Job Discussion Forums

[StellaLaBella]

Hi all--

I posted awhile back about backup positions with Westgate and boom, out of the blue they wrote and offered me one. It's in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. The thing is, it's an accredited course and not an extracurricular course and I'm not quite sure what the difference is. Could someone who taught with them clarify this a bit for me? The contract period is also different from what they originally stipulated--they said the contract would be from the 30th of April to the 20th of July, but the contract for this position is longer, from the 9th of April to the 20th of July. I have a friend coming down to visit me in Mexico during the week of the 10th-19th April..what are my chances of being able to come a week later to Japan? Probably nil, huh?

Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Sarah

[Glenski]

Not sure of the legality of Westgate providing accredited courses. Sounds like a gray area between a haken and an inin position.
http://www.generalunion.org/law/dispatch?lang=en&pr=1

If the course is legally offered as accredited for that university, then you will have to be there on the date Westgate requests, otherwise students will not be able to get their credits. Get it in your head that you are coming here to work, not to play. Employer demands come first.

[StellaLaBella]

Hi Glenski--

Thanks for the response. I am very well aware that I'm going to work, not to play--I've been teaching for quite awhile now and am not thinking it's going to be big party-fun-time with a few games and classes on the side. As for employer demands, obviously it is my responsibility to be there when the contract stipulates. My point was that they told me the contract period was from the 30th April to the 20th of July, and they asked me to warn them if I couldn't come to Japan at that time. Then they write out of nowhere with a position that begins on the 9th. I have a friend that specifically chose that week to visit me because there was no way I was going to Japan at that time. It's hundreds of dollars to refund or change his ticket. I specifically asked the Westgate people about potential contract dates and they stated the 30th as the earliest start date. So now that they're asking me to come on two weeks notice they've moved that date back by three weeks. I think it's fair to wonder if I couldn't come a week later. If I can't, no big deal, but I'm just wondering what the chances of that happening are.

[Glenski]

Stella,
My guess is, the class you were originally slated to teach got cancelled and/or someone with a different schedule bailed out at the last moment, forcing Westgate to look for someone sooner.

Chances of changing back? IMO, pretty slim.

[mc]

I agree with Glenski. I don't have direct experience with Westgate, but I presume this is why they put teachers on a "backup" list. If you can't come when they need you, they'll keep making calls from people on the list until they find someone who can.

[Nabby Adams]

Do you have to design the classes, set a test and grade the students?

I ask because some time ago there was some confusion about whether Westgate emloyees were professors or not.

If the OP has to do all that then is s/he a professor?

[Glenski]

[junan70]

From what I've read on Westgate, you'd be insane to work for them in the first place.

[rmcdougall]

[Nabby Adams]

I don't agree.

Is there a quicker way to get university experience on your cv? It may be bottom of the uni pile, but a couple of years teaching accredited courses and you must surely have a good chance of getting at least part time uni work in the future.

I think WG is a much better option for the career minded TEFLer than Eikaiwa.

And if the authorities in Japan (immigration even give you a professor visa) consider you to be a professor then who are we as foreigners to say you aren't.

[zorro (5!)]

In answer to your original questions, the difference between the accredited and the extracurricular is that you won't just be teaching conversational English. You may also have to do some TOEFL/TOEIC prep courses, along with presentations, writing and reading. You may also have to test students at the end of the course, along with ongoing assessment. It's a bit more like teaching General English IMO. I did this a few years ago now, so things may have changed.

Also, the class length times are different (or may be). Instead of the 40 min class that's repeated between 5-7 times a day, you'll probably be expected to teach 90 minute classes 2-3 times a day. Again, this was my experience in 2006.

One more thing, as you'll be in Nagoya, you'll have more autonomy and be expected to work more independently. Generally, accredited courses are taught by serial Westgaters who want a change, or those who want a less repetitive work life. It's not as easy as the 40 min classes repeated 5-7 times per day basically.

And I'd ignore the poster who suggested you were at the bottom of a long list. You won't be treated any differently. Who knows the reason you were put on the reserve list? Could have been any number of reasons. Lots of applicants don't even get onto the reserve.

Incidentally, they won't allow a different start date.

Hope this post wasn't too late for you to make your decision? I've had some issues so wasn't able to respond earlier!

[junan70]

[mc]

[junan70]

Putting Westgate on your CV would get you nothing but sympathy.

My point was that that there are a multitude of ways of getting some work experience that wouldn't involve that company and would give you a better working experience, quality of life and appreciation of Japan.

But I'm not getting into another Westgate thread.....there are enough of these on here already.

Each to his own.....

[zorro (5!)]