob.com (www.daijob.com), which lists positions in Japan for numerous career fields. Job postings also occasionally appear in language-related email lists, many of which can be joined freely; information on such email lists can be found at the Linguist List website (www.linguistlist.org/lists.html) and (www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/staff/visitors/kenji/lis-ling.htm). For job openings in print, some departments collect job advertisements, which may or may not be displayed openly; at the first Japanese institution where I worked, such lists were posted in front of the departmental library; you should enquire about such advertisements at the institution nearest you. Various periodicals offer university and junior college job advertisements, for example, in English, The Language Teacher and, rarely, The Japan Times; in Japanese, the Eigo Seinen (www.kenkyusha.co.jp/guide/mag/sei-hen.html) and Shin Eigo Kyouiku (www.shin-eiken.com), both of which are published monthly.

According to Washida (2001, p. 157-162), the five key points for securing a Japanese university job are sending out r�sum�s, applying for advertised jobs, asking your professor (if you are still a student) for leads, asking relevant organizations' committee heads, and lastly asking family and friends. Neither I nor any of my colleagues has used the so-called "cold calling" technique of sending unsolicited r�sum�s to various universities, departments, or individual professors. Akin to junk mail, such r�sum�s or requests are apparently discarded without further consideration, even when forwarded to faculty members in charge of hiring. However, positions requiring immediate filling, which can limit competition to whoever has documents on hand, can and do open abruptly; an unsolicited r�sum� can thus become serendipitous for both applicant and institution. That said, people considering this approach would do well to apply at or near the end of the spring or fall semesters, mid-February to late March (in preparation for the Japanese fiscal year starting April 1st) and September, respectively, when most staff turnover problems occur.

Although others might disagree, I feel you should not overlook limited term positions, especially if you're just beginning an academic career in Japan, since they are a good way to get your foot in the door; moreover, such jobs expand your range of opportunities (Washida, 2001, p. 133). Of course, once you get a job, you should work hard so you can become eligible to step up to better positions, if possible, in the same or a different university (Washida, 2001, p. 135). Part-time university work can also help you in your applications to full-time positions; however, for those who lose their university positions, taking part-time jobs to bide time in the hope of securing another full-time position during a later hiring season can unfairly mark you with the stigma of failure.

[Gordon]

As Paul has so eloquently put it, your chances are very slim of getting in to a f/t university position here. I am working f/t at a university here and was hired abroad, but my college in Canada had a connection with the university here. It is who you know. I was 31 when I came here and think that is a good age to start. You're not too old or young for the schools here. The hiring process begins about 4-5 months before the start date and most positions begin in April. I started halfway through the school year in September.

[PAULH]

Posted this month in JALT Language teacher



#00145 - Niigata-ken

Job Description: The International University of Japan in Yamato-machi is seeking a part-time English language instructor beginning October 2004.

Job Details: Duties: Teach two 90-minute classes every week on grammar, vocabulary, academic writing, or thesis writing, in the fall (October-December) and the winter (January-March) terms. Teach graduate students studying International Relations, International Management, International Development, or E-Business. Be responsible for course materials, lesson plans, and assessment, in coordination with full-time faculty members. Qualifications: M.A. in TEFL/TESL or Applied Linguistics; at least 2-years teaching experience at the university level, but 5-years experience preferred. Salary & benefits: 14,000 yen per class, round trip transportation charges to and from the campus, overnight stay accommodation (if necessary). Application materials: Please submit a cover letter (highlighting qualifications, experience, and research; describing current employment status and situation; and reasons for applying), detailed resume (qualifications, teaching and other professional experience, research); a passport size photo; and two letters of reference.

Deadline: Open until filled

Contact Details: Applications should be made in writing and documents sent to Ms. Mitsuko Nakajima, International University of Japan, Yamato-machi, Niigata-ken, 949-7277

Job Description: The School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University is hiring two full-time instructors of English as a foreign language starting April 2005.

Job Details: Duties: Teach ten 90-minute classes a week in the School of Economics. Qualifications: MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics. Salary & Benefits: 1-year contract, renewable up to 4 years; \5,200,000 per year; research allowance. Application materials: Resume, two letters of recommendation, a written statement of applicant's view on teaching and career, a copy of diploma(s), a 5 to 10-minute video segment of actual teaching.]/b]

Deadline: June 30, 2004

Contact Details: Professor Takaaki Kanzaki, Language Center, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-1-155 Uegahara, Nishinomiya, 662-850

Email Address: <[email protected]>

Job Description: The School of International Politics, Economics, and Business at Aoyama Gakuin University's Sagamihara Campus is seeking versatile [b]part-time teachers for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Job Details: Duties: Teach English courses; communication courses related to public speaking, discussion/debate, English in the mass media, English for academic purposes; and advanced English courses related to specific themes, such as intercultural communication, comparative culture, media studies, gender awareness, conflict resolution/peace studies, global issues, and other subjects related to international studies. Qualifications:Resident of Japan (both native and nonnative speakers); proper visa if not Japanese; MA or PhD in relevant areas of the Humanities, Social Sciences, or Education (including TEFL/TESOL); three years?f previous teaching experience at the university level, with at least one year in Japan; ability to teach language, communication, and advanced courses in English; publications and membership in relevant academic associations a plus. Salary & Benefits: Similar to other private universities in the Tokyo area. Application Procedure: Send a complete resume in English that includes details about qualifications/experience in the above areas.

Deadline: September 30, 2004

Contact Details: Dr. Richard Evanoff, School of International Politics, Economics, and Business, Aoyama Gakuin University, 4-4-25 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8366

Job Description: Niigata University of Health and Welfare invites applications for a full-time foreign language instructor position to begin April 2005.

Job Details: Duties: The successful candidate will be expected to teach English courses in general education. Qualifications: Candidates have to be native speakers of English have an MA or equivalent in TESL/TEFL, able to reside in Niigata city or in its suburbs, and have sufficient ability for everyday conversation in Japanese. Salary & Benefits: Non-tenure track, 2-year renewable position. Application materials: Curriculum vitae and scholarly record, contact Hideto Ishida for appropriate form; summary and copies of three publications that represent your research interests (3 copies if paper, 1 copy if book); a letter describing your research and teaching philosophy, including experience and proposal at Niigata University of Health and Welfare (500 words); a copy of certificate of terminal degree; a copy of alien registration card and passport; and two letters of reference Please write ?gApplication for foreign language instructor position" in red on the envelope, and enclose an envelope with the return address.

Deadline: July 1, 2004

Contact Details: Hideto Ishida, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Niigata, 950-3198; t:025-257-4455, f:025-257-4456

Email Address: <[email protected]>

[Glenski]

If you can't find some rare position that doesn't require publications, you might consider stringing together several PT jobs, whether at universities or other places in order to get a "self-sponsored" work visa, or you could just get an eikaiwa or high school job (as long as the eikaiwas don't consider you OVERqualified) for a work visa. With either option, you would be here free to look around.

Above all, start writing those publications now! Those who help online here can tell you where are the better places to submit.

[may be going]

thanks for the replies. i'm off to work now so will write more when i have the chance. just wanted to say thanks for taking the time