Truth About Teaching in Japan.

[Damicci]

I know it isn't as easy to just go over there with a school or whatever. But I notcie alot f people do not know how to speak Japanese when they are applying or planning to teach english in japan. Does knowing the Language offer any benefits for recieving these types of jobs. Say if you have a degree or related work experience? What if you never taught a class in your life but your a native English speaker. that is some what able to hold conversations in Japanese?

[PopCulturePooka]

I know NOVA and a few other schools strictly FORBID the speaking of Japanese in work hours with earshot of students. Especially in class. Class is supposed to be 110% english only. 110%? I knew a guy who recieved a complaint from a student for using the words sushi and sashimi in class. Those words were 'Japanese' and the student wanted the english words used (raw fish??).

Heck theres some rumours that NOVA doesn't want Japanese speakers employed with them, as a Japanese speaker has a better chance of learning about labour laws in the country or finding a better job.

[GaijinPunch]

Most schools are like what Pooka said. I remember back in the day that one school liked the fact I majored in Japanese b/c it was for teaching kids. However, lots of places are under the impression that even rank beginners are better off having an unqualified person explain something in a langauge they can't understand. Yes, I think it's stupid, but that's me. There's something to be gained by having crazy grammar explained to you in your mother langauge.

[hintgiver]

I just find it wierd that knowing the language might be a negative. I know it's not supposed to be spoken in classes, and I agree with that. However, living in a country for a good period of time one is destined to learn the language (unless the really try not to) sooner or later.

[Pachipro]

Pooka is right. Alot of schools would prefer that the teacher not know any Japanese at all.

Originally Posted by Damicci

Say if you have a degree or related work experience? What if you never taught a class in your life but your a native English speaker. that is some what able to hold conversations in Japanese?

It doesn't matter as long as you have that sheepskin. Work experience doesn't matter and they will teach you what you need to know. Hell, you could even teach yourself as alot of it is just following a book and having the students repeat. All you do is correct their pronunciation. Besides, most of them never learn to speak much anyway no matter how hard you try and teach them.

Saying you're fluent or converstaional in Japanese may, more than likely, be a hinderance. Best to just play dumb and say you know only "skoshi".

Originally Posted by hintgiver

However, living in a country for a good period of time one is destined to learn the language (unless the really try not to) sooner or later.

Not really. I knew some "teachers" who lived in Japan for at least 3 years and could barely hold a sensible conversation in Japanese. Alot never even learned to read the language. It's too easy for an English speaking person to live in Japan and never learn the language. You will sadly find that a majority of English speaking foreigners fail to learn, or even attempt to learn, the language during their stay.

[hintgiver]

Originally Posted by Pachipro

Saying you're fluent or converstaional in Japanese may, more than likely, be a hinderance. Best to just play dumb and say you know only "skoshi".

Say this to the students, the pleople you are interviewing with, or both? ^-^

[senseiman]

I spent five years in Japan as an English teacher. I couldn't speak a word of it when I got there, though there were some people in the group I was hired with (I originally went with GEOS) who could speak some Japanese, so I don't think it was considered a hindrance to their being hired. NOVA might be different.

About foreigners learning the language, most English teachers are only there for a one year contract and then they go home, so it isn't too surprising that most don't learn the language. IN that short an amount of time you couldn't really learn enough to make it worth your while unless you were studying full time, which they obviously can't.

[Iron Chef]

I spent three years teaching English (two in Sapporo as an ALT and one in Nagoya as an Emergency Teacher or ET). I was initially offered the ET position during the recruitment process in Chicago because I had some experience with the language from my first two years in Sapporo. As an ALT I had lots of free time which allowed me to study/socialize so the language came pretty quickly. Typically, ETs are promoted from within the ranks of AEON branch school teachers who had been there for 2-3 years. I was the exception in this case due to my language ability which translated to a higher base salary, daily per diem, etc.

During my time with AEON I travelled to over 17 different schools while on assignment and I noticed that every branch school seemed to take on the personality of the manager. Some schools absolutely forbade foreign staff from speaking Japanese during working hours even between staff with no students present. At the same time, foreign teachers are expected to give the other Japanese teachers at their school a regular English lesson every week as part of their duties (a bit hypocritical if you ask me).

Other schools didn't mind the fact that I used Japanese as long as it was restricted to the lobby or in private conversations. And some schools (few and far between though) actually encouraged me to use Japanese as much as possible (God bless the great people at Yokkaichi! 8-p) in front of students, between staff, etc. It all boiled down to the manager and her (I say "her" because all 17 managers were women) philosophy on what was "appropriate", heh.

Bottom line is had I not put forth the effort to learn as much Japanese as possible on my own, I doubt I would have been able to go into business for myself after having spent only 3.5 years in Japan. My school officially opened 6 weeks ago and I already have 19 students, heh. I also advertise in all of my promotions that I often use Japanese in class when the need arises. Judging from the enormous positive feedback i've had from both students and prospectives alike, I would say i've been pretty fortunate.

[Pachipro]

Congratulations on your school Iron Chef. I did the same thing when I opened my school. Mine was located in a Danchi (apartment) complex. It was practically ready made when I bought it from another foreigner. He had 50 students, but I had to find a new place and settled in the Danchi. Within six months we had nearly 100 students from kindergarten kids on up to adults at night and on Saturdays.

I also found it useful to speak Japanese to the students, especially the kids in order for them to completely understand in their language what I was trying to convey. When a particular sentence was put into Japanese they seemed to grasp it much better. That's why I find it odd that most "schools" in Japan forbid the use of Japanese. How else are the Japanese to learn if they cannot understand a particular phrase or slang in their own language?

My wife also started teaching "chugakko eigo", otherwise known as grammar for those unfamiliar, where she prepared students for the English portion of their entrance exams. This proved to be a very successful portion of the school. So if you have a girlfriend or wife who is familiar with that portion it may help bolster your student population.

We also advertised a free lesson where a prospective student could sit in on a class for free to see if they were interested in it. This proved very successful with the mothers. However, word of mouth was the best advertisement. Good Luck!

[hintgiver]

Thank you both, Pachipro and Iron_Chef, for all your great feedback. I agree that select Japanese, at the right time, can be a big help when teaching.

The thing is, I just don't want NOVA to reject me just because I have a firm command of the Japanese language. I have been wanting to ace my interview with them I have been trying to cover all my bases. The only one I am kind of worried about is knowing Japanese which, is something I can't help since there is no possible way for me to 'unlearn' Japanese.

[PopCulturePooka]

So understate your Japanese ability!