Job Discussion Forums

dianajc · Joined: 12 Sep 2014 Posts: 7 Location: UK

Hello!
I am a confused newbie here on this forum. I am 56 years old, degree-educated, recently qualified in EFL (120 hour course). I have more than 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including high-level consultancy and supervisory roles. However, I do not have any direct teaching experience.

I would really like to know if there is any prospect of me being able to find work in Japan teaching one-to-one or small groups of adults.

I appreciate your experience and advice which will help me make a few important decisions.

Many thanks.
Diana

The Fifth Column · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:17 pm Post subject:

Traditionally, Japan has been rife with ageism, but as an old fart, I'm not interested in living/working there.

I guess younger ones can chime in if anything has changed...

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

Not sure if it's something you would consider, but we have universities that focus on medicine, dentistry, et cetera. They usually need people to teach English as used within specific fields. Your experience would be an asset for such a position.

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

BTW there are a lot of "old farts" in universities these days.

The Fifth Column · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:42 pm Post subject:

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

Sorry, I was thinking she had an advanced degree from the post. Guess not?

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

The Fifth Column · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:22 am Post subject:

Sounded like British terminology to me...I took as a received degree...

kzjohn · Joined: 30 Apr 2014 Posts: 277

Diana,

A Master's degree would certainly help a lot, TESOL of course, but in most anything really.

This is not a job offer, but I work at a small private uni with a pharmacy college (half my classes there, and I'm coordinator for those courses), and while we don't need anyone right now, if you happened to be in town I would certainly be interested in talking to you.

dianajc · Joined: 12 Sep 2014 Posts: 7 Location: UK

Thank you everyone for responding to me.

To clarify, I have a B.Sc Hons in Microbiology, not a Masters degree. Most of my working experience is in drug regulatory affairs (20 years) where I spent time writing a wide range of scientific documents including data assessment and dossier compilation. I am not intending to do a CELTA course on top of my TEFL certificate; it's quite expensive (£1100 at our nearest college).

I wondered if there were any visa issues with my age.

Thank you kzjohn for your idea, maybe we could correspond further by pm on this.

How do I find out about the specialised universities who are likely to require someone like me? I am not interested in something very competitive that requires high-level qualifications.

And in your opinion, which would be the better eikaiwa companies? I have already read some horror stories which are quite off-putting.

Again, many thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it.
Diana

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

I don't have much experience with eikaiwa, but JREC-IN and JACET are good places to look for job postings at unis in Japan.

dianajc · Joined: 12 Sep 2014 Posts: 7 Location: UK

Thank you Maitoshi for your information. I looked and it seems that I am way under-qualified and probably too old. Time to think again............
Diana

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

No worries! Either way, it'd be an adventure for sure Smile

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

Just another thought, others on this board seem to have taught in China at uni with a B.A., so your experience could make you very valuable there, too, if this is something you'd be open to.