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japanbound
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:14 am Post subject: What are Japanese universities loolking for? |
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Hi All,
I plan to go to Japan and teach at a university and am wondering which qualities universities look for in a candidate for hire.
Thanks |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Well obviously an MA, preferably in TESOL or Linguistics but not always. Many ask for publications too, although you can use your MA thesis for that if you don't have any. They also prefer younger candidates, so if you are over 35 with no university teaching experience it will be more difficult. Naturally some teaching experience is required, preferably in Japan or another East Asian country. Some Japanese ability is usually required also - I'd say around 3kyu level would be sufficient - to deal with the admin. side of the job.
I presume you are talking about full time work. Part time jobs are less stringent, especially on the age factor, but are more difficult to find as they are rarely advertised... |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:26 am Post subject: |
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Smooth Operator is correct in all the points. One more important thing is knowing someone at the school. Connections are everything here.
3 publications is the norm. There are always exceptions and most of the hiring is at the end of the year as the school year starts in April. |
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blacky1
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Japanese universities do NOT advertise on ESL Cafe. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Many unis do not advertise at all. Mine doesn't. |
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japanbound
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you for your replies. I have a masters in TESOL, will it be possible to find a fulltime position at a university from overseas? at a junior university? I'll be 32 when I go, will that affect my chances of hire at all? I just want to stay 2 years at most. |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:25 am Post subject: |
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At 32 you are in your prime, but you will need some relevant experience, please see my first post and Gordon's follow-up. Junior university? Maybe you mean womens' college. I haven't worked at one of these, but I think standards would be similar.
BTW Gordon, I thought universities are required by law to publicly advertise full time positions. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what my boss told me when they were hiring me (maybe they were just trying to find a better candidate  ). |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Smooth Operator wrote: |
At 32 you are in your prime, but you will need some relevant experience, please see my first post and Gordon's follow-up. Junior university? Maybe you mean womens' college. I haven't worked at one of these, but I think standards would be similar.
BTW Gordon, I thought universities are required by law to publicly advertise full time positions. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what my boss told me when they were hiring me (maybe they were just trying to find a better candidate ). |
Maybe national universities have to advertise. Private ones can do anything they want.
I think Japanbound is talking about a junior college. BTW you are qualified, but so is your competition, which is quite fierce. Don't let that get you down. 2 years? That's what they all say, including myself.  |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 3:10 am Post subject: |
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Thank Gordon for clarifying that.  Yes mine is a public institution... |
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japanbound
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 8:40 am Post subject: |
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You guys are great for helping, thanks. I'm interested in finding a job for Aug or Sep of 2005 if can. I might be able to go there in mid-May 2005, at the earliest. Can you offer any recommendations relevant to that?
| Gordon wrote: |
| I think Japanbound is talking about a junior college. BTW you are qualified, but so is your competition, which is quite fierce. Don't let that get you down. 2 years? That's what they all say, including myself. |
lol, do many people really have that in mind before going -- 2 years only? It's addictive, huh. I'll have to try and peel myself away, because some of the annoyances might get tome after a while, and I need to get back within 3 years, or I'll lose something else I'm working on. On top of all this, my Japanese ability is pretty sad.
thank you |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Smooth Operator wrote: |
BTW Gordon, I thought universities are required by law to publicly advertise full time positions. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what my boss told me when they were hiring me (maybe they were just trying to find a better candidate ). |
Just thought you might be interested to know that I just got hired for a full time position that wasnt advertised but you could only get through a recomendation from someone at the university (suisen) Many universities will hire from within from among qualified part time staff, and you will also see many jobs advertised on Japanese websites and Japanese ability is usually required in order to find them.
Just because they advertise publicly does not mean they will seriously consider applicants if they have someone in mind though. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| japanbound wrote: |
| Thank you for your replies. I have a masters in TESOL, will it be possible to find a fulltime position at a university from overseas? at a junior university? I'll be 32 when I go, will that affect my chances of hire at all? I just want to stay 2 years at most. |
japanbound
I just turned 40 and just got my second full time position so 32 is still young (I was teaching part time at that time) for a university position.
I would say your chances of getting hired for a full time position from overseas without an interview are next to impossible. I have only met two people who were hired in the US and one was for a non-English teaching position and had a PhD. Temple and Columbia in Tokyo churn out dozens of m.Ed graduates every year. On average depending on the position and location of the school each job may attract between 30 and 50 applicants. I applied for one last year advertised in English in Kyoto that got over 150 applications. the next year there were only 15 applicants as the ad was in Japanese.
For full time positions you will need publications though just a Masters is possible for part time work.
You may have a chance at a 2 year position, as most universities will give you a one year renewable contract, up to 3 years. You can leave at the end of each year, but I would think after you have supped at the university teaching trough for a year or two you will find it hard to break free at the end of two years, no matter what your ultimate plans might be.
Junior colleges or two year colleges- possible but at the same time becuase of demographics, plunging school rolls, financial instability some junior colleges are reducing staff, cutting departments and not hiring new teachers. I have worked at two year colleges and the biggest problem is large student absences for second-years as they feverishly job hunt. They may miss half a term with job interviews but you still have to pass them anyway, or the school will do it for you.
getting a job at a junior college though possible, is like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic and not a good long term proposition. You may want to go back to the US after two years but good plans can always change. I have heard of very few people making a successful transition back home after a stint in Japan, or they decide midterm they want to stay on- thats just my opinion anyway. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| You can leave at the end of each year, but I would think after you have supped at the university teaching trough for a year or two you will find it hard to break free at the end of two years, no matter what your ultimate plans might be. |
 This is true. |
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japanbound
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| PAULH wrote: |
| You can leave at the end of each year, but I would think after you have supped at the university teaching trough for a year or two you will find it hard to break free at the end of two years, no matter what your ultimate plans might be. |
This is true. |
Don't get me wrong, I would like nothing better than to teach at a Japanese university for the next two years, but unless the salary can beat $55k and/or hot Japanese women are clamoring for my time  , I think it won't be so tought to leave. What's so special about that 'trough'? Let's be frank here, is this about access to hot young Japanese university women? |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:00 am Post subject: |
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Well, there is 'access' but that is a dangerous game to play, although most universities give you your own office so it's certainly possible. Just last week someone from my faculty was on regional TV news because of sexual harassment. Myself and my fellow foreign colleagues certainly don't do anything like that- it's too risky, although Japanese staff are sometimes not so circumspect. Besides there are plenty of other women out there if that's what you want.
As far as salaries and perks go, the system could well be superior to what you want to do after - about US$55,000 (at current exchange rates), 4 to 5 months paid leave, own private office, research budget, only 3 or 4 days teaching a week, and some degree of social status, not to mention an intellectually stimulating working environment... |
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