Teaching English In Japan

[Not The Philosopher]

Yours truly recently acquired a [s]useless[/s] nice shiny B.A., in English and Philosophy and is trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.

Since I figure I'll still be figuring stuff out a few months from now, I've been toying with the idea of signing on to the[url="http://www.jetprogramme.org/"] JET Programme[/url] in order to prevent a potential third year of grocery-bagging in the meantime. So I was wondering if any of you have had any experience in teaching abroad, or of JET in particular, or really any thoughts vaguely related to it.

As far as I can tell, the pros would be that it would let me know if teaching might be a career worth pursuing, give me an impetus to pick up another language and get me out of my dad's basement.

The cons I suppose would be all the culture shock weirdness, separation from family and friends, etc. etc.

[4588686]

[quote name='Not The Philosopher' timestamp='1344212348' post='2463177']
Yours truly recently acquired a [s]useless[/s] nice shiny B.A., in English and Philosophy and is trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.

Since I figure I'll still be figuring stuff out a few months from now, I've been toying with the idea of signing on to the[url="http://www.jetprogramme.org/"] JET Programme[/url] in order to prevent a potential third year of grocery-bagging in the meantime. So I was wondering if any of you have had any experience in teaching abroad, or of JET in particular, or really any thoughts vaguely related to it.

As far as I can tell, the pros would be that it would let me know if teaching might be a career worth pursuing, give me an impetus to pick up another language and get me out of my dad's basement.

The cons I suppose would be all the culture shock weirdness, separation from family and friends, etc. etc.
[/quote]

Make sure they're reputable. Some are scams. That said, a friend of mine taught in china for two years and loved it. Just care a lot of American poo with you to occupy yourself with when you get homesick.

[Not The Philosopher]

I'm Canadian.

As far as I can tell, JET is legit.

[4588686]

[quote name='Not The Philosopher' timestamp='1344212777' post='2463186']
I'm Canadian.[/QUOTE]


Well, that's not your fault. The sin lies with your ancestors.

[QUOTE]As far as I can tell, JET is legit.
[/quote]

Yeah. It's a big deal. I mean, obviously. Living in another country where you (I assume) don't speak the language can be tricky. Just make sure to take the time and really carefully consider if it's what you want and you're ready for the commitment.


Why Japan? (just curious)

[Lilllabettt]

so ... some things to consider:

1. Many liberal arts grads teach english in Asia these days. So much so that it is now almost the stereotypical thing to do, almost as bad as the "backpacking through Europe" thing. So the experience may not set you apart on the job/grad school market.

2. It may not give you a good indicator of whether teaching is for you. The teaching profession looks and feels different depending on what part of the world you're in. The difference between ESL abroad and the typical American / Canadian classroom will be pretty big.

3. On the otherhand, it could be a lot of fun and is not an unproductive way to spend a year or two while you're "finding yourself."

I don't have any personal experience to speak from. But among my friends, the handful that taught in China had a better experience than those in Korea. I have a friend leaving for China in a couple weeks to teach English for Walt Disney. At least she knows they are reputable. I don't know anyone who taught in Japan.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Lilllabettt

[4588686]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1344213446' post='2463192']

2. It may not give you a good indicator of whether teaching is for you. The teaching profession looks and feels different depending on what part of the world you're in. The difference between ESL abroad and the typical American / Canadian classroom will be pretty big.
[/quote]


This is a really good point. You're going to have a selection bias. That is, you are teaching people who chose to sign up for this program and you are in a culture that may emphasize respect for the educational process and teachers more than you would encounter in a typical Canadian class.

I think it sounds like a razzle dazzle thing to do. But I wouldn't go into it assuming that if you have a positive experience in Japan that means that you'll enjoy being a teacher in Canada.

[homeschoolmom]

I have no experience teaching abroad, but if I were ever to get back into teaching professionally (or voluntarily) it would be in ESL-- I loved working in ESL what little I did in HS and college. (Almost made it my major, but just couldn't spend another year in college...)

That said, we have hosted Japanese college students for a few summers-- very great experience. Lots of fun.

It may not boost your resume, but then neither will bagging groceries, and it would probably be a lot more fun.

[CatherineM]

My husband's best friend taught in Korea. He got sick while over there and a foreign country is a bad place to have a mental illness.

[IcePrincessKRS]

We lived in Korea for a year and I met several Americans (some military spouses, some not) teaching English over there. Hasan is correct in saying to double check every avenue and make sure it's legit. A couple of the people I met knew people who had fallen for scams. I don't know how different it is between the Japan/China/Korea. The few I spoke with about their jobs really seemed to enjoy it.

[Amppax]

My cousin nearly went over to Japan to do this, he was a linguistics major. For whatever reason he backed out before going over, but other than that I've got nothing to add.

[4588686]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1344214232' post='2463203']
That said, we have hosted Japanese college students for a few summers-- very great experience. Lots of fun.

[/quote]


Are you implying that you enslaved these Japanese students, luring them to you home with promises of cultural exchange, only to force them into a life of harvesting the organs of vagrants?

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344219027' post='2463259']
Are you implying that you enslaved these Japanese students, luring them to you home with promises of cultural exchange, only to force them into a life of harvesting the organs of vagrants?
[/quote]
I'm not implying it. I'm saying it right out.

[Not The Philosopher]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1344213390' post='2463190']
Why Japan? (just curious)
[/quote]

Mainly because JET seems to be the best bet when it comes to teaching in Asia.

[quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1344213446' post='2463192']
so ... some things to consider:

1. Many liberal arts grads teach english in Asia these days. So much so that it is now almost the stereotypical thing to do, almost as bad as the "backpacking through Europe" thing. So the experience may not set you apart on the job/grad school market.[/quote]

True! Although I'm not really thinking of this in terms of my resume.

[quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1344213446' post='2463192']
2. It may not give you a good indicator of whether teaching is for you. The teaching profession looks and feels different depending on what part of the world you're in. The difference between ESL abroad and the typical American / Canadian classroom will be pretty big.
[/quote]

Also possibly true. At the end of the day, I don't know that much about teaching in general, let alone teaching kids in a foreign country, so I'd be taking something of a leap.