Job Discussion Forums

[whitwhit]

I am making the switch from Eikaiwa to International Pre-School/ Kindergarden in Japan. Does anyone have any experience making this transition and do you have any advice for getting the job? I don't have a degree in education- but I have taught kids extensively, just not all day in total ESL emersion environment. That being said, I want to become very experienced in this... What do I need to know to impress a school?

I have been on 2 interviews so far- for both I did great in the "sitting" traditional portion of the interview. But I only one school has thrown me into a classroom so far. I felt my performance in that classroom was not what the school was looking for. They were expecting me to go in and try to copy the teacher- working with him singing songs and doing routines I'd not seen before. Sitting IN FRONT of the class- without clear instructions. This was not play, this was lesson time.

I played with the children amicably enough before this lesson, so I am not to worried about that... BUT...

In my background, I am usually prepared ahead of time, knowing what the lesson plan is if I am going to work with another teacher- or having the room to run the class myself if I don't have time to properly plan...

I have a call-back interview with the second school soon and I want to make sure I preform the necessary qualities they are looking for. How do I cope with not having any training into that particular school's branded songs and routines? What are some faux pas an eikaiwa teacher might not know about for international school? Do's and don'ts.

Does anyone have any advice for going into a preschool classroom to be observed for interview purposes?