Job Discussion Forums

[fujiclimber]

Hello, everyone. I am new to this forum. I was wondering if anyone here could help me out with a situation. I am currently teaching English at a small eikaiwa school in Japan. I also have several years of conversatonal English teaching at a big chain school in Saitama Prefecture. Over the years I have gained a good sense of teaching English to Japanese speakers. I have also been studying Japanese for a long time. However, I would like to eventually return to the U.S., which is where I am from, or possibly Canada, which borders my state. Does anybody here know how a person could transfer eikaiwa skills plus a knowledge of Japanese to a job in North America? I am under the impression, based on numerous statements I have read and heard from fellow English teachers in Japan, that these skills in teaching English in Japan (plus, I assume the accompanying skills, such as Japanese fluency, consulting, interviewing, etc.) aren`t considered to be worth much in North America. I recently read a comment online in which someone said "Japan is a trap". Don`t get me wrong... I like Japan. But it would be nice to be able to transfer into something stateside. Is there anyone here who is in this same situation or has any ideas or knows anyone in a similar situation?

I welcome any comments and will respond. Thanks!

[southofreality]

Enough people who are fluent in both Japanese and English are working in the U.S in jobs where such skills are useful or necessary. They often have other skills to offer as well. Even if your Japanese is flawless (reading, writing, conversation), you'll be hard-pressed to find a job without some other important skills in areas like business, technology, etc... IMO.

Anyway, good luck.

[spiral78]

Not to diss anyone at all, but the couple of teachers at the technical college in Canada where I am based who have significant experience in Japan have had a very difficult time adjusting to our task-based, teamworking approach.

Classes composed of students from diverse backgrounds have also been quite challenging for them to ajust to.

They'll be fine (they are well-educated, hard-working, and motivated), but their long-term Japanese experiences don't seem to be immediately transferable in terms of teaching skilled immigrants (most of whom are very highly motivated, to the point of being demanding of a program).

[Glenski]

[tedkarma]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You would be better off figuring out what it is you want to do and then trying to find some way of getting related experience in Japan, then trying to figure out what you can do based on your experience in Japan. If you want to teach ESL in the States, then eikaiwa isn't bad, but you should be working at getting credentials and experience in other venues (public or proivtae high schools, editing experience- it shows a knowledge of grammar, etc). But remember that eikaiwa in Japan and teaching ESL in North America are totally, totally different things.

If you want to do something totally unrelated to education, then other than the spin that others have suggested, then your best bet is to look at it like starting over. Try to get into a good programme in the States doing whatever it is that you want to do, and your Japanese experience will be something that is more of a personal growth type of job (this is how teaching English is both looked at by many employers and treated by many people who teach overseas for a year or two anyway). You don't need to try to tie a career down based on having been in Japan just because you were based in Japan for a few years. If, OTOH, you have actually been in Japan for quite a few years, then that is probably a bit different (and people might wonder why you are still at an eikaiwa).

I'm from Canada and it seems that formal credentials are more of a requirement in Canada than the US, but I think the bottom line remains that whatever you were qualified to do in the States before you left is pretty much what you are qualified to do when you go back, but you can use the overseas experience to specialize in an area of whatever you are already qualified to do.

So get searching the "what can I do with a degree in..." and Myers Brigg type test web sites if you haven't any real job experience in the States.

ETA

YOu should also get yourself a copy of What color is your parachute

[sidjameson]

In my time in Japan I know far more people who have left Japan only to return than who have left Japan and gone on to success in their homeland. Says a lot about the value of the "skills" you pick up to be honest.

[fujiclimber]

Thank you for replying! I appreciate the diverse opinions! It would be nice to return and have some community college or other institution say "Wow! Teaching English in Japan! Great experience! Sure, we have just the job for you!" But, unfortunately, that`s not realistic. I don`t know how many of you are familiar with the "Charisma Man" comic, but there`s a parody of that situation where he goes back and has all these ideas for using his Japan experience, only to get a job at a burger joint, then return to Japan!

I think the additional-skills-building part, such as in business, is good advice.

Would anybody know if there is still a big demand for knowledge of Japan and Japanese in the States in terms of business relations, as there once was? I`m not too knowledgeable in the Japan-U.S. trade arena. I`m more familiar with students coming to the U.S. to study, for example, at EF schools or colleges. Of course, on the Japan side, I am quite familiar with business people wanting to improve their English and students trying to pass the TOEIC or Eiken tests.

Also, to teach adults English in the States at the community college level requires a Masters degree, it seems (I did some informal informational interviewing on the subject) while in Japan, depending on the school, only a Bachelors is required. A Masters is something I have been looking into.

So, once again, thanks for the feedback. Hope this helps anyone else in a similar situation.

[Henry_Cowell]

[lanems]

I know a few people who are teaching English (literature, and as a second language) around smaller community colleges who have a number of years experience teaching abroad. I'm getting ready to move abroad and teach for a while but I'm worried about the same thing myself, ultimately my interests are in Speeth Pathology which would bring me back to America to finish Graduate studies, clinical internships, and more money and time...

If anyone has any advice on building a resume while working in Japan I'd like to hear about it. I understand teachers move around a lot and I've talked to a number of people who try to boast translation work, teaching work, and mention any big companies they worked for as an English teacher.

[Glenski]

[sheeba]

[The_Hanged_Man]

I transferred from working in an eikaiwa to being a public school teacher in the States (now at an international school) a few years back, so I can give you my perspective. Many schools have an ESL department/teachers these days, so you might want to look into this.

Working at an eikaiwa did give me a few transferable skills that I could use in a high school classroom. The main thing it helped me with was getting used to public speaking. I used to be terrified of speaking in front of a group, and eikaiwa provided a very friendly forum to help improve my confidence level. Also, for new graduates eikaiwa does provide you with a real work experience. You learn to how deal with the daily grind, getting along with coworkers and your boss, etc.

However, it was a big jump to public school teaching and there was a steep learning curve for me to overcome. Some of the big adjustments:

1. Classroom management - You really don't have to deal with this in eikaiwa. Going from excessively polite japanese salarymen to 13-20 year old drugged up latino gang bangers was a pretty big switch for me. To be honest I almost quit my first semester because I couldn't deal with their behavior in an effective manner. I stuck with it, and eventually learned how to deal with it, but not after some sleepless nights and a few near mental breakdowns.

2. Accountability - Eikaiwa is pretty much edutainment, and as long as the students are smiling it is all good. Education in the US is increasingly focusing on standardized tests, and administrators place a lot of pressure on teachers to perform. You are held accountable for your student's results, and if your students' test scores aren't measuring up, you will have some difficult explaining to do at the end of the year.

3. Paperwork - Public school teachers have a heavy work load outside of just classroom instruction. Formalized lesson plans, progress reports, and grading eat up a lot of time and most teachers can not get it all done during the regular workweek. Most (good) teachers I knew worked over 50 hours a week, with some of the more zealous ones working over 60.

So my eikaiwa experience did help, but only in a limited fashion, and I discovered in short order that I had a lot to learn. I hope this helped and good luck!

[sheeba]

[The_Hanged_Man]