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dharmachicken
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 24
Location: Niigata, Japan
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 Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 9:37 am Post subject: University teaching in Japan (again) |
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I've read what seems like hundreds of posts, some with excellent info. But my question is this...
I understand that to get the best jobs you need to actually be in Japan to make the contacts, do the running around, etc. I've got an MA (Applied Linguistics) and four years of experience teaching, mostly in tertiary institutes. BUT...I haven't got any publications to my name. Do you think I should
A) Go to Taiwan or Korea and work at a good uni to get some publications under my belt and then go to Japan
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B) Go to Japan, get some Japanese language and network until I can find a place where I can do some research (get publications).
I'd prefer to go straight to Japan so I can get my language skills up while I'm attempting the ol' publications thing. But, I'm afraid that if I work for a private language school while I'm doing this it will look bad on my CV (ie. not tertiary experience).
What do you think???
Many thanks for any ideas you've got on my long-term plan!! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: University teaching in Japan (again) |
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| dharmachicken wrote: |
BUT...I haven't got any publications to my name. Do you think I should
A) Go to Taiwan or Korea and work at a good uni to get some publications under my belt and then go to Japan
or
B) Go to Japan, get some Japanese language and network until I can find a place where I can do some research (get publications).
I'd prefer to go straight to Japan so I can get my language skills up while I'm attempting the ol' publications thing. But, I'm afraid that if I work for a private language school while I'm doing this it will look bad on my CV (ie. not tertiary experience).
What do you think???
Many thanks for any ideas you've got on my long-term plan!! |
THis is just my personal opinion (based on what I read about people teaching in universities in Korea and taiwan and the fairly lax entry standards for teachers there- unis in korea are like conversation schools in Japan for instance) spending a year or two in a Korean university will not help that much in getting into a university here. To get jobs here you need not only publications, but Japanese ability and connections. How will you learn Japanese if you are living in Korea or Taiwan?
2. The visas in Taiwan are held by the employer while in Japan you hold your own visa. You may get a job in a Taiwanese university but your employer holds all the aces should you want to quit.
The publications you need to get a full time job here dont have to be all that good, but you must get something published. An unrefereed article can be c-r-a-p but stil make it onto your resume. They will take a closer look if you have an article in TESOL Journal or the JALT Journal but you have to learn to crawl first before you can walk.
there are several avenues for publishing an article you can take if you are not at a university. the Language teacher of JALT accepts submissions from members, as does JACET. You can even submit an article in English and japanese is not even necessary. Lots of online websites wil accpet well written articles. Present at a TESL conference and get it written up in the conference proceedings. Bingo, another publication.
I have seen publications where conversation school teachers have researched or written articles on their own students or about theirown schools. You dont have to be at a university or a professor to write a publication. There are hundreds of topics ripe for discussion if someone took the time to write them e.g. growth of dispatch schools, teacher unions in Japan. 'dumbing down' of education in Japan. Ethnographic study of NOVA students. Educational qualifications of JET teachers coming to Japan. All yuo have to do have a research question collect data and decide how you are going to answer it. I was part time at my university when i wrote my first paper and some of them had nothing to do with my university or students.
As for looking bad on your CV, it wont look bad, but they will want to see if you have to qualifications to apply for the position. Everyone has to start somewhere. Working at a conversation school is not a negative IMO, as it is still teaching experience and its in Japan. Build on that and get your foot in the door part time at a few places. You have to open the door a crack and you wont walk into a full time job straight away. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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I second what Paul has written. It is best to get your foot in the door p/t in a university and make connections with people in universities. Conferences are a good place to start, hard to do that while in Korea or Taiwan. As far as language school teaching, that is what most people did in Japan before they got a job teaching in a university.
Why do you want to teach in a Japanese university so badly (just curious)? It is not all that great, by the way. You must know the drawbacks if you have researched this. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: University teaching in Japan (again) |
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| PAULH wrote: |
I have seen publications where conversation school teachers have researched or written articles on their own students or about theirown schools. You dont have to be at a university or a professor to write a publication. There are hundreds of topics ripe for discussion if someone took the time to write them e.g. growth of dispatch schools, teacher unions in Japan. 'dumbing down' of education in Japan. Ethnographic study of NOVA students. Educational qualifications of JET teachers coming to Japan. All yuo have to do have a research question collect data and decide how you are going to answer it. I was part time at my university when i wrote my first paper and some of them had nothing to do with my university or students. |
Just to add to this excellent advice, it is often possible to publish short essays on creative teaching strategies and/or activities. If such appear in, say, The Language Teacher (e.g., as a 'My Share' article) or in ETJ Journal, then you'd have your publication in a refereed journal. In my experience, such publications are not difficult to get--i.e., editors are always searching for creative and inventive learning activities to share with their readers.
Of course, researching and publishing a feature article on some critical aspect of ESL/EFL would be even better; however, I just wanted to point out that other options do exist, especially if you just want to get your foot in the door.
Hope this helps. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:10 am Post subject: Re: University teaching in Japan (again) |
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| dharmachicken wrote: |
A) Go to Taiwan or Korea and work at a good uni to get some publications under my belt and then go to Japan
or
B) Go to Japan, get some Japanese language and network until I can find a place where I can do some research (get publications).
! |
Dharma , this may be stating the obvious, but in Taiwan they speak Mandarin Chinese. In Korean they speak Korean, and in Japan they speak Japanese. Each language has a separate and distinct writing system, and are totally different, like you have German, French and Spanish in Europe.
To get into a 'good' university in Taiwan you need to not only have a PhD (in just about anything it seems) publications and most likely an introduction. The lower level universities in the country will take just about anyone (read the link by Scott Sommers on working at rural Taiwanese universities, where their attitude is they think you should feel honored to work for them, even if the school is in the middle of nowhere). You would also need to know people, make connections, develop relevant experience. You would also have to like the food and hearing Chinese spoken all day as well. Pays to research each country before you go there to see whether you will like working in Taiwan or Korea. After all you make spend a year or two in each country before settling on one.
If you want to work in Japan get a job here in a conversation school, join JALT and JACET, make presentations at a JALT conference, work on the publications and improving your Japanese in your spare time, and make connections with teachers working at universities. Jobs wont fall into your lap (many are found through referrals and inside information from friends leaving etc) and there is a lot of competition for places, especially from guys already here with Masters in TESOL, publications, Japanese ability and current work experience. From the links I have sent you, find out what you need to get work here and put all the balls in place so you have a decent shot of getting an interview. Going to work in Taiwan or Korea where they speak a different language and do things differently, hiring standards are different, seems a very roundabout way of getting a job at a university here. |
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dharmachicken
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 24
Location: Niigata, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:12 am Post subject: Thanks a million |
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Thanks so much for all your replies and advice so far. I'm not trying to cut corners. I know there are a lot of people who've been playing this game longer than me who are very deserving of university positions. I know I'm on a long road...but I want to make sure I'm on the right road! So thanks again for serving as signposts.
Now I'm going to get myself to Japan as soon as possible. I know I'll have to work a lot of hours when I first arrive as I haven't got a huge savings behind me. So I figure I won't have any energy for research for a while. But at least I'll be insurrounded by Japanese which is what I need to get my language skills up.
By the way, I know that no job is perfect but the reason I want to work in Universities is that I love research and I want to teach in an environment that encourages or supports that. I'm currently in a language school (factory) in SE Asia and they don't give a #*?@# about research. I think they think I'm a freak! I also plan to do my Phd as soon as I can rebuild enough funds to do it. I've also had a facination with Japan since I was about 5 (that's why Japan). I'm trying not to have rose-tinted glasses here so please tell me if there is anything else I should know.
Thanks again everyone! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:42 am Post subject: Re: Thanks a million |
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| dharmachicken wrote: |
Thanks so much for all your replies and advice so far. I'm not trying to cut corners. I know there are a lot of people who've been playing this game longer than me who are very deserving of university positions. I know I'm on a long road...but I want to make sure I'm on the right road! So thanks again for serving as signposts.
Now I'm going to get myself to Japan as soon as possible. I know I'll have to work a lot of hours when I first arrive as I haven't got a huge savings behind me. So I figure I won't have any energy for research for a while. But at least I'll be insurrounded by Japanese which is what I need to get my language skills up.
By the way, I know that no job is perfect but the reason I want to work in Universities is that I love research and I want to teach in an environment that encourages or supports that. I'm currently in a language school (factory) in SE Asia and they don't give a #*?@# about research. I think they think I'm a freak! I also plan to do my Phd as soon as I can rebuild enough funds to do it. I've also had a facination with Japan since I was about 5 (that's why Japan). I'm trying not to have rose-tinted glasses here so please tell me if there is anything else I should know.
Thanks again everyone! |
Dharma
Sorry to burst your bubble but if you want to do research don't come to Japan. The Japanese university setting does not condone or encourage you conducting academic research. I work at a Japanese university and taikibansei spent 10 years in Japan at several public universities.
The universities want publications on your resume (at least 3) as they make you jump though hoops to get hired and to sort out the serious guys from the wannabes. They want the phDs, guys with lots of publications but this is a sorting mechanism at the interview stage, nothing more.
Once you get the job however they dont provide much in the way of assistance or support. You get a research grant (which in most cases is pretty pathetic) you are paid to teach your classes, hand your grades in on time, dont fail too many students and thats it. A full time non-tenured lecturer is basically an over-worked work horse. A tenured professor with a PhD will teach 6 or 7 classes a week. I am a full time non-tenured contracted teacher and teach 10 classes a week at my full time job and 2 part time elsewhere. thats 12 classes or 3 classes a day. one day I teach 4 classes. Doesnt leave you much time for conducting research and writing publications when you have just taught 3 or 4 large classes every day. Tenure at a Japanese university is almost impossible without a phD and a large number of publications. You may be required to publish regularly in the university journal if you want your yearly contract renewed, but the school doesnt really care what you publish, what your research topic is and how you complete it. You will not get research sabbaticals to conduct any kind of research unless you are tenured and full time. Part timers will teach anything up to 15 or 20 classes a week.
I know teachers who have been banned from completing PhDs by distance learning while they had full time teaching jobs, and they are chucked out after 3 years, too short a time to conduct any research of significance. When you are worried about where your next job is coming from, research takes a back seat to finding another paying position, sometimes with wife and family in tow.
This is not to put you off, but to let you know from the inside, the reality is far different from what you have been led to believe. If you want to do research do a PhD and get a job at a British or US university. In Japan you can get a job teaching OK, but if you want to conduct research and be an academic i can think of better places. Basically my job is like a highly paid NOVA teacher with bigger classes and more grades to mark.
Non-tenured lecturers get 3 years, four at the most before you have to start looking for another job and you end up on a continuous job hunt merry go round. I am on my second full time position already and gearing up for a third. No fun I tell you.
For more info on getting a job at a Japanese university have a look at this useful site
http://www.debito.org/univquestions.html
Im sure from the point of view of working in a SE Asian language factory (Thailand?) a uni job here is like the promised land but consider that you have the expense of flying here, setting up accomodation, finding a job, networking, joining fees for JALT, finding funds to afford to conduct 'research' (photocopying, postage, printing costs among them) at the same time jobs are disappearing and it becomes less and less appealing year by year. There are now 30-40 or more applicants for each advertised position and it becomes harder to find work. Each year with falling school rolls less there are less students, and universities are cutting back on hiring new teachers. If after all that you are still keen to come here, by all means go ahead. University teachers here are like temporary hired help to teach large classes, not proper academics as we know them in the West.
PS Have you considered earning a degree by distance learning from an accreditted overseas university? I have info on that area too if you are interested. |
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Sherri
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 749
Location: The Big Island, Hawaii
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:43 am Post subject: |
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dharmachicken
Which part of Japan are you planning to come to? I ask because not all private language schools are terrible and some are quite good. If you come to Tokyo I would recommend checking out (not necessarily in this order)
1. The British Council
2. Athenee Francais (they have English classes)
3. Simul Academy, also Simul Corporate Training section
4. ISS
5. Nichibei (Yotsuya)
6. ELEC
A google search should turn up the contact details. You might even find the teaching at these schools more rewarding than university teaching in Japan, since the students are for the most part motivated and goal-oriented.
Good luck
Sherri |
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Rice Paddy Daddy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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There are good university positions to be found in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and Malasyia, not to mention the Middle East for M.A. holders with experience.
You don't need publications.
A CELTA or TEFL certificate is icing on the cake.
You need to have good timing, as well. |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 5. Nichibei (Yotsuya) |
Be careful about applying to schools beginning with "Nichibei"--there are several schools/chains using that term in their name. E.g., if by Nichibei you mean 日米外語学院 (Nichibei Gaigogakuin), with foreign ownership and a branch in Fukui (among other places), I would recommend not going. PM me for the horror stories...there are many. |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks a million |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| The universities want publications on your resume (at least 3) as they make you jump though hoops to get hired and to sort out the serious guys from the wannabes. They want the phDs, guys with lots of publications but this is a sorting mechanism at the interview stage, nothing more. |
Sadly, it's more than just a sorting mechanism. One of your major responsibilities as a university instructor will be helping your Japanese colleagues get their stuff published in English--the feeling is that the more publications the foreign instructor has going in, the better job they will do in repairing the flawed (both in language and in method) studies they will be receiving.
This, frankly, will be very time-consuming--e.g., I'd receive 3-4 articles a month for a "quik chack" [quick check], and would need to spend up to one hour per page to make any sense of them. (Finally, I just started asking my 'colleagues' to submit them in Japanese...they were easier to read that way.)
| Quote: |
| Once you get the job however they dont provide much in the way of assistance or support. |
Very true. Furthermore, your Japanese colleagues may get jealous if you publish "too much" (i.e., more than them...). Indeed, it's a bit of a Catch-22, as foreigners in my acquaintance have been non-renewed (or even fired) for publishing either too little or too much--the latter a problem ostensibly because the foreigner is "distracted" from his/her teaching..... |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| taikibansei wrote: |
| Quote: |
| 5. Nichibei (Yotsuya) |
Be careful about applying to schools beginning with "Nichibei"--there are several schools/chains using that term in their name. E.g., if by Nichibei you mean ?????? (Nichibei Gaigogakuin), with foreign ownership and a branch in Fukui (among other places), I would recommend not going. PM me for the horror stories...there are many. |
Read here what the general union says about Nichibei
http://nichibei.generalunion.org/english/ |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Great site--thanks Paul! |
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