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Trisha1329
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 12
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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 Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:36 pm Post subject: getting hired while not residing in japan |
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ok, forgive me if this is a dumb question or if you've answered it many times before...i am applying to a TESOL/TEFL Certificate program here in the US, to be completed before going to Japan. I would enjoy working for a smaller English school, in which some certification is preferred. I'm hoping that if they require certification, it's because they actually want to you utilize your own teaching skills, rather than regurgitate something from a textbook....
HOWEVER, my question is, in these smaller schools that don't have overseas recruiting, does this mean i have to be able to go to japan for a face to face interview? it makes sense- why would they want to sponsor the visa of someone they have only spoken to on the phone? but, what if i go there and they don't hire me....even if i have 3 interviews set up....what if i don't get a job? is it likely that if i have a year of ESL teaching experience (which i do) and a TEFL certificate (which i will), that i would get a job?
Because... some posts I am reading are saying that english teaching jobs are becoming more scarce now...i'm sure anyone could understand fears of going there not knowing if you'll be hired...of course, applying to one of the larger schools like Aeon would allow me to know if i have a job before i get there, but i don't know if i want to deal with the whole corporate aspect of that kind of organization, not to mention not being treated like a teacher who knows what she's doing....any advice would help...thanks so much |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| in these smaller schools that don't have overseas recruiting, does this mean i have to be able to go to japan for a face to face interview? |
99% of the time, yes.
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| why would they want to sponsor the visa of someone they have only spoken to on the phone? |
They may be desperate or deluded, or they may simply give you the impression that they will sponsor you while all along they plan to keep you here until you have overstayed your visa, then dump you. It happens.
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| but, what if i go there and they don't hire me....even if i have 3 interviews set up....what if i don't get a job? |
That is the risk you take. Nobody anywhere in the world in any profession will guarantee you that you will get the job after the interview. Why should this be any different? Japan has tons of foreigners looking for teaching jobs, and since the requirements for most of them are pretty low, anybody and his brother can apply.
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| is it likely that if i have a year of ESL teaching experience (which i do) and a TEFL certificate (which i will), that i would get a job? |
First of all, since you are American, I have to ask...do you have a bachelor's degree? If not, you are not eligible for the work visa, and no employer can hire you legally. If you DO have a degree (any major will do), then you are probably about as eligible to work as a teacher as the next person here. It also depends on what type of school you want to go to. Looks like you are only looking at conversation schools (probably all that you are qualified for anyway), but after even just a year here, you can apply for other schools (HS, elementary, etc.).
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| some posts I am reading are saying that english teaching jobs are becoming more scarce now |
FT college jobs, yes.
FT jobs in many (but not most) other schools, well, that depends.
There DOES seem to be a growth of the PT job market, but you will find it difficult to get a visa with those. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski is right about the qualifications and degree that is necessary for a work visa. A TEFL certificate will not really help you get a job here either, however, it will help you teach. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:04 am Post subject: Re: getting hired while not residing in japan |
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| Trisha1329 wrote: |
HOWEVER, my question is, in these smaller schools that don't have overseas recruiting, does this mean i have to be able to go to japan for a face to face interview? it makes sense- why would they want to sponsor the visa of someone they have only spoken to on the phone? but, what if i go there and they don't hire me....even if i have 3 interviews set up....what if i don't get a job? is it likely that if i have a year of ESL teaching experience (which i do) and a TEFL certificate (which i will), that i would get a job? |
Trisha, I can understand your fears but it sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too. Not go through the big commercial language schools, not use the textbooks (you dont have a lot of practical teaching experience to start with useful to employers in Japan) but want a guaranteed in-the-bag job should you arrive in Japan. If that was the case everyone would come over without going through NOVA. Life doesnt contain any guarantees, much less getting a job in Japan.
Most schools will not hire you over the phone as they have the experience of of hiring people and then at the last minute, after they have arranged accomodation, a visa, they change their minds and go with a school that offers 'better' conditions. There is no guarantee you will actually make it past the airport. Not only that you have to find your way from narita, travel half way across the country by plane or bullet train and 'turn up' at the school at the appointed time.
It is much easier if you are already in Japan, have a place to live, can contact them from within the country and arrange interviews with schools that look promising. Saying you will take a job without even seeing where you will live, what your apartment will look like or what kind of teaching you are doing is a huge risk, without at least undergoing an interview to meet your boss first.
| Trisha1329 wrote: |
| ok, forgive me if this is a dumb question or if you've answered it many times before...i am applying to a TESOL/TEFL Certificate program here in the US, to be completed before going to Japan. I would enjoy working for a smaller English school, in which some certification is preferred. I'm hoping that if they require certification, it's because they actually want to you utilize your own teaching skills, rather than regurgitate something from a textbook.... |
Have you ever taught Asian or japanese students? Do you know that teaching students English in America is different than teaching students in their own countries?
Most schools here do not require previous experience or TESL qualifications as they want to train theirnew teachers to use their own methods and textbooks. they dont want people who go off and do their own thing or re-invent the wheel becuase they think they know better what the school wants for its students. For the record, I am a qualified trained language teacher with a masters degree in TESOL, but i will use a textbook judiciously, not as a crutch but as a teaching aid. I really dont know of any places that do not use a textbook and teachers just 'wing it' or unless you are an expert at creating your own teaching materials. Maybe teaching kids you won't need a textbook so much but is that what you are looking for? Most schools will have some kind of teaching curriculum for their students and teachers at a language school are expected to follow the curriculum laid down for them.
| Trisha1329 wrote: |
| Because... some posts I am reading are saying that english teaching jobs are becoming more scarce now...i'm sure anyone could understand fears of going there not knowing if you'll be hired...of course, applying to one of the larger schools like Aeon would allow me to know if i have a job before i get there, but i don't know if i want to deal with the whole corporate aspect of that kind of organization, not to mention not being treated like a teacher who knows what she's doing....any advice would help...thanks so much |
Trish
there are plenty of jobs but because of dispatching etc the salaries are becoming lower and lower, contracts are becoming shorter, you get people on working holiday visas mopping up all the cheaper paying jobs. It all adds up to lots of low paying jobs that no one wants. the schools know that they will always find someone who will work for low wages, even if its not a liveable wage. Why offer more when you can pay someone 1,000 yen an hour, no holiday pay, no holidays, no unemployment insurance etc?
The big language schools are primarily businesses. they are in business to make money and education comes a distant third. You may be a great teacher, but if they dont have bums on seats and a student going through every forty minutes they can not stay in business and you are out of a job. You want to make enough to live on, but dont want to work so much that you feel like a battery hen working as some low paid servant. I will add that you can use your experience and expertise (what a years experience is worth) on your students, and apply any techniques you know, and its not like you will have cameras trained on you to make sure you dont teach outside the box. Experience helps, but they are not looking for prima donnas as I mentioned. teaching here is also teamwork, and they want team players. Until you actually spend some time here, learn about your students, learn about how they learn English, perhaps learn their langauge so you understand why they make the mistakes they do and show them how to improve, you will in my opinion be considered rather much of a novice with a teaching diploma. You have a bit more than the average person who comes here, but not by much and TESL certificates are not that sought after here.
In summary, go with the big schools to get your foot in the door, till you get settled and earn some money and shop around for other positions once you get here. Learn about teaching in Japan and how to get around here first, as you will likely be disoriented for a while. The only alternative is come here with $4000, a plane ticket and start shopping for jobs by contacting schools. No one will guarantee you a job just becuase you fly here, and some stay 90 days on a tourist visa without finding a job. getting work depends on when you arrive, your resume, how you do on a job interview and your particular fit for the job you apply for. Doing it by email is like throwing darts at a dart board. You may find what you want if you come here first but doing that involves an element of risk. If you are not prepared to take risks, your only choice is AEON or NOVA etc. |
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Trisha1329
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 12
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: getting hired while not residing in japan |
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[quote="PAULH"][quote="Trisha1329"]
Trisha, I can understand your fears but it sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it too. Not go through the big commercial language schools, not use the textbooks
I have no intention of NOT using the textbooks, in fact some of the Japanese students I have right now, showed me the textbooks they had at their English schools in Japan...and they're not bad by any means...i'm just interested in being able to supplement the lessons with my own ideas....i make a lot of supplemental worksheets and other activities in my classes now, and i'd like to be able to continue doing that...that's all
Have you ever taught Asian or japanese students? Do you know that teaching students English in America is different than teaching students in their own countries?
Yes, I am teaching them now, and i do realize that it would be different in Japan...they do not need English as desparately as they do here...it would be similar to my learning Spanish in high school or college...
Most schools here do not require previous experience or TESL qualifications as they want to train theirnew teachers to use their own methods and textbooks. they dont want people who go off and do their own thing or re-invent the wheel becuase they think they know better what the school wants for its students.
Again, I don't plan to disregard any training given by a company that would hire me...i am very new in this field, i recognize that. I don't claim to have all of the answers or wish to "re-invent" anything. I'm just looking to gain more teaching experience and maybe be able to feel like I can develop a personal teaching style...that there might be a reason for me to teach the class rather than just anyone who can speak English...
I am learning Japanese now, slowly, and I've really just begun a few weeks ago, but I wouldn't be so disrespectful as to not attempt to learn the language and understand why certain mistakes are made...I'm already seeing a little bit of that in what i've learned so far about their sentence structure. anyway, i know that you are just passing down what you've learned, and i appreciate that...thanks for what you've said... |
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Trisha1329
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 12
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 6:47 pm Post subject: glenski |
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ok, thanks. yes, i have a BA in English. i guess i was being a little dense in asking this question. i heard that American Language School hires by phone, and i thought maybe there would be others. Of course, i'd have to wonder what the organization is going to be like if they don't meet their employees until they arrive in Japan. Everyone who has replied to me is probably right in suggesting one of the bigger schools as a way to get in....i realize that when you go anywhere hoping for a job, there is no guarantee that you won't come back empty-handed... i wasn't sure about the whole hiring process...everyone's replies have helped in that regard..
-trisha |
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