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Teaching in Japan in July
Beren39
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey, so I made a thread before about pursuing teaching english in Japan. My room mate and I have both secured spots with ECC in Nagoya starting July 4th. Now ECC has given us the usual package on stuff to bring and what to expect but I was wondering if anyone had taught with them before or had any general advice about what to expect?
Go, Go, EXCALIBUR! - Trent Varsity Swim Team 2009, better watch out for me Phelps!
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Fuck, I even think he has a line in one of his entries about what they tell you to bring but they don't tell you . . .
He does go and process through some ladder theory bullshit for a bit, but it might be an enjoyable and enlightening read all the same.
Just remember that you're going to be a young amateur among professionals, so there may be some instances where you feel like you're at the bottom of the pecking order and will unfeelingly be used as a workhorse. Plus, you're a foreigner without a great grasp on the language, so some of the older teachers may give you the cold shoulder.
The mantra of sorts of teaching in Japan is "Every situation is different" (ESID), so, it is hard to say what to expect. Also you didn't give us too much information to work with. I assume you are going to be working as an ALT? Do you know if you are going to be teaching at one school or many? At elementary, jr. high or high school? These will all affect your experience quite a lot. Here are some general things to keep in mind though.
Assuming you are an ALT: You are not a real teacher, you are an assistant, remember that. Some teachers will want to work well with you, some teachers will resent your presence in the class room. Also being not a real teacher has some amazing perks, like being able to go home at 4 o'clock and not 8 at night, so, enjoy it. :P
Be patient. Smile a lot. Never lose composure. Never lose face.
If you have a predecessor do everything you can to get in touch with him/her and figure out the specifics of your situation. The person who last held your specific position is really the only person that can give you solid insight of what to expect.
Expect everyone's English level to be lower than you expect it to be right now. Be pleasantly surprised by the few exceptions you may run in to, but expect it to be very low over all.
It seems like you have been posted to a big city, but, in terms of transport, make sure you are close enough to public transport. If not you will need a car. Don't assume that just because you are in Japan that you will have great public transit. Some areas certainly do. I would be dead in the water without a car in my area, however.
And just general moving to a new country/place advice: Don't expect whatever problems you have where you currently live to just disappear where you go somewhere new. Don't expect everything about yourself to change. Don't expect magic, basically. This is a tremendous opportunity to change yourself (I am the healthiest I have ever been in my life having moved to Japan) but you actually have to take action to make the change happen. You are changing one set of problems for another, so be ready to hit the ground running, get stuck in and get in top of those problems. And you should have a wonderful time. I've truly been enjoying my experience so far.