Job Discussion Forums

[jcaulkins]

How is Japanese eikaiwa experience valued in the ESL world in general? Now that I have a good understanding that a long-term ESL career is not much of an option in Japan, how does that Japan experience measure up when moving on to other ESL jobs abroad? Are Japanese eikaiwas looked at as favorable elsewhere? or because there are so many general college grads who come and go from the program is it somehow considered a lesser teaching experience ?

[Nauczyciel]

Anxiously waiting for informative replies!

[Deconstructor]

Well, I don't think any overseas experience is looked at favourably if you're going to teach in US or Canada, especially at a college or university level. If, on the other hand, you want to continue teaching in language institutes, or anywhere else in the world, then it will be looked at favourably.

I began to teach ESL at a local university in Montreal. The interviewer told me right off the bat, "I am not interested in anything you've done overseas. What have you done here?"