Job Discussion Forums

[live.rust]

Greetings all,

First off, this message board has been very informative just to search and read. But I am a newbie who isn't even in Japan yet, and I've found that trying to determine what will be useful in my situation is a little tricky. Given the current climate of the industry, I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask you folks for any comments or advice. I'm leaving for Japan in 2-3 months.

1. I've read here that TEFL is unnecessary in Japan. Is that just for eikaiwa, where you can work with only a B.A. and no teaching experience? Would a TEFL or other certificate enable me to find other English teaching jobs specifically NOT classified as eikaiwa? Finally, is the training/experience you receive at an eikaiwa worthless?

2. This question seems to elicit the most conflicting opinions; it relates to what I asked earlier regarding eikaiwa and non-eikaiwa schools. Given the possibility of wanting to leave the eikaiwa that recruits in English-speaking countries, should I get a TEFL certificate right now while I am still in my home country? Is it needed? I would have a 60-hour certificate with one day of practice teaching. Here is a link to one I can take:

http://www.oxfordseminars.com/

It will set me back $1300, and I'm unsure if it will actually help. [I am leaving too soon to be able to complete the CELTA right now - it is too intensive, not to mention expensive.]

3. Can I get TEFL and/or CELTA while in Japan? Say, work for several months, save up money, then stop working for a period to study for a certificate? Are they even offered in Japan to native English speakers? Or would I be better off living in Japan for just a year, moving back home/somewhere else to get a CELTA, then returning to find new employment?

I realize this is a ridiculous amount of questions. But if you have any comments, advice or relevant personal experiences regarding your own career path in Japan, it would be extremely helpful as I'm a bit confused. If you think I am thinking too far ahead, by all means please tell me that. Thanks!!

[Glenski]

1. I've read here that TEFL is unnecessary in Japan. Is that just for eikaiwa, where you can work with only a B.A. and no teaching experience? Would a TEFL or other certificate enable me to find other English teaching jobs specifically NOT classified as eikaiwa? Finally, is the training/experience you receive at an eikaiwa worthless?
You mean TEFL certification is unnecessary, right? I mean, your job is TEFL. In most entry level jobs, you are right. Such certification is not required by employers. That doesn't mean a person with no teaching background or experience should avoid getting certification, especially if one is planning a long-term career in this.

Other entry level work you can get with just a BA would be ALT, whether for the JET programme or a dispatch agency. Perhaps a direct hire at a primary or secondary school, too, but that's case by case, and you'd usually need some experience teaching here first to supplement your degree.

Training at eikaiwas usually suits only the eikaiwa's needs. AEON teaches AEON's style, for example. It's not totally worthless to the person who knows what to do with the training, and who can apply it more globally, but realize that it will be skimpy.

2. I answered that above. Long-timers should really consider a TEFL certificate (even if their education is not in teaching or EFL). Just my opinion. You seem to know that the market here is saturated, so it only makes sense to get the most edge you can, too.

[silvercat]

There is no need for anything other than a bachelor degree to work at an Eikaiwa however to get out of this business once in Japan you may need a bit more than this.
Depending on where you plan to teach you may need a certain number of years experience teaching rather than an actual certification so keep that in mind.

[markle]

[live.rust]

Thanks for the responses, and sorry to give feedback so late, but this has taken a lot of rumination (and vacationing).

In my original post, I neglected to mention that I studied Japanese in college for 3 years. I'm at a basic conversational level and know ~200-300 kanji. I think by December 2008 I could definitely manage JLPT 3-kyuu and possibly manage 2-kyuu.

So my motivation to come to Japan in the first place is to improve/perfect my Japanese, and a long-term goal of mine would be any career that enables/requires me to use and learn more of it. Now I've read in the forumosphere that being an ALT (especially to younger ages) is a great way to learn more nihongo - whereas I read that eikaiwa is emphatically NOT, and could be done without knowing an ounce of the language. So, whether that long-term goal is met through a different teaching position or some kind of office job, my impression is that I may feel longing for greater immersion if eikaiwa isn't sufficient for that. Not saying it definitely won't be, but I like to plan for the worst.

That being articulated, I am 90% about to register for the Oxford TEFL course I posted before. I can do it on the weekends while working to save more of my American salary before leaving for Japan. If one of the online courses would be better, or cheaper for obtaining what employers would regard as the same thing, please let me know. If I'm job hunting after being 3-kyuu JLPT (possibly 2-kyuu) in December 2008, and this is sufficient to make me attractive to employers (teaching or otherwise), I would go without the certificate. Again, I do really appreciate your responses. I can imagine how redundant us newbies must appear.

[Glenski]

Working is not what I would call prime learning ground for a teacher to pick up Japanese. You are usually not allowed to use Japanese in the classroom (I can give you exceptions), so most of your working day will be spent using English.

Dealings with staff and Japanese coworkers could be in either language depending on the circumstances.

Basically, learning Japanese, IMO, is an individual experience that requires long, hard hours of study. However you do it, do it, just don't expect too much practice at work, whether as an ALT or a solo teacher in eikaiwa or elsewhere. It's all up to self-discipline, avoiding your English-speaking friends to some degree, and getting out of your apartment so that you force yourself to interact with the community to practice.

[Apsara]

I have ALT friends who speak little to no Japanese at all, even after several years here, because they don't need to speak Japanese at work and live the typical expat life- outside work mostly going to bars in Roppongi with their English-speaking friends etc. As Glenski said, you have to make opportunities for yourself to speak outside work, structure your private life so you get to speak Japanese as much as possible.

Get working on those kanji if you want to take JLPT 2-kyuu at the end of this year- there is a huge jump between 3 and 2.