Job Discussion Forums

[Jeremy Brett]

Hello. I'm thinking of moving to Japan next February after three years teaching at a national university in Korea. I have an MA in English Lit, and an CELTA certificate, plus 11 years' ESL experience, but from what I've gathered from reading this site, a university position in Japan would be *very* difficult to find without the requisite MA in TESOL, a string of publications, and important connections.

So what other options are open to me? Is it realistic to expect that I could find reasonable work teaching adults only in Tokyo, or any other big city? How easy is it to obtain positions from outside Japan? Would I be better off just arriving in a particular city and knocking on doors? And is accommodation usually provided with positions, as in Korea? If not, how much would I need to shell out?

I should add that I'll be 42 next year, but I'm told I look about 35. (I'm well aware of the accent on youth in Japan.) I'm youthful in manner, though.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Many thanks...

Jeremy

[Celeste]

I think that you would probably do well in an ALT (assistant language teacher) position. Usually ALTs work in junior high and high schools. (There are some in elementary schools, but most are in Junior high schools). Depending on how confident you are, you will be used as anything from foreign tape recorder to fulltime classroom teacher/ English curriculum planner. There are a few different companies that provide ALTs in Japan.

I think that as an experienced ESL teacher, you would probably feel frustrated in most conversation schools, and with your educational background, you might be a bit overqualified for them as well.

[Glenski]

Jeremy,

Forget the "accent on youth" attitude. Japan has plenty of people over 42 working as teachers (like me). However, universities do have strict policies on their age limits, so that will work against you if you go for a university job.

As for your qualifications toward university positions, do you have any publications? You need at least 3, not necessarily a "string" of them. And, I would think that a degree in English Lit would suffice for many uni positions. Perhaps Paul (one of our resident university pundits) can shed more light on this, as he has been working in Japanese universities for years.

If you feel you want something else, or have to shoot for something else, why not consider high school jobs? I would think that ALT positions would be somewhat beneath your level of teaching, but I don't know how you feel about them. It's best to ask around and see exactly what those types of jobs have to offer.

Finding work from outside Japan is pretty difficult. Only 4 language schools and the JET program hire from overseas. As for accommodation, the word "provided" is somewhat misleading. I would have to say that most places find an apartment for you, but extremely few pay the rent for you. Staying at a place provided by an employer will run 50,000 to 100,000 yen/month (depending on where you live, of course), and if you look for one by yourself, you should be prepared to pay 2-5 times that amount just to move in (Japan's key money system at work here).

Finding adult-only work in Japan is getting harder. Of course, business schools or corporate jobs cater only to adults, but those are not easy to find. Language schools take on children only, or children plus adults. Getting private lessons set up with adults takes a fair amount of time and wouldn't be something you could live on early in your stay, so you'd need a parachute of some other work.

Coming in February wouldn't be a bad time, because high schools and universities start their term in April. March is a big hiring month. (Universities tend to hire 6-12 months in advance, but many get resignations from teachers at the last moment.)

[PAULH]

Jeremy

I just want to add that publications (i.e academic publications published in a refereed or non-refereed journal, the former preferred over the latter) are necessary for seeking full-time positions at a university. Masters in English, Linguistics or TESOL or a related degree are sufficient for seeking uni jobs. I have posted a link to the JALT jobs page to get you an idea of what is needed. For tenured positions you need a minimum of a PhD and a solid track record in research and publications. Most non-tenured full time jobs are for between one and three years.

http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/jobs/

Glenski is on the right track, and I know several teachers ( I met a few tonight who are teaching at 4-5 universities, up to 20 classes a week, including one Japanese person)

getting jobs is about timing, connections and being in the right place at the right time. Competition is stiff at many places so you have to make sure you have everything that is asked for on the advertisement, and more.

[Jeremy Brett]

Thanks, Celeste, Glenski & Paula H, for your helpful pointers. I would definitely prefer a university position in Japan, as opposed to teaching high school kids. The trouble is that my publications are probably not academic enough to satisfy universities' requirements - I've written articles for various magazines and newspapers on non-literary themes, and I recently edited a musical biography that will be published in the US later this year, but I don't think these are the kinds of "publications" that universities expect successful candidates to have.

Hmmn...I'll have to do some serious thinking on this one. Thanks again for the advice.