Job Discussion Forums

[jobe3x]

Okay guys where should I think of going?

Like I said in the last post to outside world I'm white so the race thing isn't an issue.

China, Korea, Taiwan, or Japan.

I'm equally in love to see them all.

I'm know Japan going through a recession right now.

I've heard that korea got some issues.

China and Taiwan got mixed reviews.

Also any recomendations for CELTA schools?

[guest of Japan]

That is a question only you are qualified to answer. Research the standard of living, weather, culture, histories, food, languages, salaries, qualifications necessary, business practices, manners, etc. This is a very difficult decision that you will have to live with every moment of your life while living in that country. Take your time and choose the place that interests you the most.

I like living in Japan, but I don't always like living in Japan.

[Gordon]

Another question for you , do you have a Chinese sounding name? I know in Korea they would look at that. It has been about 8 years since I was teaching in Korea, but they were very discriminatory towards non-whites.
That aside, I would say it would be a little easier getting your feet wet here in Japan. They are more used to foreigners and schools treat their teachers a little more fairly. I never had any rights as a foreigner in Korea.
Regardless of where you go, you can make it work. Every country has its good and bad points. I think that Korea was a little more wild west frontier (pardon the pathetic analogy) than Japan and more fun.

[jobe3x]

Yes I have a American Name.

Like I said if I didn't tell you I'm half chinese there no way you could tell.

My past is completly hidden.

As far people in Asia know I'm your average white american.

[Glenski]

[jobe3x]

Glen,
Did anybody really think their life destiny was to teach esl?

Come on guys! Most everybody I know in this business just fell into it.

I won't know if it's for me unless I teach it.

That just the way it is.

In fact the way most things in life are decided by accident.

[Glenski]

[PAULH]

Glenski

for once Im inclined to agree with Jobe. Are you having a bad hair day? When I came to Japan I didnt speak Japanese, have any teaching experience or qualifications nor could I read the labels in the supermarket, but i survived.

Although I agree with your suggestion that one should prepare for getting a job here and find out as much as you can, get some experience there will be a few that throw caution to the wind and come totally fresh. Part of the reason people travel overseas for is to experience these things and its pretty hard to accuse him of not being able to cope with these sitautions when you haven't given him the chance yet.

Maybe you and I have lost that sense of innocence after so many years here. getting jobs here is much harder than it was ten years ago but that is not to say its impossible for someone in Jobe's position. I know where you are coming from Glenski, just cut the guy some slack, that's all.

I will take exception with Jobes suggestion that what works for adults works for children. There is a lot of research on the teaching of languages to children and its well known that teaching a language to a full grown person with their own language system in place, is far different to teaching a 5 year old who is stilllearning their first language, does not use a tect book and to whom you can not teach discrete grammar.

Teaching kids requires a whole new bag of tricks that wont work with adults and vice-versa, and usually requires specialised training- not just singing and dancing. Teaching a kids class entails much more than that, such as holding their attention, keeping them interesting, teaching material relevant to their age level etc.

Jobe, I know what Glenski is getting at, but at the same time thinking of flying to a foreign country spending thousands of dollars looking for a job and finding a place to live, finding your way around a foreign country, with the chance you may not find a job in 2 months is not really for the fainthearted. No one is saying you have to make a career of teaching ESL but thinking " I dont know what to do with my life, I'll go and teach English in Japan" like it was the easiest thing in the world is probably a bit naive, dare I say it.


Japan is in a recession, there is a shortage of jobs and oversupply of teachers, and many have degrees and experience. I think what Glenski is saying is that you prepare yourself as best you can, by learning the language, getting some training and finding out what is actually involved. teaching adults is NOT the same as teaching children, and even teaching a group of individuals ESL in the US is different than teaching a a class of monolingual students in Japan.

[Glenski]

Hmm, bad hair day? No. I thought I was writing exactly what you did.

[jobe3x]

Glen,
I guess it's returning home. I was born in the philipeans. I lived in Taiwan, Japan, and China for while. I visited a few Asian pacific islands while I was living in Asia.

So this home for me and I guess that what draws me back. Its weird attraction for me. But something tells me to go back to Asia. Go home.

So it's on my 10 things to do before I die list.

I've got nothing here in the U.S. holding me back at this point of life. So what better time to do it now before I get tied down here in the U.S.

I love to give a shot at teaching too. It's something that always been attracted too.

Plus, I guess my life is little too boring. Working in real estate been great. But I guess I like to try something new.

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

I just want to add that I am currently investigating the possibility of ESL teaching in Australia. Looking at the qualifications and experience that are asked for by commercial language schools and tertiary institutions across Australia to teach foreign students, it appears that ESL teachers are expected to have a minimum of a CELTA diploma, while many other teachers have a university degree as well as an Australian teaching certificate, qualifying them to teach ESL in high schools. I applied for several jobs that require graduate degrees, working at universities in Australia.
An ESL job in Sydney is not really the kind of thing that a person can just walk in off the street and apply for, like it seems to happen in Japan. Obviously teaching in Tokyo or Seoul and teaching in an English speaking country are two different things, but further to the point I raised earlier- teaching you dont really get into 'by accident' unless you have proper training and qualifications before hand, and Im not sure that what goes on in many language schools would really pass for 'teaching' in the strict sense of the word, given the ease of entry into the profession for most neophytes in Japan.

[shmooj]

[shmooj]

Just to add..

I fell into EFL and found it was my life's destiny.

Sorry to throw that spanner in the works

[Roger]

Jobe3x,
i am butting in at a relatively advanced point, maybe it is pointless now, but I have a rhetorical question:
What can your English learners expect from you?
Has it ever occurred to you that a teacher sort of makes footprints that his charges should remember for the rest of their lives?
The longer you can be their guide to that subject you want to teach them, the better - and I am talking here about YEARS or at least TERMS rather than mere weeks or months!
With your wavering frame of mind, I guess you are not going to last anywhere in this part of the world!