Job Discussion Forums

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Hi,

I've been frequenting this site as well as BigDaikon for awhile. I hope I don't ask any silly newbie questions that you've already answered four hundred times.

My question is mainly: what can I do to prepare for working in Japan as an English Teacher? Or, to rephrase, how can I make myself become a more attractive candidate for the job by next May (2004)?

I'm interested in JET as a first choice and Nova second. If I don't get into the JET program, would it be a good idea to try Nova for a year and reapply to JET? I've heard if you don't get in the first time your chances increase the second year.

I am an English major and have a great deal of interest for a (brief) career teaching English abroad (maybe four years in Japan and then three or four in Latin America and then maybe some other fun area of the world). After that I may get a Masters in Foreign Langauge Education or a PhD in English and keep on going.

By next May I should have four semesters of Japanese under my belt (two this summer and two next year) so I will hopefully be able to get around on the most basic level.

I would take a TEFL or CELTA course if I had the dough, but I think I'll need to save up my money to get set up in Japan should I get a job. I hoping to do some volunteer English tutoring to native Spanish speakers. It may only be a few hours a week, but something is better than nothing? There is also a program at my university for exchange students and current students. You "adopt" an exchange student and meet with them once a week just so they have a friend. I want to request someone from Japan to help find out about the culture.

As for international exposure, I am very weak. I have never left the country (USA), not for lack of wanting. I have lived in an international cooperative for two years, so I have lived with foreigners. They were mostly from Spain, Latin America, China, France, and the Middle East. So, I do have a lot of experience with cultural diversity and teaching about American culture (though informally). Would taking a trip to Mexico be a good idea, just so I can say I've been out of the country? I really don't have the money for this, but I really want to get into the JET program next year. But, I don't want to blow some dough for a trip when I may or may not even get into this program.

What do you guys think are my weakest points? I hope you don't think I'm too uptight about this, but I want ESL as my first "career" and I've wanted to do this for program already for a year so I'm becoming a bit more ansy!

I'm going to do quite a bit of studying to improve my knowledge of English grammar points because I do not want to flub any of that on an interview, that's for darn sure. If I know it cold now, I shouldn't flub it too hard in an interview. As for the other "trip you up" trivia questions they like to ask in JET interviews: bah! I don't think I'm going to worry too much. I can't know everything they will ask and if I try to do that then I'll go blank during the interview.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me,
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[PAULH]

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[quote="PAULH"][quote="enderwigginout"]Hi,


Why are you interested in JET to start with, as opposed to a conversation school? In JET class sizes are biggere, you are dealing with high school students and you are an assistant to the Japanese teacher while at NOVA you teach 3-4 students at once.

Teaching is teaching, but the methods and techniques and classroom situation will vary widely as will your students goals and motivation.

From what I've read, things seem to go smoother in JET. I've heard lots of stuff get slung around about NOVA etc, but I'm chalking up most of that to people that don't realize they are lucky to get paid that much for what they are actually doing in a foreign country! And as someone said, the same people that complain about NOVA would complain anywhere.

To be sure, the students at conversation schools actually pay to be there instead of it just being yet another class they must attend until the bell. Also I'm more interested in teaching jr. high and high school kids rather than adults, but that's basically just a preference.

Noble goals indeed May I ask your purpose for doing a Masters or a phD?

Eventually? I'd like to teach at a university (in the States/Australia/Britian)--for the English phD. The Master's degree I guess I don't really need if I want to continue on teaching English abroad. Thanx for the info! That saves me about $20,000-$40,000.

Japanese is neither required or needed to teach English.
Oh yes I know! But I still need to ask "how long til the next train?" and socializing is quite hard if all you can do is grunt!

Having a TEFL or CELTA is useful but keep in mind you will not be apid extra for havcing one.

Good to know! I was mainly interested in this so I could teach better. Though I know you're snickering when I say 'teach.' Also in other areas of the world, these are necessary to obtain good employment. Maybe I'll wait and save up while in Japan and get certified after I leave.

BTW English is a Foreign Language (EFL) in japan not a second Language, (ESL). ESL is what they teach hispanics in California.
Ah, thanx for the correction!

as for your concerns: RELAX!!
Hehehee...I'll try!

Get the degree for the visa- you will be hired because you have a degree, are a native speaker and can be a model for the language. Once you get here you can decide if you want to go further in the field, even get a Masters (you dont want to spend 20,000 dollars on a post-grad degree, find you arent cut out for teaching, or you find yourself going up a career dead end or possibly unemployable back home)

Yeah, this is what I was trying to say.

Being interested in the culture and knowing some of the language is great but you dont ahev to tie yourself in knots about it. be yourself, get the degree, be sociable and interested in people and youll be fine.
This makes me feel better! I'm quite sociable, you have more trouble shutting me up once I get started.

If you come across as some Japanophile groupie who wants to be more Japanese than they aree, you can send the wrong signals. teachers here have been fired for knowing too much Japanese or lacking 'freshness'. Schools and employers are afraid you becoem too institutionalised or 'Japanised' for their liking.

I would like to learn enough Japanese to be able to converse outside of the school. Other than that? Well, there is no real other than that. Although I do want to find out about Japanese culture, I have no desire to live there forever and marry or what-have-you.

Thanx for all your info!
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[Glenski]

enderwigginout,

Paul has given you some good advice, and unfortunately, it is indeed the same stuff that everyone says on every discussion forum. I know because I visit half a dozen of them. As for www.bigdaikon.com, you will find a lot of JET ALTs and CIRs there, but step back and look at what they write. So much of it is immature blathering, and I attribute it not only to age and inexperience, but to being unprepared for work and life in Japan.

Look, too, at how few comments there are in the www.bigdaikon.com section on lesson plans. Nuff said about that.

[PAULH]

From what I've read, things seem to go smoother in JET. I've heard lots of stuff get slung around about NOVA etc, but I'm chalking up most of that to people that don't realize they are lucky to get paid that much for what they are actually doing in a foreign country! And as someone said, the same people that complain about NOVA would complain anywhere.

JET teachers get paid so much (and more than NOVA teachers) because (1) its a government funded program and as such is paid for by the taxpayer and (2) if they paid less people wouldnt go to Japan in the first place if it paid the same as NOVA.

I actually work for a national insitution where there are budgets and I have office people coming up to me saying I have spend x yen out of my budget or they will take it away from me next year. (I had one guy invent a business trip to Tokyo for me so they could use up my travel allowance)

NOVA is a private company and salries come out of profits. Private companies pay as little as they can get away with otherwise (1) they go bust or (2) it affects their bottom line/ stock price (NOVA is a publicly floated company in Japan)


To be sure, the students at conversation schools actually pay to be there instead of it just being yet another class they must attend until the bell. Also I'm more interested in teaching jr. high and high school kids rather than adults, but that's basically just a preference.

Noble goals indeed May I ask your purpose for doing a Masters or a phD?

Eventually? I'd like to teach at a university (in the States/Australia/Britian)--for the English phD. The Master's degree I guess I don't really need if I want to continue on teaching English abroad. Thanx for the info! That saves me about $20,000-$40,000.

Yep, whatever you are into. If you decide you want to keep on working in japan at the high school or college level you will need the masters anyway.
Jobs in Foreign universities with a TESL PhD are impossible to get, unless you are (1) famous and written several books (2) have a long list of publications have a track record at teaching at a university. japan is a good place to get your feet wet.

I am teaching in japan and working on my phD myself through a British university while working full time in Japan so I know a little about whats involved

Japanese is neither required or needed to teach English.
Oh yes I know! But I still need to ask "how long til the next train?" and socializing is quite hard if all you can do is grunt!

Having a TEFL or CELTA is useful but keep in mind you will not be paid extra for havcing one.

Good to know! I was mainly interested in this so I could teach better. Though I know you're snickering when I say 'teach.' Also in other areas of the world, these are necessary to obtain good employment. Maybe I'll wait and save up while in Japan and get certified after I leave.

In Japan you need a degree for the work Visa. TEFL is optional but if you work in Europe you need the TEFL or CELTA before you need the degree.
depends on where you want to work eventually.

If you come across as some Japanophile groupie who wants to be more Japanese than they aree, you can send the wrong signals. teachers here have been fired for knowing too much Japanese or lacking 'freshness'. Schools and employers are afraid you becoem too institutionalised or 'Japanised' for their liking.

I would like to learn enough Japanese to be able to converse outside of the school. Other than that? Well, there is no real other than that. Although I do want to find out about Japanese culture, I have no desire to live there forever and marry or what-have-you.

Good idea to make friends outside or work and your students or else all you end up doing is talking shop or giving free English practice for your students over a beer.

You never know, foreigners stay here a few years learn the language meet the lady of their dreams and end up having little taros and get PR just like me (a lifer with no chance of parole)

Make friends with students but by all means develop outside interests. there is more to living in Japan than being a gaijin English teacher 24/7.
Thanx for all your info!

You're welcome
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[PAULH]

From what I've read, things seem to go smoother in JET. I've heard lots of stuff get slung around about NOVA etc, but I'm chalking up most of that to people that don't realize they are lucky to get paid that much for what they are actually doing in a foreign country! And as someone said, the same people that complain about NOVA would complain anywhere.


True, you probably dont need a lot of qualifications to sit in a classroom and speak English, and the salaries for doing that can look quite attractive if you are sitting back in Indiana or South Carolina. $2500 a month salary or $30,000 a year is a lot of money when you are just out of university.

I think what people also forget is that once you have taken out your plane fare, your set up cost, getting a phone and furniture etc you are not left with very much. If you dont have student loans and credit card debt you end up with about $500 a month. This is after you have put in a 40 hour week or a 160 hour month.

If you want to make the big bucks or solid career in this country you will need more than a BA and toothy smile, but something meaty like TESOL qualifications and a Masters which can set you back anything between $2000 and 20,000 apiece.

Japanese teachers bitch about how much the newly arrived JETs are paid in monthly salary (which is more than the qualified, certified, more experienced japanese teachers get) but forget that foreigners here collect no pensions, no bonuses, no seniority, have no job security and if they want to fly home for the holidays its a 12-15 hour plane ride over several time zones.

I would say after all that, and from where I sit, foreign teachers working in Japan are not that lucky after all, when said and done. getting paid $2000 for simply being able to speak English - yes, maybe. But Im not so sure about the rest and the sacrifices you make by cutting yourself off from friends and family and networks back home. I think you lose something in the process.

[Celeste]

I am on the JET programme, and I can tell you that it has been a very good experience to date. My husband and I had both taught in Korea and Canada before we applied for JET, and we LOVE this job. Some people who are on the Jet programme in our city complain like crazy, but they are straight from their parents' homes, and have never had a full time job before. Some common complaints include:

I don't like teaching so many classes in one day.(maximum of 5)

I don't like being in the office with nothing to do. (Find something to do!)

I think we should get more vacation days.( We get 20 days, or 4 weeks)

The teachers don't listen to my ideas. (Actually, I can understand the frustration there, but I don't know how good the ideas were.)

Okay, the hardest part about my job is keeping busy during the slow times. There are times when school is not in session when I am required to be in my office. I make materials for my students (I teach elementary school, and right now I am making animal sock puppets to go along with the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"), I study Japanese, I read books, I write letters, I surf EFL sites on the internet(I am one of the lucky JETs who can do this -not all offices allow this), and I talk to my co-workers. The kids I teach are great. I also teach teacher seminars, and thoroughly enjoy that as well. My husband teaches junior high, and I think that he is really enjoying it for the most part, but he has had to convince a few of his Japanese English teachers to loosen up a bit and let him try out some new ideas with the kids. Some of the kids have real behaviour problems at this age, but I think my husband has a real knack for relating to this age group.

I suppose the most important thing is to make sure that you really like kids before you come. I know a few people who don't like kids who are teaching them at various places, and it is really miserable for them.

Learning Japanese before applying to JET is a very good idea. When I first came, I knew almost no Japanese but my self introduction, but now, my teachers tell me that they were really put at ease by the fact that I was able to speak some Japanese, and at the new schools I drop in on for one-shot visits, the teachers are relieved that I can speak a little Japanese (I have been taking lessons, and it is really paying off). It also helps if you can do your own translating with the kids- this keeps the Japanese teacher from translating everything you say, and from presenting you to the students as a "thing" rather than a real person.

I think that it is a very good idea for you to get as much experience as you can. Volunteer programmes are a great way to do this, and if you could volunteer with Japanese students, I think that would be a great way for you to show interest in Japan.

While CELTA/TEFL certificates are expensive, books are relatively affordable. I would recommend that you get a copy of "The Practice of English Language Teaching" by J.Harmer. This is the course book that CELTA and many other certificate programmes use, and it has a lot of useful information in it fo someone starting out tutoring.

Good luck, and feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions.

[Glenski]

Thanks for that post, Celeste. It really shows what I've been thinking for many years about JET. That is, they should hire more mature people. I look at it this way...

JET flies you to Japan. Very few companies/programs/schools do this.
JET interviews you in your home country. This also happens in very few schools/companies.
JET pays more than baseline wages, and you don't even need a degree relevant to teaching or to English.
JET provides some sort of orientation plan before and after you arrive.
JET provides housing.
JET ALTs aren't given the burden of planning lessons on their own, nor do they have to teach by themselves. In fact, the vast majority of them merely have to show up in class to help the Japanese teacher.
In many cases, JET ALTs get free Internet access and tons of time to use it. (Just peek at www.bigdaikon.com for a sampling.)
JET ALTs get tons of paid vacation.
JET ALTs have an option of renewing for 3-4 years.

Not much to complain about in my book. As for having little to do in down time, I tip my hat to Celeste for her entirely practical activities to "keep busy". Where else could you go to get paid for learning a foreign language or making relationships with people from a foreign land (contacts that may help you in the future)? There's a thread somewhere from a guy in Tokyo who is bored after being there a couple of months. BORED in Tokyo!!! Now there's someone who doesn't know how to take advantage of a situation!

I wouldn't complain too much about getting the cold shoulder when you try to give teaching advice to Japanese teachers. Number one, you are merely the foreign assistant who was hired to be more of a cultural ambassador than a teacher. Number two, you must realize that Japanese teaching methods have their own method to their madness. Rote memorization has been around for decades, and a cheery-faced foreigner isn't going to change that easily. Doesn't hurt to try, though!

Thanks again, Celeste.

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