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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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 Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:32 am Post subject: |
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| taikibansei wrote: |
| For the better paying business/corporate jobs, though, they want good teaching both because they have realized they really need it, and because they're paying for it. If you want to do this full-time (again a real challenge here even in the best of circumstances), you'd better be able to provide this instruction to their satisfaction. |
| CPA wrote: |
I have an interview this week for teaching business English in Tokyo. I'm hoping they like my background. I am lucky enough to have a competitive degree and work experience with one of the four largest accounting and consulting firms in the world (a firm whose name I believe many successful Japanese businessmen and women will recognize). I hope this helps me.
I think I have a lot to bring to the table despite not having teaching credentials. The strenuous process of earning a Certified Public Accountant license in the US includes requiring 150 credit hours of school (five years), a challenging 16 hour exam to demonstrate a mastery of a broad range of business fundamentals and technical concepts, and work experience in the field. I believe that all my hard work will help me here; I will be able to converse intelligently with foreign business professionals from a broad range of job occupations. |
I agree with taikibansei. Teaching an ESP domain (accounting, in your case), isn't about having pedigree accounting qualifications nor being able to hold heavy conversations with foreign business professionals. You have to know how to teach accounting as the context for English language learning. For example, when I taught biz English (in the Mid East), I still addressed grammar and vocab in (business) contexts, comparative essay writing, writing mechanics, etc. Students still needed to self correct their language errors. My classes were with working professionals who tested at an upper-intermediate English level. However, the college also offered biz English classes to elementary-level speakers. So be aware that your students may not be at the level you expect and will need a different teaching approach. Also, don't think you won't have to cover grammar, writing, speaking, listening, and reading. You're a teacher first, subject matter expert second. |
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Japan isn't a particularly good place to save. Korea is better as you often get free accommodation and a lower cost of living. Living in Tokyo (a great place to experience for a few years) will bite into your savings even more.. It takes about two years to sort yourself with cheap(er) accommodation and extra work/uni classes.
As I mentioned in the other thread, Kyoto or Nara might be a better bet, especially with the interest in Buddhism. |
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kpjf
Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| CPA wrote: |
Right now I do not have any Japanese language skills. I hear Japanese is one of the easier alphabets to learn, but learning any new language is a monumental task. I imagine developing a nuanced Japanese vocabulary sufficient enough for business will take many years of diligent study. |
Maybe you're only referring to Hiragana and Katakana but Japan's writing system also includes Kanji which is one of the hardest parts about learning Japanese. Though, on a positive note pronunciation is quite logical and easy (relatively speaking) - I find it a lot easier than French!
| currentaffairs wrote: |
Japan isn't a particularly good place to save. Korea is better as you often get free accommodation and a lower cost of living. Living in Tokyo (a great place to experience for a few years) will bite into your savings even more.. It takes about two years to sort yourself with cheap(er) accommodation and extra work/uni classes.
As I mentioned in the other thread, Kyoto or Nara might be a better bet, especially with the interest in Buddhism. |
Of course Tokyo would cost too much and thus lack of potential savings, but I have read more than once that Kyoto is supposedly the most competitive city to find a teaching job in Japan? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| So far, the OP hasn't really focused on top earnings. It would be helpful to know what his priorities are --- an ordered list of what he's seeking in terms of a realistic living and working situation as a biz English teacher in Japan. In other words, his must-haves. |
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CPA
Joined: 29 Jan 2016
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm pretty flexible when it comes to requirements. I just want:
(1) to work
(2) have a nice enough private room of any size with a small kitchen (shared bath is OK)
(3)study martial arts and buddhism at least a couple times a week
(4) explore the local culture and sight-see at night and on the weekends by using local transit and walking
(4) travel somewhere interesting in Japan for a weekend at least once or twice
(5) eat out as much as I can afford (which may not be too often) I really like Sushi and Hibachi.
How hard will it be to do these things on 250k yen a month living in Tokyo? How about elsewhere in Japan? I would prefer to live in a smaller Japanese city, but I want to teach college age students or adults. Is Tokyo a good city to live in?
Thanks for the advice regarding teaching quality as a foremost priority. Your advice has been taken to heart. I like the suggestion about volunteering as an ESL teacher or assistant before I commit to going to Japan. I plan on doing that.
I investigated TEFL courses in my area and some universities are offering interesting, in-depth programs. Wish I could take one but I need to work full-time and they cost thousands of dollars.
I found this online program. Do you think it is worth doing? (150 hour "master" course) http://learntefl.com/courses/
Any suggestions for affordable online TEFL programs? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| CPA wrote: |
| Any suggestions for affordable online TEFL programs? |
That depends on what you consider "affordable" to mean.
I don't know what the general teaching requirements are for Japan -- whether a TEFL qualification is required or even acknowledged. But if you plan to teach in other countries, be aware that an online cert won't cut it for some regions. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:32 am Post subject: |
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Business English tends to be part-time. Ten years ago teachers could get
7,000 yen per hour but now it is often 3500.
If you get more than that, you do well.
Networking is everything.
Even for someone like me, getting this work is not easy as they want people with years experience (2-4) of doing this in Japan.
I have only taught business English at a university. For some employers it is not enough as some want teachers with a business background or a business degree.
So when part-time you need at least one more job (or more). The scheduling makes it tough as classes can be from 5-8 p.m. but it depends.
In fact, if I get enough university work I may forget about teaching business English. It really depends on the commute.
Last edited by mitsui on Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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move
Joined: 30 May 2009
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| CPA wrote: |
I investigated TEFL courses in my area and some universities are offering interesting, in-depth programs. Wish I could take one but I need to work full-time and they cost thousands of dollars.
I found this online program. Do you think it is worth doing? (150 hour "master" course) http://learntefl.com/courses/
Any suggestions for affordable online TEFL programs? |
280 bucks to become a teacher, huh? Well, that is certainly cheaper than the 25k I am shelling out for my master's degree. I'm kind of skeptical how much one can learn from a TEFL course. I went to a community college to get the TEFL certificate before my first eikaiwa job and although I'm sure it helped me to get that job, I learned far more from actually trying to teach and learning from my mistakes.
I've always thought that if you're going to do something do it right the first time. You might consider getting a CELTA which has name recognition and actual teaching practicum. However, it's just shy of 3k and I don't know how much for an online one, so it doesn't exactly fit your requirement for affordability. Of course, if you have thousands in cash saved up and a burning desire to get out of the States you could always move to Kobe and spend a few months taking the CELTA and searching for work.
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/
http://language-resources.co.jp/teachers/ |
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