Job Discussion Forums

[joncharles]

I have mentioned in few responses I have made to posts in this forum about losing a job because I was too old. If you didn't read any of those posts, I lost a job I was offered through WinBe English Schools totally on the basis that I was too old. I left Nova and was offered a position with WinBe. While going through training I had to submit for a new sponsorship to my visa. I finished the training before the visa was approved and had to wait for a couple weeks. WinBe assured me thay had a position for me at a school in Yokohama. I was to let them know as soon as I was notified my visa was ready.

Well, I received notice that my visa was ready and I notified WinBe. The very next day I got a call from the WinBe people saying that the owner of the school decided that he did not want me in his school and told them he preferred a female teacher under 35 years old. WinBe apologized to me and said that they did not have any other open slots. Well, because I was living on my Nova savings and was running low on living expenses I opted to return to the USA and restart a search from here.

I have found it very difficult to find a teaching position for someone over 50 as I am. In another forum, I was berated by a of couple people telling me that a person my age who wanted to teach English was a loser and I should have already been well established in a career. Actually, I enjoyed teaching English and made a late career decision, which I do not regret... although it did mess up future retirement plans.

I would like to know how rampant is the age discrimination problem in Japan and Asia. All my Japanese friends were astounded that I had been turned down, because they thought good English teachers were needed and thought it should have been easy for me. Also, a friend told me that I should have been compensated by WinBe since they hired me and had told me they had a position.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Oh, yes, I would also like some advice on taking online certification courses for TESL/TEFL. I have noticed several advertisements... which is the best?

[Glenski]

[shmooj]

[joncharles]

I am looking into the smaller schools as we speak. I didn't have too much an opportunity to do the small school search when I was there because I had no housing. After Nova I was staying with a friend until WinBe put me in one of their apartments. So I really did have to come back and regroup. I seem to have some interest from a place in Shizuoka Prefecture, so I will keep my fingers crossed. I would hope to be able to get certified somhow, but when you are working it is difficult to find the time off to take the courses. Here in the states I am too far away from the schools that provide it without having to register for a whole semester. Maybe I can find a way once I am back in Japan. I think one of the teaching organizations does have a couple four week classes a year.

I noticed before I left Nova that several other teachers who were "of age" did not get contract renewals. Most were good teachers too, but I think the mindset you mentioned is correct in that the big schools look for that young look for sales reasons and misconception that we oldies don't have energy for the kiddies... I remember with glee the fact that several times by the end of class my three year olds were on the floor crying "tsukareta!" One of my vitues is that I am a big kid.

[Jolly]

[bailemos]

It is heartening to hear of people saying that age is not 'always' an issue in getting a job in Japan. This is how it should be. I am currently looking for a job and have wondered just how widespread (if at all ...) age discrimination is !!

[PAULH]