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Shy Foreigners can never be considered for teaching Jobs in japan?

pinson27

Kouhai
8 Dec 2006
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Chinese people and even Japanese who i have met, tell me that i should go to china or Japan and teach English. I think that's pretty stupid that they tell me that cause i almost know that i would be seen as stupid if i even attempted to go for such a job. I'm not your typical outgoing American and they wuld not even consider me. however, for some reason i am more confident speaking Japanese and many Japanese people i have met including a teacher from Hiroshima who came to interview some americans in my school, never believe that i'm shy. I tell ya, i'm the shyiest person ever.. I almost never talk to anyone.


But anyhow, are American shy people ever considered for jobs in Japan? (I am just wondering , i'm not even going to Japan ever)And how do Japanese students react after meeting a teacher that's not your stereotypical talkative Westerner( as depicted in most hollywood movies)?
 
You're not the only shy person on earth.

I find it funny you think Japanese people are obsessed with the Westerner stereotypes. You have never started a topic based on anything else. I beleive it could be a problem of your own.
 
If being shy is such a problem for you, why don't you just try being more outgoing?

Let us know when you're done feeling sorry for yourself and start posting about something other than how you don't think Japanese people (would) like you.
 
Chinese people and even Japanese who i have met, tell me that i should go to china or Japan and teach English. I think that's pretty stupid that they tell me that cause i almost know that i would be seen as stupid if i even attempted to go for such a job. I'm not your typical outgoing American and they wuld not even consider me. however, for some reason i am more confident speaking Japanese and many Japanese people i have met including a teacher from Hiroshima who came to interview some americans in my school, never believe that i'm shy. I tell ya, i'm the shyiest person ever.. I almost never talk to anyone.
You talk soley through voice chat and over the Internet and in Japanese ? Is that what we're expected to seriously believe ?
But anyhow, are American shy people ever considered for jobs in Japan? (I am just wondering , i'm not even going to Japan ever)And how do Japanese students react after meeting a teacher that's not your stereotypical talkative Westerner( as depicted in most hollywood movies)?
Japanese may have the stereotype in a negative sense, a lot of them really hate Westerners that talk too much and say too little.

Can a shy person feel completely comfortable teaching anywhere ? Why someone that doesn't like being around people wants to stand in front of a class for a living sounds like only one of your problems. 😌
 
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I think that excessive shyness would be a problem in any teaching job, so why suggest that it would a problem that's unique to teaching in Japan?

I think that more than that, an obstacle to being hired to teach English in Japan would be to have a foreign accent when speaking English.
 
But i mean, like for example, when i teach stuff to conversation partners I'm shy but i can still do it and the students enjoy it. But i'm saying will the hiring staff in japan not like if a shy person teaches? I would teach even if i'm shy cause I'm shy but i pull some strength and courage with mistakes and all...with stuttering and all.

As for an obstacle being your accent, my Japanese teachers were all shy and they had a japanese accent and still taught Japanese in America. But I, for some reason doubt that in Japan I would be accepted just because I'm from the USA. I doubt it 100 million times!!
 
If you doubt you'd be accepted, then don't try. Maybe you need some professional help. It sounds as if your shyness is causing you to have a less fulfilled life than what you truly want. I will say that I don't think anyone wants a language teacher that stutters. I would think that would be your biggest obstacle rather than the place/country where you would teach.
 
But i mean, like for example, when i teach stuff to conversation partners I'm shy but i can still do it and the students enjoy it. But i'm saying will the hiring staff in japan not like if a shy person teaches? I would teach even if i'm shy cause I'm shy but i pull some strength and courage with mistakes and all...with stuttering and all.

I think that the most important thing is whether you are qualified to teach English language (having a good command of the language such as grammar, pronunciation, to know the proper teaching method, for instance) not whether you are shy or not. Being outgoing can be an asset in certain situations but it does not mean a main factor of being a good teacher.

You mentioned that your friends in China/Japan told you that you should teach English, but you didn't tell so far what you feel about it yourself.
Do you really want to be a teacher?

As for an obstacle being your accent, my Japanese teachers were all shy and they had a japanese accent and still taught Japanese in America. But I, for some reason doubt that in Japan I would be accepted just because I'm from the USA. I doubt it 100 million times!!

I'm not sure what you mean by "Japanese accent" - if Japanese teachers who teach Japanese language have Japanese accent when they speak English, it should not be a problem as far as their English is intelligible - because they are teaching Japanese, not English.

Whether you would be accepted as an English teacher or not depends on your teaching skill of English to non-native students of English. And just being from America does not qualify you as an English teacher.
 
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As for an obstacle being your accent, my Japanese teachers were all shy and they had a japanese accent and still taught Japanese in America
Your teachers were teaching Japanese. What's the relevance of saying they spoke English with an accent?
 
If being shy is such a problem for you, why don't you just try being more outgoing?

God knows we would never guess he is shy based on his posting here.

I think he might benefit from professional counselling.
 
Your teachers were teaching Japanese. What's the relevance of saying they spoke English with an accent?
Yeah, English teachers are recruited from around the world so even with a hispanic accent or whatever it should not be a problem. Although there are older Japanese with heavy accents, perhaps speaking dialects, that are impossible for me to understand in their native language you obviously appear to be intelligible to them in English.

I think some language schools may also have requirements based on a fully English language education. I assume you learned English in Mexico (hence the accent ?) but if you've attended Spanish schools that may be a point to check into. Good luck if you do apply ! :)
 
They accept shy teachers, and while shy teachers wouldn't be their first choice, the demand for teachers is high enough that they're willing to hire almost anyone who is dependable, has good pronounciation, a good command of the language, and of course good grammar.

How would I know? Well I am not a terribly talkative guy, and all my co-workers have wondered just how the heck I teach a lesson, when I hardly say anything. Obviously I do, and with time, I have gotten used to teaching and talking in front of classes of twenty. It does always take me some time to get comfortable enough to start just being myself, and so new classes are always a bit tense, but you know, I actually enjoy the job to some extent, and the students once they get to know me actually do like me.

In my first interview, I gave a few short answers, they asked me what I accomplishment I was proud of, and I told them I didn't really have any accomplishments I was proud of, and they hired me. I worked at that company for six years. Seriously, the jobs are easy to get. Since the first job interview, the only job interview I've had, I've been just handed jobs by acquaintances, friends, and even had a few people who had just heard of me call me for lessons. Perhaps it depends on where you go, but at least here, it's all been far far too easy for a guy that most people would describe as extremely quiet.
 
Ok you guys have said that Accent may be a problem in getting these kinds of teaching english jobs. SO then, what accent is acceptable ? not all americans talk the same. and also what about other groups like people of India.
 
Seriously, the jobs are easy to get. Since the first job interview, the only job interview I've had, I've been just handed jobs by acquaintances, friends, and even had a few people who had just heard of me call me for lessons. Perhaps it depends on where you go, but at least here, it's all been far far too easy for a guy that most people would describe as extremely quiet.
Hehe, that's exactly what I'm concerned about too Revenant. There's gotta be a catch to all this somewhere, doesn't there ? :? But seriously, thanks so much for sharing your story and for the generally encouraging words. :)
I've also been thinking about someday getting into the whole eikaiwa thing, either large or small, but particularly a school in a rural area that would be an all -Japanese environment and outside of the insanity of one of the big franchises.

But then....I start considering there most likely wouldn't be the security of a full-time contract, the insurance and benefits would be extremely shaky if they existed at all, the pay I could probably live off of but barely...and I'm not so sure the risk is not too catastrophic to handle. :unsure:
I do have a very well paying, stress free job now that I'm extremely bored at....although my supervisor is very ill as well, so there's no chance of leaving in the immediate future.

Which is also a good thing if it forces me to prioritize these goals, talk to people who have experience in various types of schools, stop by a few places on my next visit, or knowing me I'd probably be on the next plane out tomorrow...:( 😌
Thanks again ! 🙏 🙂
 
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I'm a pretty shy guy and I spent over five years as an English teacher in Japan, working for a fairly large number of schools, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem unless you are so shy that you can't even interact normally with other people.

When you are actually on the job though you'll find yourself learning to be outgoing just because its what is required. Its pretty easy.
 
You're not the only shy person on earth.
I find it funny you think Japanese people are obsessed with the Westerner stereotypes. You have never started a topic based on anything else. I beleive it could be a problem of your own.

Shyness is as a result of having excessive self cherrishing thought.
 
If being shy is such a problem for you, why don't you just try being more outgoing?

Let us know when you're done feeling sorry for yourself and start posting about something other than how you don't think Japanese people (would) like you.

worst reply ever. He is looking for a solution, not an insult.
 
Man, why would you even consider a teaching job if you know you might have many problems with it since you're so shy?

Mauricio
 
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