My doubts on English teaching in Japan

Mikeru said:

Those views about experience are quite critical and interesting. What would your take then be, on the level of power and influence an ALT has on the education of a student in a public school?

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I'd say, "power"......... none in any direct sense. In most cases the ALT is just hired help. Like me, I'm just a temp from a dispatch company on a short term contract. I can only do what I'm told. Now, in practice, I'm told next to nothing. Occasionally, I'll get a page number or a topic to cover in my schedule, but that's about it. As the schools don't really have any better ideas of how to use me and the teacher's I work with trust me, I'm free teach as I see fit. I suppose that freedom is a certain sort of power, come to think of it. Now, if I were to go off on some sort of crusade to reform the Japanese educational system, yeah whatever, a voice crying in the wilderness. The wheels turn slowly, and in Japan the squeaky wheels don't get greased to the same extent they do in other places.
"Influence" is a different sort of thing. I think that an ALT's influence comes not from just teaching a foreign language but from being a foreign language. The Japanese teachers can and do a good job of teaching the kids' about the language, but often don't have the skill, time or confidence to guide the students to use the language. ALTs can use their outsider status to drag the students into real, authentic language experiences. Be it writing poems or interview relays, or just chatting with the kids during lunch or in the hall, with the ALT it's the real deal. That's where we make our influence felt.

When they study for their teaching license, Japanese teachers don't learn how to work in team with an ALT. They learn how to work with other Japanese teachers, that's all. In addition, some teachers are fiercely against working with an ALT (I don't know why, though, but I know one or two like this). (Of course, one of the main problems is that some of them can't speak English like they should be able to...) Teachers have to follow the Course of Study too. They're not free to teach what they want and they don't have any time to allow to activities outside theses guidelines. Blame the MEXT, not the teachers.

Marley,
You may not know it, but dispatch ALTs cannot by law be told what to do by the JTE. Be happy you get a page number.

Nemuyoake,
JTEs usually major in literature, so they get practically no training or education in teaching EFL. They also get courses in social aspects of teaching and counseling to a degree. You're right about no help from MEXT, but it's worse because MEXT policy actually says to teach most of the lesson in English! I know they can't. It's almost a no win situation.

Glenski said:

Marley,
You may not know it, but dispatch ALTs cannot by law be told what to do by the JTE. Be happy you get a page number.
.

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Good point Glenski. Depends what sort of contract you are working under. If it's gyomu itaku, then yes not only is the JTE not supposed to tell you what to do, you are not supposed to interact with them in the classroom in anyway It's like a service contract. The school is supposed to put in a work order, the ALT comes and delivers the service. Like a plumber, or painter, or the guy who fixes the copier.. All instructions and directions the JTE wants to give the ALT is supposed to go through the dispatch company first. If it's a hakken contract, then the contracting school can give direct instructions to the ALT. The ALT is a temp to be used as seen fit.
In my case, I'm gyomu itaku. My work orders often are nothing more than a weekly calendar with class numbers and times. So my Monday mornings are like, "I see we have the 2nd year students this week. What page number are they on? Okay, I've got something for that in my file. I'll get back to you in an hour." And then I tell the JTE what we'll be doing and how they can back me up. I'm probably "breaking the law" but eff it. I look at like I'm a doctor diagnosing a patient. No one is giving me instructions, I'm just gathering information to do my job.

Glenski said:

...
JTEs usually major in literature, so they get practically no training or education in teaching EFL.
...

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You're joking, right?!?

教職課程

You'll never become a public school teacher without having completed that course in a uni that offers it--and it can only be offered in accordance with ministry guidelines & approval--and it is also taught by teachers who have themselves been vetted by the ministry. (Having the background and being qualified to teach how to teach, not just some lit. major.)

There are infrequent if not rare cases in which a literature major, or a person who began but failed to complete the above course may be hired to teach at a private high school. But even that is sleight of hand: they may be hired as an administrator and then asked to do some classes on the side. I know of one case where the 校長 is urging a teacher to complete that coursework asap (provisional hiring).

Glenski wrote: JTEs usually major in literature, so they get practically no training or education in teaching EFL.
johnnyG wrote: You're joking, right?

Uh, no, I'm not. See the article by Browne and Wada that I uploaded.

johnnyG added: You'll never become a public school teacher without having completed that course in a uni that offers it [I assume "it" refers to EFL courses]
My reply: You'll also see an article by Yonesaka which shows the courses taken. Only 2 credits in TEFL needed.

Show me your data now.

I had to get 4 credits in TEFL and do 4 weeks of teaching practicum to get my teaching license (basic one, high school level), so it depends. At my univ, students need 8 credits in TEFL to get a TL for JHS. Nobody goes for the ２種 anymore. The competition is too fierce to do that, and MEXT wants (not yet an obligation, just some MEXT guys talking about it) teachers to get a specialized TL now (master level).

Nemuyoake, thanks for the update. I imagined that things have changed a little since those reports, and they didn't cover all of Japan, but I don't think there is still very serious training in EFL. I see this only when J teachers that I have met describe their master's programs. Almost all are lit majors, too.

I don't have any data. It may be different in the Kanto region, where there is less competition to become a teacher. I think that 2 shu TL owners are for most of them among older teachers. I know some young teachers who got their TL in a humanities department and it's true that they have less classes in TEFL than those in the education dep. They just have the bare minimum required to get their TL.

I agree with you, though: there is no serious training in EFL (like CELTA). But I think I was well trained at my univ and during my teaching practicum. I learned a lot. It's just my own beliefs that got in the way. (working on that). I'd add: there is no serious training in the English language either (at least, in education departments).

What is needed for taking the leap from teaching in EFL jobs to being a university lecturer? From what you said earlier these usually look for a Masters in education or the like, and I can consider going overseas to take this postgraduate studies.


How is the demand for working in media organizations (journalism, talent agencies, social media engagement) in general in Japan, and language? What is expected of the proficiency in both Japanese and English, besides the N2 as the minimum for most other jobs in the country? I am considering these for my backup career or something to move into after the EFL stint.

How is the demand for working in media organizations (journalism, talent agencies, social media engagement) in general in Japan, and language?
Don't know, but I suspect mediocre at best. Do you have a degree related to these fields? Experience? Plan on most jobs needing Japanese ability.

What is expected of the proficiency in both Japanese and English, besides the N2 as the minimum for most other jobs in the country?
JLPT 2 or better in the vast majority of cases, as you stated, is the official thing you can get a number to show. Otherwise, just expect to be able to read, write, and converse at a high level. Businesses use email in Japanese, and most companies/institutions use spoken language in Japanese. That means being at least proficient in a modicum of politeness, if not being well-versed in keigo, too.

You know, pretty much the equivalent to your home language being required for jobs in your home country.