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Halcyon Chimera
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 36
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 Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:20 am Post subject: My best option as a certified teacher? |
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I currently have a bachelor's and master's degree in secondary education with concentrations in English language arts. I have class A and class B certifications in the state of Alabama for teaching ELA, grades 6-12. I am finishing up one year of full-time teaching (7th grade English) at the end of this month. Now, that being said...
I know some people say education degrees and certificates are of very little concern to employers, and I've heard others say that employers look favorably upon them. From what I've read, with my qualifications, my best bet would be an international school. However, with no ESL teaching experience, how likely would it be that I'd land an international school position? Teaching at a public or private school would be my last options, but they'd be something I would consider. Is it reasonable to think I can land a university or international gig? Pay is something I am considering heavily as I have loans and all to pay back. I am not too concerned about the area.. I want South Korea, maybe Busan, Ilsan, but to my geography-limited mind, they're all the same.
I know a lot will say "Eh, depends on what you want, mate." So, let me address possible questions: I don't care SO much about the time off/vacation time, so I am willing to work the extra hours if it means I can expect a sizable salary. I plan on living somewhat frugal with most money being spent on food that I will cook at home, probably. I can teach any grade level and I have no real preference. Sure, I plan on going out on weekends occasionally, maybe doing some sight-seeing, but for the most part I am pretty conservative.
So.. Whaddya' think? Will international schools meet my needs and do I stand a chance at them? Or uni.-level jobs? Or should I just get my foot in the door and pay my dues at a hagwon/hakwon/whatever? Thanks in advance for your helpful input.
Oh, and loans/payments for back home will range anywhere from $500-$700 a month. Maybe less... Hopefully.. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:20 am Post subject: Re: My best option as a certified teacher? |
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| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
I currently have a bachelor's and master's degree in secondary education with concentrations in English language arts. I have class A and class B certifications in the state of Alabama for teaching ELA, grades 6-12. I am finishing up one year of full-time teaching (7th grade English) at the end of this month. Now, that being said...
I know some people say education degrees and certificates are of very little concern to employers, and I've heard others say that employers look favorably upon them. From what I've read, with my qualifications, my best bet would be an international school. However, with no ESL teaching experience, how likely would it be that I'd land an international school position? Teaching at a public or private school would be my last options, but they'd be something I would consider. Is it reasonable to think I can land a university or international gig? Pay is something I am considering heavily as I have loans and all to pay back. I am not too concerned about the area.. I want South Korea, maybe Busan, Ilsan, but to my geography-limited mind, they're all the same.
I know a lot will say "Eh, depends on what you want, mate." So, let me address possible questions: I don't care SO much about the time off/vacation time, so I am willing to work the extra hours if it means I can expect a sizable salary. I plan on living somewhat frugal with most money being spent on food that I will cook at home, probably. I can teach any grade level and I have no real preference. Sure, I plan on going out on weekends occasionally, maybe doing some sight-seeing, but for the most part I am pretty conservative.
So.. Whaddya' think? Will international schools meet my needs and do I stand a chance at them? Or uni.-level jobs? Or should I just get my foot in the door and pay my dues at a hagwon/hakwon/whatever? Thanks in advance for your helpful input.
Oh, and loans/payments for back home will range anywhere from $500-$700 a month. Maybe less... Hopefully.. |
It depends on what YOU want to teach.
Do you want to teach language arts or do you want to teach ESL (they are not the same animal).
If your aim is to teach language arts then you are reasonably well positioned to find a job as a teacher.
If you are looking to teach ESL then you are looking farther down the pole where the less qualified are also looking.
As to pay levels, again, it would largely depend on what you are teaching as much as where you are teaching. Invariably, at a decent international school, you will be making far more than locals or ESL teachers.
As to working at a university, you make more per class hour but the class loads are substantially lower as well so your net at the end of the month tends to be MUCH lower than you would make as a regular k-12 teacher until you get your ABD/PhD. and/or some publications.
Your ONLY drawback I can see is the lack of actual classroom time (1 year only?) since your certification. It will be hard to get into a decent, well paying job right off the plane (anywhere on the planet) until you get more time in the classroom.
You can get into entry level ESL anywhere your passport allows you to legally work.
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:54 am Post subject: |
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For international schools, you might need a 2nd year of experience at home.
With your quals, it'd be a better fit for you to teach English than ESL.
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| Internatinoal school positions can be less competitive if you look at the less popular countries. Try going to an intl school job fair. I know there are schools out there that wil lhire teachers with less than two years experience. It mihgt not be your ideal location, but it'll get your foot in the door. |
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Halcyon Chimera
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I can probably get rehired at my current job, but I'm not happy here.. Admin. is ineffective (I know, "Expect that in Korea! Or anywhere!", kids are EXCEPTIONALLY apathetic, no real schoolwide discipline policy, no parental involvement.. and I get here at 530AM and don't usually leave till 430 or 530PM. The school hasn't made AYP in forever, so an outside agency is piling strict demands on us in regard to instruction and assessment.. It's too much for a first year teacher and it will be too much next year for a second year teacher. I want something where I can work less hours, take home decent pay, and actually have a chance to enjoy what I got two degrees to do. Yeah, yeah.. Thick skin.. I've got it and I can endure most things.. But you have no idea how much of a cluster f.. well, as we said in the military, a "charlie foxtrot" this place is..
Basically, it boils down to -- do I want to take a pay cut and go overseas and enjoy myself? (have opportunities to travel and actually have a life) or stay here and drive myself insane in this school... I'm leaning to the former..
And I want to teach ESL, not ELA. Thanks for the input. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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I was about to write something related to work in Japan when I read this from you, Halcyon Chimera:
I want something where I can work less hours, take home decent pay, and actually have a chance to enjoy what I got two degrees to do.
Please take this to heart, but you have not even started teaching abroad and you want fewer hours and good pay. So does everyone. Help us out here to realize more accurately what it is you want:
How many hours are you talking about (in and out of the classroom)?
What do you mean by "decent pay"? (Let's confine it to money after deductions for basic necessities.)
| Quote: |
| do I want to take a pay cut and go overseas and enjoy myself? |
I don't know. How willing are you for a pay cut? I took a 50% cut in my annual salary when I changed careers and got into TEFL. It was worth it to me, but I'm not you.
| Quote: |
| Is it reasonable to think I can land a university or international gig? |
No university gig for you in Japan, that's for certain. But you haven't actually stated where you would like/not like to go, other than an extremely limited area within one country.
P.S. If you want more info regarding Korea, register separately for the Korea forum and ask there. Site policy. |
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Halcyon Chimera
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
I was about to write something related to work in Japan when I read this from you, Halcyon Chimera:
I want something where I can work less hours, take home decent pay, and actually have a chance to enjoy what I got two degrees to do.
Please take this to heart, but you have not even started teaching abroad and you want fewer hours and good pay. So does everyone. Help us out here to realize more accurately what it is you want:
How many hours are you talking about (in and out of the classroom)?
What do you mean by "decent pay"? (Let's confine it to money after deductions for basic necessities.)
20-30 contact hours seems reasonable and is probably the norm.
| Quote: |
| do I want to take a pay cut and go overseas and enjoy myself? |
I don't know. How willing are you for a pay cut? I took a 50% cut in my annual salary when I changed careers and got into TEFL. It was worth it to me, but I'm not you.
I take home around $2630 after taxes here. After paying everything, that leaves around $1250 and that doesn't even include food or gas for the month. I calculate that my expenses will be less (as per the cost of living) and I will be taking home around $2000-2300 per month.. I look to start at $2.5 with my quals.
| Quote: |
| Is it reasonable to think I can land a university or international gig? |
No university gig for you in Japan, that's for certain. But you haven't actually stated where you would like/not like to go, other than an extremely limited area within one country.
I want South Korea, specifically. Big cities, small villages, don't care as long as the pay and benefits are decent. Ilsan, Busan, Seoul, etc... I know I can get a Uni. job in China. What's so different about Uni. jobs in Korea?
P.S. If you want more info regarding Korea, register separately for the Korea forum and ask there. Site policy. |
Thanks. I'll do that. |
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Trebek
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
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Halcyon Chimera
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Trebek wrote: |
It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
Thanks. I figure if I throw in some tutoring on the side or something similar, then I can pull together a decent salary. I would rather do long hours there than here. So, I guess I'll have to take it back that I want short hours. At my current school, due to grant requirements, we will have to use laptops for instructional purposes every DAY. Do you know how difficult that will be in regard to classroom management and everything else? I would rather be somewhere where I can focus on good ol' fashion instruction... And hopefully deal with parents who CARE about their kids' education.
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? I know that is sort of broad but those who have worked in public education in America know sort of what the system is like, what with NCLB and all... |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| Trebek wrote: |
It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? I know that is sort of broad but those who have worked in public education in America know sort of what the system is like, what with NCLB and all... |
It varies depending on the particular culture/educational setting but in general, you will find that Asian students and their parents put much less emphasis on communication and speaking/listening. Grammar, writing, and reading are king, usually for entrance examinations, and "thinking outside the box" is generally not encouraged. It is not uncommon for a student with an MA or PhD in English (obtained in Asia) to have difficulty speaking the language and to make frequent basic errors. On the other hand, you may find your students less disrespectful in general (remember, I said less, in comparison to American/Canadian students in a public schools, disrespect certainly still exists), less likely to challenge you (saving face), and IMO harder working.
I know those are some huge generalizations, but that is what I have found in my experiences with Korean and Taiwanese students (compared to my experiences with English-Canadian, French-Canadian and Saudi students). There are positives and negatives to both, there are some who take a very negative view to the way Asian students learn English and while I agree that I think their overall preferred method of learning a language is not as effective as here (or Europe, a better example), they are still a pleasure to teach. |
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Halcyon Chimera
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| santi84 wrote: |
| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| Trebek wrote: |
It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? I know that is sort of broad but those who have worked in public education in America know sort of what the system is like, what with NCLB and all... |
It varies depending on the particular culture/educational setting but in general, you will find that Asian students and their parents put much less emphasis on communication and speaking/listening. Grammar, writing, and reading are king, usually for entrance examinations, and "thinking outside the box" is generally not encouraged. It is not uncommon for a student with an MA or PhD in English (obtained in Asia) to have difficulty speaking the language and to make frequent basic errors. On the other hand, you may find your students less disrespectful in general (remember, I said less, in comparison to American/Canadian students in a public schools, disrespect certainly still exists), less likely to challenge you (saving face), and IMO harder working.
I know those are some huge generalizations, but that is what I have found in my experiences with Korean and Taiwanese students (compared to my experiences with English-Canadian, French-Canadian and Saudi students). There are positives and negatives to both, there are some who take a very negative view to the way Asian students learn English and while I agree that I think their overall preferred method of learning a language is not as effective as here (or Europe, a better example), they are still a pleasure to teach. |
That's sort of what I was expecting. I always hear about how Asian students are generally harder working and more dedicated to learning...Also, I've heard they have stricter upbringing and discipline than American children, and I most certainly hope that's the case. If you've taught American kids, unless they are in high-class suburban society, you're likely to get a wide range of discipline problems with no support from admin. or parents for any of them..
Thanks |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| santi84 wrote: |
| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| Trebek wrote: |
It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? I know that is sort of broad but those who have worked in public education in America know sort of what the system is like, what with NCLB and all... |
It varies depending on the particular culture/educational setting but in general, you will find that Asian students and their parents put much less emphasis on communication and speaking/listening. Grammar, writing, and reading are king, usually for entrance examinations, and "thinking outside the box" is generally not encouraged. It is not uncommon for a student with an MA or PhD in English (obtained in Asia) to have difficulty speaking the language and to make frequent basic errors. On the other hand, you may find your students less disrespectful in general (remember, I said less, in comparison to American/Canadian students in a public schools, disrespect certainly still exists), less likely to challenge you (saving face), and IMO harder working.
I know those are some huge generalizations, but that is what I have found in my experiences with Korean and Taiwanese students (compared to my experiences with English-Canadian, French-Canadian and Saudi students). There are positives and negatives to both, there are some who take a very negative view to the way Asian students learn English and while I agree that I think their overall preferred method of learning a language is not as effective as here (or Europe, a better example), they are still a pleasure to teach. |
That's sort of what I was expecting. I always hear about how Asian students are generally harder working and more dedicated to learning...Also, I've heard they have stricter upbringing and discipline than American children, and I most certainly hope that's the case. If you've taught American kids, unless they are in high-class suburban society, you're likely to get a wide range of discipline problems with no support from admin. or parents for any of them..
Thanks |
Here in Canada, I find the Asian immigrants to be very dedicated to learning when it comes to learning English for long-term settlement in North America. They are usually punctual, dedicated, and enthusiastic, since providing for their families is always their first priority.
The Asian students who are learning English purely to please their parents or to enter university (the majority of your students that you would teach in China, Taiwan, etc) are generally not interested in learning English at all, it is simply a requirement of their parents or university entrance. Those students tend to have excellent grammar skills (or not) but getting them to speak and more importantly, communicate in English, is like pulling teeth  My Chinese students would not speak, my French Canadian or Brazilian students would not stop talking! It's two totally different approaches to what "communicating in English" actually means. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| santi84 wrote: |
| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| Trebek wrote: |
It would be tough to get into a first tier international school with only one year experience and no overseas experience. Your $500-$700 monthly loan obligations certainly cut back some of your choices on where you could live and make ends meet. I recommend that you join the Korean board and look for your answer there. Most jobs you can get with the income you require will be busy full-time stressful jobs. But probably not as stressful as being a public school teacher in the deep south. I know this from experience. This is why I moved to Utah. The classes here are huge, but the kids generally have two parents, and are much easier in the behavior department. The admin are good at their jobs.
So that's it. Korea or Utah! |
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? I know that is sort of broad but those who have worked in public education in America know sort of what the system is like, what with NCLB and all... |
It varies depending on the particular culture/educational setting but in general, you will find that Asian students and their parents put much less emphasis on communication and speaking/listening. Grammar, writing, and reading are king, usually for entrance examinations, and "thinking outside the box" is generally not encouraged. It is not uncommon for a student with an MA or PhD in English (obtained in Asia) to have difficulty speaking the language and to make frequent basic errors. On the other hand, you may find your students less disrespectful in general (remember, I said less, in comparison to American/Canadian students in a public schools, disrespect certainly still exists), less likely to challenge you (saving face), and IMO harder working.
I know those are some huge generalizations, but that is what I have found in my experiences with Korean and Taiwanese students (compared to my experiences with English-Canadian, French-Canadian and Saudi students). There are positives and negatives to both, there are some who take a very negative view to the way Asian students learn English and while I agree that I think their overall preferred method of learning a language is not as effective as here (or Europe, a better example), they are still a pleasure to teach. |
That's sort of what I was expecting. I always hear about how Asian students are generally harder working and more dedicated to learning...Also, I've heard they have stricter upbringing and discipline than American children, and I most certainly hope that's the case. If you've taught American kids, unless they are in high-class suburban society, you're likely to get a wide range of discipline problems with no support from admin. or parents for any of them..
Thanks |
I would not consider Asian students in Asia hard working. They spend many hours keeping their desk warm. I believe people who have been in Asia awhile know what I am talking about. |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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It is absolutely not what you want to hear, but my advice is to suck it up. You are 1/2 way done with your 2 years. Believe me, I can sympathize. I am finishing up my second year right now and I have done it on an Indian reservation in Alaska. We obviously don't make AYP either. It has been rough, to say the least. But I lived and am stronger for it, and a better teacher for it.
Thus I suggest you stick it out. As you already know the year passes quickly. The second year will be easier than the first. Then when you are done, you will have the two years experience that good International schools look for. You will also be at a step up for pay. Even the lower tier international schools typically pay more for someone with 2 years of experience. So you might as well go ahead and get it. Then when you do go overseas you can say that you did it the right way, and will be rewarded for it. I have seen contracts from lower tier schools where the pay difference between someone with 2 years experience was almost 6k more than someone without. That extra 500 a month can make a big difference in a 3d world country. That's also the difference between paying your student loans and going into default.
Also having 2 years of experience at one school will be seen as a positive. And if you ever decide to return to the USA to work, then at least you have 2 years of experience, which will certainly help you to land a better job.
When you are done with the second year, then if you want to do ESL go to Korea or some other place in Asia and get some experience. But at least you will have the option to go back to teaching regular classes if you have to. I find that bargaining leverage is always nice to have. I mean even if you stick with ESL, you will always have the option to do something else, and that gives you bargaining leverage when you are negotiating your pay. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| Thanks. I figure if I throw in some tutoring on the side or something similar, then I can pull together a decent salary. |
That's twice you mentioned a "decent salary". I asked earlier, but you didn't reply:
What do you consider "decent"?
| Quote: |
| I would rather do long hours there than here. So, I guess I'll have to take it back that I want short hours. |
Again, I have to ask, what hours do you want? Please be specific. What you want and what is realistic may differ.
| Quote: |
| At my current school, due to grant requirements, we will have to use laptops for instructional purposes every DAY. Do you know how difficult that will be in regard to classroom management and everything else? |
Most schools don't even have that luxury. I realize the classroom management issues you are talking about, but you have no real reason to complain here. You have more than what you're going to see in Asia in terms of resources.
| Quote: |
I would rather be somewhere where I can focus on good ol' fashion instruction... And hopefully deal with parents who CARE about their kids' education.
What can I expect in regard to Asian culture's view of education versus America's view? |
Parents want their kids to have a good education here in Japan, but many are "little league" types, who ignore problems their kids have and who dump the kids on the system expecting perfection and passing grades on college entrance exams, even though their kids don't try and even though the education (for English) system sucks here. Kids are sent to cram schools even as young as elementary school, and many parents who have kids that age also tend to have home study materials as well. I speak from direct experience. Japan's HS graduates are coming out with poorer and poorer abilities in English, math, science, and Japanese. I clearly see the decline in the English ability with my 5 years of uni teaching and 4 years of HS teaching. The government sets "guidelines", but they are weak and too ambiguous. Foreign teachers/ALTs in JHS/HS are almost pointless figures who do not teach grammar (that's for the Japanese teachers), but who are there mostly to be examples of English sounds. Some will also be relegated to teaching "reading" or "writing" courses, but having done both, I can tell you how poorly those are supported. Kids come out of HS barely able to say the most basic of sentences, read at a level beyond a Penguin level 1 graded reader, or write a single coherent sentence. Japan is known as the country that takes the most TOEIC exams and gets pretty much the lowest scores.
| santi84 wrote: |
| Here in Canada, I find the Asian immigrants to be very dedicated to learning when it comes to learning English for long-term settlement in North America. They are usually punctual, dedicated, and enthusiastic, since providing for their families is always their first priority. |
Different animal entirely, compared to students in their home countries. You are comparing apples to oranges here.
| santi84 wrote: |
| getting them to speak and more importantly, communicate in English, is like pulling teeth Wink My Chinese students would not speak, my French Canadian or Brazilian students would not stop talking! |
That's a cultural and sociological phenomenon and pretty widely known. Their foreign teachers and classmates have to be aware of that to give proper encouragement to speak. Many Asian cultures don't believe in open classroom discussions, for example; they see that as the teacher not doing their job (lecturing). Moreover, Asians who have even medium to good grammar may not know the correct discourse patterns to interrupt a conversation, hold a thought while they are thinking aloud, contradict someone, etc., so the grammar becomes meaningless because they cannot get past the conversational discourse barrier.
| Halcyon Chimera wrote: |
| I always hear about how Asian students are generally harder working and more dedicated to learning...Also, I've heard they have stricter upbringing and discipline than American children, and I most certainly hope that's the case. |
You have heard wrong in many cases. "Harder working"? That depends on what is meant. Japanese put in more hours at school, but those hours are inefficient, and a lot of them are not in classroom situations. "More dedicated to learning"? Uh, no, as the results I've cited above illustrate.
Japan recently dropped Saturday classes for public school after some incidences of delinquency were in the news (serious crimes, by the way). The government thought if kids spent less time in school and more with family, they would develop better morals. This got parents up in arms almost immediately because the kids were doing more poorly in school, and parents wanted a better education for the kids so that -- more than anything else -- they could pass college entrance exams. The law got changed in a very few years back to the way it had been. Mind you, once most kids get into college, that means nothing about studying. Realize that college is seen as a time/place for kids to coast, make friends who will remain as lifelong (and perhaps business) contacts, and to befriend teachers who will have an inside track to companies. Grades are irrelevant here; what is more important is graduating from the best possible school. This is just one reason is it hard to teach English classes as a foreign teacher!
The myth of hardworking genius Asian students still prevails, but it is largely a myth.
Discipline problems in JHS/HS are not dealt with like in the U.S. Homeroom teachers usually are the first step in the chain. Most schools in Japan have no psychologists or counselors, so the HR teacher plays that role. HR teachers are surrogate parents, too. Google "classroom chaos" and "Japan" for a view on what is happening now. Moreover, discipline here is more a thing of shaming the student and giving endless chances to "atone", not in inflicting punishment.
Example: tardiness
Kids will be expected to report in to the staff room daily for a couple of weeks as "punishment" for being late.
Example: smoking
A kid might be told to stay home for a few days, but his HR teacher will pay visits, give him homework essays to write, and maybe even give him morality lectures.
Example: not doing class work
Not much is really done. Schools have their quota of what percent get what grades, and they don't usually fail students. So repeat exams are given (have seen up to 7 times for the same test in one case!), out of class coaching is given, etc. In my old HS, 4 kids had failing grades around graduation time, and even though this amounted to only 1% of the graduating class, the school didn't want to show that many couldn't make it. So, they asked them to copy word for word, without a single spelling mistake, a page in English by hand. Two couldn't do it! One of them still graduated (I suspect because he was a ball player.).
Stricter upbringing? Not in Japan. Kids have such private lives, living in their rooms and on their cell phones, that society is very worried about the morality and loss of general social skills these kids have. Parents leave everything to the HR teachers. Dad is hardly around (most kids I asked couldn't say what their father did for a living, nor knew his company name). Kids spend endless hours after school attending cram school or going to club activities, then they bury themselves in their rooms to live on cell phones or Playstations. No, it is not strict here at all. |
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