New EFL teacher in Japan with SES

[pr]

Hi all,

I've recently completed a CELTA course, and I've been offered my first English Language teaching job in Japan with Shane English School. I was wondering whether anyone has worked for this company, or has any information about it. I have done extensive research on the internet, but it's always good to get first hand information. Any general information about working and living in Japan for the first time, and teaching English for the first time would also be gratefully received. I have my 6 hours CELTA teaching practice, and this is all! I'll be teaching students in the age range 2 - 90 years!

Thanks very much

Paul

[Sally Olsen]

Sorry, never heard of Shane's English School. What city? There is an excellent forum on Dave's on Japan with all the information you need to know about renting apartments and getting visas and food and where to meet people, etc. You are lucky and I hope you really enjoy your time in Japan. It is really fun working with all those different ages. Just remember that a lot of kids are being forced to come because they are not good at English in school and so they don't have a very good attitude at the beginning. If you can make them feel special, they will want to do better. Don't tell anyone anything that the students say to you. It seems like there are a million people in every town and no one will know if you repeat a story but Japan is really a series of very small towns and everyone knows everyone's business. They will particularly know yours because you will stand out so don't think you can be anonymous and forget all those things your mother told you just because you are living in a new country. If you are teaching in an after school then you can take Japanese lessons in the mornings free from the local cultural center. Your students will take you places as well, but always go in a group so there is no question of funny business. Some Japanese girls will really want to be your girlfriend because it is a status symbol but they won't likely marry you because their families have someone picked out for them so be careful if you want a more permanent relationship. Be careful in the bigger towns and crowded places just like any big town. You can join an exPat organization to obtain things from home that you crave - turkey at Christmas and so on. There is a teacher's organization called JALT that has really good workshops and you can get free materials at the conference for your boss. It would be a good idea to make a presentation as soon as you feel comfortable so choose something to research as soon as you can - something that really bothers you because that will really bother others. Find the beauty in small things - there are small gardens behinds those cement walls and a park just behind the high rises. Walk early in the morning and meet the old people - they have gardens in the oddest places and will give you your supply of vegetables. Take along small tokens like pins of your country or pencils or keychains to give out to the people you meet along with your card. Your boss will give you a card and hand it out at every opportunity because it brings him business and the competition is fierce. Try not to fall in love with anyone at work as it gets really complicated. Invite people over to your little flat and they will start to invite you - remember only in groups though. Try not to teach outside of your school - just encourage the people who ask you for private lessons to come to the school and meet the rest as friends who will show the area in exchange for your company and talking for the morning. Make your day into two - morning for exploring and studying and afternoon and night for teaching. Get away somewhere in holidays and book in advance because everyone else will be travelling at that time as well. There are cheap fares to Honk Kong, Singapore, Korea, etc.and so on. Stick it out at your school and don't be tempted by other schools - just make yours the best and never complain about your school other than to your best friend at home by snail mail. Never pass on gossip about your school colleagues or students or diss the school in any way. Sit in on other teachers and find out how they do things and read all the JALT magazines and anything else you can find in Google Scholar. Australia is doing some good things on Japanese students.
Have a great time.