Do I have a chance?

[White-Hexe]

I'm really interested in teaching english in Japan, but not sure of I can make it..

I'm currently in grade 11 here in canada. I have taken no formal japanese classes, but am trying to learn on my own, and know some really basicly things like sentece structure, pronouns, possesives, postpositional articles (basic ones), subject/object particles, some basic nouns and verbs, some kanji (not very much...), ect.

I want to be a teacher, here in canada as well, an elementary teacher, so thats what im working for degree wise once I go to college/university. I'm hopeing on studding Japanese in college/university

Eh, I'm dont exactly know what I need to teach in japan. I have looked into it, but I don't really have a clear answer, and its just making me confused.

A lots of you guys are really wise and know alot about this stuff. Anything you suggest to help me?

[orochi]

Just get a 4-year degree. That's all you need.

[Derfel]

Well you're a native speaker, and a native speaker trained well in his/her own language is probably quite the pro. Whats the conclusion? You probably know what they want from you, only you don't know that that is what they want. So all you have to do is:
-continue your studies to become a teacher
-study Japanese
-and as Orochi stated you can easily learn any language in a Bachelor's Degree's time.

[White-Hexe]

ok glad to know im on the right path then, thanks.

[Glenski]

Well you're a native speaker, and a native speaker trained well in his/her own language is probably quite the pro.I have to disagree with this one. Just because one is a native English speaker, that doesn't make one capable of teaching the grammar or explaining it or conducting any class.

You don't need a 4-year degree for 2 reasons:

1) Canadians can find work with a working holiday visa, and that doesn't require any degree.

2) Some countries offer bachelor's degrees with 3-year programs, and they are just as eligible for work visas as those with 4-year degrees.

White-Hexe,
You admit to being young. No problem. You need to do a lot of research on the teaching market here. Entry level jobs are not for teaching grammar. Not a lot of other jobs do that, either. In JHS and SHS, the Japanese teachers do that (in Japanese, of course). We foreigners pick up the slack and offer mostly oral communication practice lessons. Sure, we have to know grammar, but only to serve as a review of what the J teacher has given.

As an ALT, foreigners are teamed up with J teachers. The experiences vary, but the foreigner is only an assistant, and in many cases, there is very little teaching done. The ALT can be relegated to being a "human tape recorder" at times. Others will admit to being just as much a teacher as the J teacher.

After HS, students who go to junior college or tech schools or universities can take further English courses. Some are mandatory, some are electives, so their motivation to study will vary, but essentially, university students get very lazy once they are accepted.

Conversation schools (another entry level job) are merely oral communication review lessons for paying customers in small classroom groups. You are more of an entertainer (edutainer) than grammarian. Students could be kids or housewives or retirees or business people.

International schools offer classes in all subjects, and they are taught in English. Salaries are higher, but that's because teachers are licensed and experienced from their home countries.

If you really want to be a teacher, whether in Japan or elsewhere, get the proper qualifications. Start with a degree (any one will do just to get your foot in the door here, but a specialized one will go farther).

[White-Hexe]

I have to disagree with this one. Just because one is a native English speaker, that doesn't make one capable of teaching the grammar or explaining it or conducting any class.
You don't need a 4-year degree for 2 reasons:
1) Canadians can find work with a working holiday visa, and that doesn't require any degree.
2) Some countries offer bachelor's degrees with 3-year programs, and they are just as eligible for work visas as those with 4-year degrees.
White-Hexe,
You admit to being young. No problem. You need to do a lot of research on the teaching market here. Entry level jobs are not for teaching grammar. Not a lot of other jobs do that, either. In JHS and SHS, the Japanese teachers do that (in Japanese, of course). We foreigners pick up the slack and offer mostly oral communication practice lessons. Sure, we have to know grammar, but only to serve as a review of what the J teacher has given.
As an ALT, foreigners are teamed up with J teachers. The experiences vary, but the foreigner is only an assistant, and in many cases, there is very little teaching done. The ALT can be relegated to being a "human tape recorder" at times. Others will admit to being just as much a teacher as the J teacher.
After HS, students who go to junior college or tech schools or universities can take further English courses. Some are mandatory, some are electives, so their motivation to study will vary, but essentially, university students get very lazy once they are accepted.
Conversation schools (another entry level job) are merely oral communication review lessons for paying customers in small classroom groups. You are more of an entertainer (edutainer) than grammarian. Students could be kids or housewives or retirees or business people.
International schools offer classes in all subjects, and they are taught in English. Salaries are higher, but that's because teachers are licensed and experienced from their home countries.
If you really want to be a teacher, whether in Japan or elsewhere, get the proper qualifications. Start with a degree (any one will do just to get your foot in the door here, but a specialized one will go farther).

Wow,that helps to know what kinds of jobs there are as an English teacher in Japan. Like I said, I want to be a teacher whether im over seas or not, so I'm going for a Bachelor of Education degree, which is 5 years.

Not sure about what kind of teaching I would want to do there, I'm pretty open to it. I get along with all kinds of people so im not worried about have to teach a range of ages, ect.

Thanks again for the help :)

[Glenski]

If you really want to see some of the ads for English teaching jobs, go to these web sites.

www.ohayosensei.com (updated on the 1st and 16th of most months)
http://www.jobsinjapan.com/jobs/teaching.html (updated daily)
http://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekTop?ln=1 (university positions)
http://www.eltnews.com/jobs/index.shtml
http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/ (covers more than Japan, updated daily)


These are moderately good primers on the topic.
http://www.eltnews.com/guides/teaching/teaching_guide1.shtml
http://www.wizweb.com/~susan/japan/whattoex.html

This is a good one.
http://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~kkitao/online/www/teij.htm

A link to other links on the topic.
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/7947/japan.htm