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Chuma
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 72
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 Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:22 pm Post subject: Kansai Gaidai--Average age of instructors |
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Can anyone give a rough estimate of the average age of the instructors at Kansai Gaidai? I've read a couple of threads on the forum which indicate it's a position for newly minted MA holders. Are there any instructors in their 40s or is it all 20 and 30 somethings?
I was thinking about applying, but don't relish the idea of being the old timer (44) in the staffroom.
Thanks!  |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: Kansai Gaidai--Average age of instructors |
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| I don't know about the current situation, but I've known 2 people who worked there in their 40s. Neither still works there now, though. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:53 am Post subject: |
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I would assume so. They just advertise on TESOL so
I thought they wanted younger American teachers. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
I would assume so. They just advertise on TESOL so
I thought they wanted younger American teachers. |
I think you're right. I've seen them in large groups walking around at JALT and most look to be in their mid-twenties. And yes, many are brought over directly from the U.S.
However, if you look at those who participate in the union, it seems that they may have some older teachers working there.
GU site: http://www.generalunion.org/News/1076
Looks like they've had to fight for basic shakai hokken and unemployment insurance benefits. That's terrible.
I'm told that it's just a 4 year position, at most, anyway. Non-renewable after the 4th year. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Really? It was five years, and I heard of teachers who had to work somewhere else for a year in order to go back, if they had completed five years. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
| Really? It was five years, and I heard of teachers who had to work somewhere else for a year in order to go back, if they had completed five years. |
mitsui,
I was talking to some of them at JALT last year and they were all told that it is now 4 years. No renewals. It changed in 2012 or 2013.
They have massive numbers of gaijin instructors, too. Something like 70 teachers, maybe more.
They are going to be doing a lot of hiring each years to replace the teachers they let go. Seems really stupid and expensive to continually hire so many people because of the non-renewable contracts. |
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Sudz
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 438
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:35 am Post subject: |
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| Might I ask what the requirements are? Would an MA TESOL be mandatory? |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
| Might I ask what the requirements are? Would an MA TESOL be mandatory? |
Short answer: if you have to ask, you likely aren't in Japan and / or do not meet the requirements. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:32 am Post subject: |
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If you have no MA your resume goes straight in the garbage.
There are a few places where a BA could get you a job but you better have a damn good resume, publications, Japanese ability, etc.
It is getting competitive there. The deadline was 3/31 but the ad got pulled by late February. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:48 am Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
| Might I ask what the requirements are? Would an MA TESOL be mandatory? |
As Solar Strength and mitsui said, yes, you have to have an MA. An MA in Applied Linguistics should also be acceptable. If an MA in something else (e.g., English), you'd likely need some academic publications and lengthy university-level EFL experience as well.
From what I remember, weren't you pursuing an MA in TESOL from Nottingham Uni, but without a first degree? |
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Sudz
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 438
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, I am in Japan, and will finish my MA TESOL this year. You're right rtm, I'm doing my MA at Nottingham, and lack a first degree. I do have a work visa though, which might get me over that hurdle.
I'm planning on staying at my current job this year, and then moving on after that. I'm trying to get a better idea of how to use my degree in Japan after I'm finished - considering I'll (likely) have no publications when I apply and (definitely) no post-secondary experience.
Thanks for the feedback |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
Actually, I am in Japan, and will finish my MA TESOL this year. You're right rtm, I'm doing my MA at Nottingham, and lack a first degree. I do have a work visa though, which might get me over that hurdle.
I'm planning on staying at my current job this year, and then moving on after that. I'm trying to get a better idea of how to use my degree in Japan after I'm finished - considering I'll (likely) have no publications when I apply and (definitely) no post-secondary experience.
Thanks for the feedback |
How is your Japanese language ability? As a new MA grad, without publications, without tertiary teaching experience, and without at least N2-level Japanese language ability, you will likely find it difficult to get a full-time job at a university. However, you should still go ahead and apply to see what kind of responses you get -- who knows, you might get lucky. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
| Actually, I am in Japan, and will finish my MA TESOL this year. You're right rtm, I'm doing my MA at Nottingham, and lack a first degree. I do have a work visa though, which might get me over that hurdle. |
You're an interesting case, then: (1) No bachelor's degree, (2) yet hold a work permit, (3) master's TESOL student, and (4) you are actually in Japan!
In that case, maybe there is a reasonable possibility that you could land a contract position at one of the big foreign language and culture universities like Kansai Gaidai or Kanda Gaidai.
Especially if you're young.
I'm curious, though, how did you finesse your way into a master's program without a bachelor's degree and a Japanese work permit?
Nice going! |
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Sudz
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 438
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:24 am Post subject: |
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rtm - my Japanese is fairly poor, but coming along slowly. I'm self-studying periodically, though find it difficult to focus on both my MA and this (not to mention teaching full-time). Don't see myself at N2 a year from now (at all) though I am thinking of studying Japanese full-time after finishing my final assignment.
Solar Strength - I'm not exactly old, though wouldn't say I'm that young either at 32. As for the MA: some UK universities allow you entrance based on work experience (I had several years before I applied). I did what is called the 'non-standard route', which means I completed the modules for the certificate in TESOL, then transferred to the diploma, and then to the MA (which is the final dissertation). I should have my degree in hand around February of next year.
Oh and for the work permit: I simply proved that I had 3 + years of full-time experience. Wasn't that hard - though took ages to process |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:40 am Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
Solar Strength - I'm not exactly old, though wouldn't say I'm that young either at 32. As for the MA: some UK universities allow you entrance based on work experience (I had several years before I applied). I did what is called the 'non-standard route', which means I completed the modules for the certificate in TESOL, then transferred to the diploma, and then to the MA (which is the final dissertation). I should have my degree in hand around February of next year.
Oh and for the work permit: I simply proved that I had 3 + years of full-time experience. Wasn't that hard - though took ages to process |
I see, makes sense, then.
Also, nice to see university M.A. programs and Japanese Immigration taking into account one's experience in lieu of a B.A. degree. So there is hope for people who don't have a first degree! |
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