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Different Types of Teachers -
05-14-2007, 04:14 AM
All right out of an attempt to keep it simple, I'll break down the three basic types of English instructors in Japan, what they do and what they need to get the job.
For the entry level applicant, this is the person with no experience and only a university degree you have two choices: ALT or Eikaiwa. First my job, the ALT. These are the Assistant Language Teachers that work in Japanese public schools. The JET Programme participants, they are ALT's but we call them JET because they were hired through the governments programme. The rest of us usually call ourselves just ALT's or private's since we are hired by a private company, not government related. The role of the ALT in the classroom as envisioned by the Ministry of Education is to encourage your students to study English, expose them to a foreign culture, provide them with opportunities to speak English and last to accustom them with the sound of native spoken English. Now what you will actually do for work varies greatly depending on your teachers' wishes and your students' abilities or lack thereof. Oh, and the local board of education plays a big role too. The Eikaiwa Teacher. Think of NOVA, this is an eikaiwa. The name means English conversation school. Whenever I have met eikaiwa teachers, they always tell me that we are basically doing the same job. Which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. The basic differences between an eikaiwa class and mine are smaller number of students, they usually group students by ability, national chain eikaiwas like NOVA have a curriculum and lessons you follow, you could end up with anyone as a student from toddlers to retirees, you usually teach class without a Japanese teacher and that is all I can think of for now but there are more. Now some eikaiwas also hire ALT's. Some eikaiwas, you plan and produce all the materials for your classes. Now for those who have attended graduate school for teaching English as a second language. These are the professors and some upper tier high schools. These are teachers who decided long ago that this was their calling. If you can get a job at a Japanese university teaching English, you've got it made. Higher pay, more vacation time and to be honest better students are just some of the highlights. But to work at a real university, you are going to need to be published. You will also need to have worked for probably sometime as a part time professor before getting the really cushy position with and office and whatnot. Some high schools hire foreign teachers with masters in teaching English, others use the standard Japanese teacher with ALT format. For those that hire foreign teachers with credentials, you are pretty much the doing the same job as a professor just working with students who are less able. 
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05-14-2007, 04:24 AM
Quote:
Specialist in Humanities/International Services Contract- Yes, as in the one signed by you with your employer.
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05-14-2007, 01:56 PM
Alright, the big picture is starting to become clearer now. Some questions that come to mind at the moment. Thanks in advance.
1. Do a working visa limit the occupations you can apply for in Japan? Or can you apply for any particular job while in Japan as long as you have a working visa? 2. I take it you were a entry applicant once, which means you have a university degree; you can do so much more considering you can apply for a working visa which enables you a broad choice of jobs in Japan. What made you choose to become a ALT, since I hear there pay isn't all that good (forgive me) and its hard for them to adapt to the native culture since they basically teach or speak English 24/7?
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05-15-2007, 11:56 PM
Quote:
2. On the issue of pay, the reason some may say the pay is not that great is because quite simply most of us could make more money at home with our degrees than we do here. Now for in Japan and the amount of work that we don't do, ALT's are being paid very, very well. The second part of your question I assume relates to the issue brought up once in Nyororin's thread that English teachers do not have a chance to study Japanese and make Japanese friends. To that issue I have this response to give: Whether you are working in an eikaiwa or public school, your integration into Japan is totally dependent on your desire to become involved. I know English teachers who spend all their time hanging out in bars with fellow foreigners, but I know just as many who go hang out in the rice field helping his student's grandfather with harvest time. You are ultimately the one who will decide how your time here will be spent regardless of where or what you do for your job. Also consider that ALT's work in public schools. I work with all Japanese Monday through Friday. I see how Japanese children are growing up. I have to study Japanese because otherwise it will be very hard to teach English to them. Every kid, parent and grandparent in my area knows who I am. I am not sure how much more integrated I could become unless I start working on Kenta's farm!
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05-16-2007, 04:08 AM
Oh, so the working visa pertains only to your career (i.e. expertise)? Also, there's obviously a lot of teaching jobs offered for English teachers, I'm starting to get the impression that this is the only route to take to actually work in Japan, is this the case? Another thing, do you apply for a working visa before you seek out a job in Japan, or afterwards?
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xD -
05-16-2007, 04:12 AM
I'm going to be an English teacher as well ^^
I hope to get a year of study there in college before I move there permanently... I want to work in Saitama... *Raisui no tsubomi sakaseyou*
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05-16-2007, 05:26 AM
The work visa is specific to the type of work you do in Japan. Anything that doesn't fall into one of those categories goes to the one that says Designated Activities. Basically means a description of your job and income or whatever.
English teaching is the easiest route to working in Japan. Before or after, but if you do it before you can fly in with a one way ticket which saves a lot of money.
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