|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
TitanicWreck
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 21
Location: Boston
|
 Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 12:59 am Post subject: What are the mistakes prospective teachers need to avoid? |
 |
|
For those who have been in the trenches, teaching English in Japan, any advice on things NOT to do for those interested in doing what you are doing? What are some of the most common job ending blunders?
Any scams to watch out for?
Thanks
Tarn
Boston MA
USA |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 7:35 am Post subject: Re: What are the mistakes prospective teachers need to avoid |
|
|
| TitanicWreck wrote: |
For those who have been in the trenches, teaching English in Japan, any advice on things NOT to do for those interested in doing what you are doing? What are some of the most common job ending blunders?
Any scams to watch out for?
Thanks
Tarn
Boston MA
USA |
Just a couple of the top of my head:
Dont come to work with hangovers or drunk/alcohol on your breath
I heard of someone had oolong tea on his desk, made out it was whisky in a college class and I think it got him fired
Dont hit on students/ office staff of the opposite sex (or play favorites for that matter) during office hours. Keep your libido at home.
I lost one job for using the school photo copier for none-teaching purposes. Some schools are strict about websurfing and email on office time too.
Make sure you know all the school holidays, test days , sports days etc and when classes start and end for the term. I had one time when the school rang up wanting to know where I was and a full classroom of students waiting for me. I though school started the next week.
There have been times Ive gone in and there is no school.
Try to be punctual and start and end class on time- For company classes or college classes in particular 15 minutes starting late and finishing early means students only get a 1 hour lesson, even though your bus may be leaving in 3 minutes.
Try to develop several avenues for getting information- dont rely on one person/source for all your translation, directions, handholding. Have a few people you can ask for help from and dont burden just a few people with your problems. They may start to avoid you when they see you coming , or worse, quit.
get as much training and develop your skills as much as you can, network like crazy because you never know when you need to look for a job and you need to call on an acquaintance for job leads etc - I am looking now for jobs for next year (Im at a college).
Set a goal to have 3-6 months salary sitting in the bank as a buffer in case you lose your job, you have to move you get sick etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 8:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
Don't use your position at some school/company to order all of the free copies of the ESL\EFL texts that you can, then make off with them.
Don't whine and complain about Japanese office politics, especially if the issue isn't worth losing your job over. This is Japan, not your country.
Don't whine and complain about Japanese culture in front of your Japanese office staff, even if you think they don't understand your English.
Don't pass on too many office parties. Being unsociable takes its toll. Grin and bear it sometimes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ProdigalSon
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 7:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The biggest mistake people make when they come here is to not have a goal. I have gaijin friends who have been here for years and have not saved a cent ( or yen). Too much pursuit of a western lifestyle, too much Roppongi etc.
If your goal is to make yen-then work as much as you can and save. Even if you can't stomach your school's business practises. Stick to your goal.
If you want to learn the language. Then learn the language. Work the minimum to live, study, don't hang out with other gaijin, find a neighborhood pub to practise and learn.
I have too many friends who don't have much to show for themselves, after many years here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 9:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Prodigal son
Just like my friend told me when i went back home in February that after over ten years here I had "lost the plot" of why I was here. The moneys good easy lifestyle but you kind of 'exist' day to day after so many years here.
He was in Brunei for five years and saw many people get into the expat lifestyle, some got married to locals and in the end got 'stuck' in low paid eikaiwa jobs well into their thirties and had families to support. Many did not speak the local language or develop any other skills etc they could take home with them.
I can only speak from my own experience but Prodigals advice is very true- learn the language a smuch as you can, try to put aside 10% of your after-tax income into investment (shares, real estate, mutual funds) or a nest egg and dont revolve your whole life around other foreigners and teaching English. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
|
| Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 6:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
Don't whine and complain about Japanese office politics, especially if the issue isn't worth losing your job over. This is Japan, not your country...Don't pass on too many office parties. Being unsociable takes its toll. Grin and bear it sometimes. |
Good point about office politics. The less said, the better. It can be hard sometimes, because Japanese who have an idea where their culture doesn't gel with the West will often question you about your thoughts and impressions of Japan, the office, etc. Be very adroit here. Don't try to impress them with your insight or warm them with intercultural sunshine; cover your butt, but don't sell out.
I never go to office parties. In my experience, it's okay to decline as long as you do so apologetically and give an excuse. Plans with the in-laws, a paper for a course you're taking, or other professional obligations will cover you.
| glenski wrote: |
Don't whine and complain about Japanese culture in front of your Japanese office staff, even if you think they don't understand your English. |
This is an easy habit to fall into. Many Japanese have a little more English than they let on, and they will try to listen to your converstaion, especially if they hear "Japan," "gaijin," or anything else that sounds like you talking about them. Let's face it, we're all ears if we hear "gaijin," the name of our country, or ethnic slurs in a conversation among Japanese.
| ProdigalSon wrote: |
The biggest mistake people make when they come here is to not have a goal. |
That can't be said loudly enough. If teaching in Japan is just a year-long gig to make a little money while experiencing another culture, stick to that timeline. Don't extend that timeline unless you have a very good reason and a solid plan for a new timelime.
If you want to make EFL a profession, get your MA or PhD before you come. Study Japanese too. If you can come to Japan via some sort of university teacher exchange program, you'll be in a better position. If you come on your own, you'll be seen as a gaijin who's probably uppity because of his education but couldn't get a job back home. If you come over connected with an institution, you'll be seen as a professional guest whose reason for being here is clear and respectable. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 7:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
If you want to make EFL a profession, get your MA or PhD before you come. Study Japanese too. If you can come to Japan via some sort of university teacher exchange program, you'll be in a better position. .[b]
You probably know this already but it is possible to do MAs and Phds while you are working in Japan. There are two American universities and a dozen overseas universities which offer distance degrees to phD level.
Most foreigners new to Japan I have met dont have the money or time to spend an extra 5 years at university to get a PhD before they come to Japan, and then find they are overqualified for teaching at a conversation school.
Great if you can get one, but there is no guarantee of (university) jobs these days, even with a PhD. as many also require Japanese skills and teaching experience, not to mention publications. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sunpower
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 256
Location: Taipei, TAIWAN
|
| Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 4:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Vince - Good post.
I also think it's pretty useful to study and learn the language of your hosts for various reasons.
I don't agree with:
| Quote: |
| If you want to make EFL a profession, get your MA or PhD before you come. |
Lots of EFL'ers do nicely in Japan without a Ph.D or M.A.
But if you come over, as Paul indicates, you can chip away at one while living in Tokyo or Osaka.
Definitely can't hurt. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
