Job Discussion Forums

Dane Wessex · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 17

Hi everybody. I have just recently decided that I would like to teach ESL in Japan. I have more than ten years of teaching ESL in NYC, including many Japanese students. I have a BA in philosophy from NYU and an MA, also in philosophy, from the U of Wisconsin. Only one of my jobs required an ESL license, and I did not renew it when it expired, because I no longer worked there. Right now, I am working on the second stage of my application with Westgate. I have already finished my app for the Heart School.

I have two questions (for now, anyway Wink

):

1) One of the Qs asks if I have an ESL license. The answer box is of the drop-down menu variety, either Yes or No. Which should I put, since I have an long-expired license? I don't want my app to be thrown in the trash or to the back of the line just because I didn't have a 'yes' in the right box, but on the other hand, I don't want to be perceived as a liar.

2) Is it OK to mention strong performance on the verbal sections of various standardized tests, or is that seen as bragging or frowned upon for some other reason? On my Heart app, I didn't mention specific tests or scores, I just said something like "my strong performance on the verbal sections of various standardized tests testifies to my strong command of the English language".

Thank you for your help.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Dane Wessex · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 17

It says it's a 'permit', actually. It has the seal of the state of New York at the top in the middle. Around the seal, in old English font, it says "University of the State of New York Education Department". Under that is the license number, and under that it says in big block letters "A REGISTERED BUSINESS SCHOOL TEACHER PERMIT", then it has my name in smaller caps. On the left side, it says in small font "English for Speakers of Other Languages. Under that, it has the dates of issuance and expiration, 8/28/01 and 8/27/02, respectively. On the lower left , it is signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education, and on the lower right, it is signed "on behalf of the State Education Department by the Commissioner of Education"

As best I can remember, I got it after a one-week course, six hours a day.

Dane Wessex · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 17

fluffyhamster · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:44 pm Post subject:

If you start claiming words to the effect that you are the best available model for diction or elocution or whatever, I think the most you'll get is an "Along with all the other native speakers we interview, mate. We even had the Queen herself in the other week". Very Happy

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Ah, 'teaching' equates to 'modelling?'
Curious if you've ever been a language learner...

Dane Wessex · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 17

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:12 am Post subject:

Yes, often "mere" modelling = teaching (i.e. there may be little besides the modelling and any corrections) in a lot of the "language learning" in Japan. But the exact accent etc is often overlooked (though some schools may make a point of hiring certain nationalities in preference to others). I doubt that many Japanese can really tell the difference, and provided one can approximate "Standard English" (and how many absolutely cannot?!), that's all that matters.