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Bibbitybop
Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject: CELTA, laptop, time of year |
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Japan post
After reading countless forums, I am ready to post a few questions about teaching in Japan. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Because many questions are often followed up with more questions, I�ll start with my background:
I have a BA in Communication and will have my MA in Communication in May, both from a reputable US university.
I have 2 years teaching experience at the university (teaching a public speaking course) and another year of teaching public speaking for a non-profit.
I understand I will probably work at an eikaiwa at first, although I would much rather teach at a school or university.
I would rather not go through one of the big 4, but will if I have to for financial reasons.
I have read a decent amount of literature about teaching overseas and teaching certificates (including Jeff Mohamed�s Teaching English Overseas).
I am considering a CELTA course in the US this summer. I�ve read up on CELTA, but am unsure if CELTA is the way to go.
I am a 26-years-old, white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed male.
I enjoy teaching and going to new countries.
I am considering teaching in South Korea because the start up costs are less.
I would like to teach abroad for an extended period of time (2 years minimum).
I don�t speak Japanese (and I understand most jobs are listed in Japanese).
Here are my questions:
Are there times I should or should not arrive in Japan if I do not go through a recruiting company? In other words, do schools hire year-round?
Has anyone acquired position in a ski town? I know I wouldn�t save much money in a resort town, but it may be worth it.
If I am only going to be able to work at an eikaiwa at first, should I obtain the CELTA, or any other TEFL certificate, before arriving in Japan? I don�t want to end up with a CELTA if a recruiting company doesn�t care.
I am considering buying an ibook G4 before arriving. Are there any compatibility problems I may encounter in Asia that I wouldn�t encounter in the US if I own an Apple?
Thanks again to anyone providing insight and suggestions. |
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Rorschach
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 130
Location: Osaka
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| More knowledgeable people wll answer your other questions but regarding the iBook, just buy it in Japan. Apple are great computers that are region free. Also, for some odd reason they are usually cheaper in Japan depending on which country your are coming from thanks to the exchage rate. Also, you can pick them up second hand in the larger cities even cheaper. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:55 am Post subject: |
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Despite having a BA and MA, I don't think you'll be able to land much beyond an eikaiwa position or JET ALT job at first. The reason is simply because mainstream schools require some experience teaching in Japan (even at eikaiwas!), and universities require that plus publications and a fair amount of Japanese language skill.
You taught a public speaking course in university, yet you don't have your MA yet? Sounds more like a TA position, but I'm not a comm major (or even a liberal arts major), so I don't know. But, hey, it's better than nothing.
Ok, now to your questions.
| Quote: |
| Are there times I should or should not arrive in Japan if I do not go through a recruiting company? |
From now to April is the busiest hiring season. So, you are going to graduate in May and be left with whatever hasn't been picked up, or what has been discarded. That'll be the way it is until late August or September, when there is another minor hiring surge for October starts. Yes, eikaiwas hire year round, but they often try to start their own academic year in April, too.
So, yes, "schools" hire year round, but I wouldn't count on any mainstream ones other than in April or October. Get your feet wet with an eikaiwa job or JET for a year, then look at mainstream schools if that strikes your fancy.
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| Has anyone acquired position in a ski town? I know I wouldn�t save much money in a resort town, but it may be worth it. |
Japan is 75% mountains, so you might say that practically every city is a "ski town". I live in Sapporo, with a population of almost 2 million, so it is not a "town", but skiing abounds here. Not sure what you feel would prevent you from saving money in such a place.
| Quote: |
| If I am only going to be able to work at an eikaiwa at first, should I obtain the CELTA, or any other TEFL certificate, before arriving in Japan? I don�t want to end up with a CELTA if a recruiting company doesn�t care. |
Are you serious about teaching English or not? To me, that's the bottom line. You said you wanted to make this a fairly long-term effort, so I would advise putting in the necessary preparation for it. Get the TEFL certificate. Just because you are a native English speaker and have degrees in communication, you aren't necessarily prepared to teach a foreign language to Japanese people.
With that in mind, you already seem to realize that having such a certificate may be more of a hindrance than a benefit to getting hired. True, in some cases. Some eikaiwas are leery of teachers storming in with freshly minted TEFL certificates and tons of teaching theory under their belts, armed to the teeth with new methodologies that the school doesn't use. They may even have their own prescribed format for the students, so that you can't use those new methodologies. You just have to sell yourself properly. Show you are a team player and are willing to learn as you go along. Look at this article for some enlightenment, too, on what some eikaiwa managers have to say about professional teachers (and vice versa). http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/015a.shtml
Besides, who's to say that you are going to get hired through a recruiting company at all? There are few places that hire from overseas pools of teachers (I know about a dozen), so you have to ask yourself whether it's more feasible for you to sit at home and use those small numbers to get what you want, or if you can risk a couple of months setting yourself up here, getting used to the atmosphere and environment, while placing yourself in a more target-rich location where the opportunities abound. Plan on US$4000 for a couple of months to tide you over.
Can't help you with the question on Apple computers. I think you'll have the same "compatibility" issues that a person with a foreign PC would have,namely that you won't be able to use Japanese software in it. I don't know much about Apples, though. |
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Rorschach
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 130
Location: Osaka
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Software is region free, you just need to download the necessary language pack from MS to recognise it on your PC. Apple OSX already has it preinstalled so there is no problem using foreign software. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:45 am Post subject: |
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A Celta will not help you get a job, but it will help you teach. I recommend you get one if you want to stay in this field for awhile. It doesn;t sound like you have any esl teaching experience, so a celta will help you immensely.
Get an apple here. They are much cheaper than almost anywhere else. I am buying an imac at the moment and it is 150,000 yen or about $1200 US including taxes. Do a search on apple japan osaka and you can get an idea on the prices from their store. |
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Doglover
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 305
Location: Kansai
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| AGet an apple here. They are much cheaper than almost anywhere else. I am buying an imac at the moment and it is 150,000 yen or about $1200 US including taxes. Do a search on apple japan osaka and you can get an idea on the prices from their store. |
I bought a 15-inch G4 IBook last year for 230,000 yen. Prices will vary depending on size of screen and other bells and whistles, memory etc. Never had any problems and I took it to Uk last year. Keep in mind US made DVDs will not play on machines or players in japan.
I recommend you get a warranty too, my laptop just packed up this month (hard drive) and it was on a 5 year warranty from the store. repairs were worth 60,000 yen which i didnt have to pay for.
PS you wont get a University job with less than a masters degree and teaching experience, some with BAs teach at universities but they are part time or at a junior college. 90% of job ads ask for a masters in a related field. many job ads are in japanese and you will still need a sponsor for your visa.
University teaching is possible in Korea with a BA but university classes there are on par with conversation school classes here, and many university teachers in Korea are shocked to learn their qualifications and experience are not enough to get equivalent university jobs in Japan. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:45 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. Glenski's was particularly helpful. I went went the apple ibook.
Glenski, you sound like you could answer this question: Is it difficult to work an eikaiwa job for less than one year in order to find a better position in the peak hiring season?
In response to your reply about saving money in ski areas, I didn't know the costs of living in mountainous regions in Japan and the accessibility of the slopes.
Thanks again. |
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Doglover
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 305
Location: Kansai
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| rkienzl wrote: |
Thanks for the replies. Glenski's was particularly helpful. I went went the apple ibook.
Glenski, you sound like you could answer this question: Is it difficult to work an eikaiwa job for less than one year in order to find a better position in the peak hiring season?
In response to your reply about saving money in ski areas, I didn't know the costs of living in mountainous regions in Japan and the accessibility of the slopes.
Thanks again. |
You can quit any job midcontract as long as you give notice stated on the contract. Some of the chain schools ask for 3 months notice if you quit..
The hard part is finding a 'better' job than the one you have. Chances are the job will move you sideways, or even downwards. Better jobs are pretty thin on the ground and require higher qualifications and experience, which you don't have.
Best ski areas in Hinshu are Japan Alps, particularly Nagano area. Winter olympics was there. Another area is in Shiga near kyoto and on the Japan sea coast.
Rent and living costs are cheap but we are talking RURAL. Local train once or twice an hour. Nearest convenience store is 30-40 minutes by car. No other foreigners around within 20 miles. last train at 11.00 pm.
Can hear crickets and frogs at night and actually be able to see STARS.
Long drop toilets which are cleaned by vacuum truck. Nosey neighbors. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:27 am Post subject: |
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| Doglover, it sounds much different than the hot ski areas in the States. Thanks! |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:13 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Doglover"]
| rkienzl wrote: |
Can hear crickets and frogs at night and actually be able to see STARS.
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There are actually stars over Japan? |
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