Hello All,
I am very interested in teaching in a foreign country, particularly China or Japan. I have found numerous opportunities for English teachers. I however, have degrees in Biology and Chemistry. I feel I would be much better suited to teaching science. I have learned that many of these schools only teach using the English language. Surely they must need English speaking science teachers? Do any of you know of opportunities to teach science in Japan or China? Any advice or information would be very helpful.
Thank You!
Teaching Science in Asia
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I can give you a perspective on teaching in Japan. Been here for over seven years.
You wrote:
I've taught a few presentations in science myself to the 1st and 2nd year HS kids. You need to explain every single solitary word. I don't think you can imagine it.
On a more positive vein, if you have a valid teaching license from your home country, you can think about applying to international schools, where you would teach mostly expat kids entirely in English, since all of their classes except Japanese are taught that way.
You wrote:
Why do you figure they need English speaking teachers for science? Just because English is used a lot in science, that doesn't mean they teach it in English. I work in a junior/senior high school, and I know the science teachers quite well. They don't use a lick of English in class. All of the concepts are taught in Japanese. How else would they understand it? You have to understand that students here don't even learn good English despite being taught it for six years, from JHS to SHS. It's certainly not even conversation based English. Students in university would also have a very difficult time understanding an English-based course.I have learned that many of these schools only teach using the English language. Surely they must need English speaking science teachers?
I've taught a few presentations in science myself to the 1st and 2nd year HS kids. You need to explain every single solitary word. I don't think you can imagine it.
On a more positive vein, if you have a valid teaching license from your home country, you can think about applying to international schools, where you would teach mostly expat kids entirely in English, since all of their classes except Japanese are taught that way.
Teaching in Asia
Glenski-
Thanks for the reply. Someone had mentioned to me that there are schools in Japan where they only teach using English. I was not trying to be presumptuous and say that science should only be taught in English. I just think that I would be best suited to teach science rather than English because it's what I'm passionate about. I would like to teach in Japan or China regardless of the subject I'm teaching. I just feel like I could do the greatest good teaching science.
Thanks for the insight. Do you know of any schools like the international schools you mentioned?
Thanks for the reply. Someone had mentioned to me that there are schools in Japan where they only teach using English. I was not trying to be presumptuous and say that science should only be taught in English. I just think that I would be best suited to teach science rather than English because it's what I'm passionate about. I would like to teach in Japan or China regardless of the subject I'm teaching. I just feel like I could do the greatest good teaching science.
Thanks for the insight. Do you know of any schools like the international schools you mentioned?
You can find a list of international schools at this web site. I can't promise which sites are in English.
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/intern ... hools.html
Having a passion for teaching something doesn't mean the employer will feel you are qualified. I have a master's degree in science, plus more than 12 years of industrial research experience, but I can't get a job teaching in an international school because I don't have a state teaching license from my home country.
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/intern ... hools.html
Having a passion for teaching something doesn't mean the employer will feel you are qualified. I have a master's degree in science, plus more than 12 years of industrial research experience, but I can't get a job teaching in an international school because I don't have a state teaching license from my home country.