Job Discussion Forums

[oubeijin]

Hello Everyone:

I'm currently on the JET program (save your disparaging marks), I have no real job prospects outside of the program. So before I hit the wall, and go back home to work at Best Buy, I'd like to upgrade my qualifications to find alternate source of work in Japan, kind of move up the totem pole in terms of employability. Besides going for my JLPT 1-kyu, I'm looking at universities and distant learning schools. I'm in Chiba-ken, but Tokyo is about 3 hours, so weekends are okay, but regular commuting is not.
Does anybody on here have any recommendations for:
a) University programs in around Tokyo?
b) Distant learning programs/degrees? (which ones to avoid, which ones are best)
c) Alternative/Unorthodox methods of improving my chances of finding work in Education field?

Thank you very much for any help you can provide. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu![/b]

[Glenski]

[G Cthulhu]

Do you actually want to be teaching?

There're a lot of jobs outside teaching if your Japanese is up to snuff. And if you're doing 1kyuu then it probably is. Look at some of the internationals in and around Tokyo and start working on a position with one of them. They pay much more than teaching ever will.

Good luck!

[baki]

[Glenski]

[oubeijin]

Yeah, sorry I'm kinda down on JET at the moment, it was a self-effacing comment, and since many of you are probably aware of the reality of being on JET, take that with a grain of salt would you? The reality of the situation is this, I'm looking to make this more than just a one (or more) year excursion in Japan. I am looking to make myself more employable here (and overall), beyond bottom rung eikaiwas, and private ALT positions.
Thank you Glenski for your comments and links, it's pretty much the type of information I am looking for.
Since I have 4 years here, I am not in a panic, but at the same time I want to be on top of things. So my transition from the JET gravy train to the "real world" is relatively painless.
I guess a better question to ask would be, in terms of obtainability, income and job security which would be a better choice:
Pursuing a job in the education field (most likely university level english teaching but not limited to that).
or pursuing a job outside of the English education field and competing against other Japanese in the labour market in Japan (my first choice would be something related to computer science)

[Cool Teacher]

[G Cthulhu]

[gwynnie86]

I'll ignore the obvious comments about the way you just insulted a high percentage of the people you're asking for advice.

What's your degree in? What do you want to do?

1kyuu is a good idea.. you can also do distance learning courses, ie The Open University... if you're anything like me (and I'm with Interac, who pay less than JET for the same job, YAY) you have enough spare time to realistically do a post-graduate course while "preparing lessons"....

Within education, there are teaching/lecturing jobs at universities, a bit more prestigious than being an ALT... they're advertised on this website sometimes, have a look around and see what they ask for.

[oubeijin]

So yeah,I realise that my comments caused an uproar amongst many of you on here. I deleted the comment, and just want to clarify, "losers" was referring to other JETs (namely the irresponsible ones that call in sick to go snowboarding in Nagano and their ilk)
so yeah, not a snipe at ALTs in general, just the a few of the ones I've met.
I apologise to those of you I insulted.
So if I wanted to follow the English education path in Japan after JET.
Should I pursue a masters degree? What type of masters degree would be best suited to the job? Linguistics? Education? English? others?
Could it be done through correspondence courses?
Anybody on here actually complete a masters degree while working in Japan? Are correspondence programs seen as less qualified here than say a regular university program?

[Glenski]

[Mr_Monkey]

I did my MA in-person, and wouldn't swap it, but that's because I was home!

I wouldn't consider a distance master's degree as any less valid; it's still a metric asston of hard work. Indeed, it has its advantages.

I guess it depends on how practical the OP wants to be - I was out drinking with some of my classmates a few weeks back, and we all agreed that while the micro-teaching components of the courses we took were useful, the absence of any assessed teaching practice of the kind undertaken on TESOL certs and national teaching qualifications was detrimental to our ability to put the ideas we were exposed to into practice. One of my friends actually took a CELTA after the MA for the practical experience it would give him. I'm not sure how feasible even micro-teaching would be on a distance course.

On the other hand, part-time distance MAs allow the student ample opportunity to try out their ideas - something that can't be underestimated.