i really want to know about such eikaiwa schools! What is the minimum requirement for applying such jobs in japan? I feel that your job is really interesting! I also do aspire to be a teacher in Japan teaching English!
I do agree that most requirements to work in Japan is to have a BA, being the minimum. Maybe Singapore's national language is Malay. But the problem is that for all Singaporeans, our first language is English, and apparently, they only consider that our national language is Malay, which is pretty contradicting. In Singapore, I guess our English is pretty weird. Can be either both American English or British English due to pronunciation. (but we actually learn British English in Singapore).
Am hoping to get myself a teaching job in Japan once I get my hands on my BA next year. But am thinking more towards of ALT rather than eikaiwa, coz hearing from your experience I find it pretty scary.
But lets say if I'm not a native speaker of English, but yet my country's first language is English, would I be able to say that I'm almost a native speaker?
I know a lot of Philippines who work here as English teachers (though I think their English is pretty weird - at least the ones I met so far!!). It should be the same for Singaporeans then :)
What's scary about my job? XDDDD It might be more difficult to get the "instructor visa" if you're not a native speaker - which is the visa you need for ALT jobs. Requirement is education in English for at least 12 years in school.
I remember your rants about your teaching job back then. That was way before I came to Japan (^-^')> I'm sure it's not everybody's thing. And like I said, I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy being a teacher in a "normal school", especially not back home!! So I understand your feelings :3 But eikaiwa, at least at my school, I really enjoy a lot :)
Maybe it's also because I'm not a native speaker of English, so it's not so boring, but sometimes challenging for me :)
YES! Japanese english lessons suuuuuuuuuuck! My sensei (I also study japanese) explains in english when she doesn't know how to say it in spanish (my mother-tongue) and I can totally tell she is "thinking" in katakana!!! I am OMG! No wonder they write Angelina Jolie like that!! They are still adorable when trying to speak in english, hehe.
Good luck on your work and with the laptop problem!
All that we have in England is American shows, and English shows and i think 2 Australian soaps, it doesn't seem like we are apart of Europe at all.
Ah yes all this! Even though England says we're so multicultural (yes lots of people here), I still feel that we're so insular when it comes to other cultures! In Asia everyone can seem to cross over regardless of language (like Korean dramas are popular everywhere not just Korea, Japanese bands in Thailand e.t.c). But us Brits only stick to English!
yeah they do share alot of things. I think we miss out on alot, its like everyone hates the english too much they don't want to share with s XD jk.
I noticed any foreign films that do happen to be on tv are usually dubbed or on late at night when everyone is sleeping (¬_¬) although I was really happy the time Letters from Iwo Jima was on tv XDD
I second this and other people's comments, too! :P (for the lack of questions to ask =_=;)
English here.. is pretty much at the same level as our real language.. people like me is even more versed with English than Filipino (shame on me!) but we have a "3rd" language which is our vernacular one (the name depends on the place of origin). So basically, those who didn't live in the main city of Manila (the capital of the Philippines) are most familiar with their own vernacular language then English then Filipino... Those near it are, of course, well-versed with Filipino more than any language (including English). English is used mainly on teaching methods especially sciences and math. The books are either in English or Filipino (Philippine history, Filipino subjects only)
Plus, English is the dominant language in government, business, education, etc - meaning, people tend to learn English more if you aim to have a better place in society...it sucks but true.. :{
Ohhh yeah, I know what you mean about not that many kids being interested at public school, because let's face it I teach English at public school and there are kids that are practically sleeping at their desks sometimes. But that's usually just at junior high. And while English is not REQUIRED below 5th grade, I teach at public schools from ages 4 to 15, and I spend most of my time at elementary school, so it's been really fun. And the kids at the junior high are the same ones I taught at elementary, so they all have known me for a while and we get along alright. A lot of the 1st years asked for my autograph today :3
Ahhhh I had my last classes today and I haven't really processed that I'm finished.... :(
That sounds really nice! :) Yah, I guess it all depends. A lot of kids don't understand WHY they should learn English. The truth is they don't really need English in Japan.
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What is the minimum requirement for applying such jobs in japan?
I feel that your job is really interesting!
I also do aspire to be a teacher in Japan teaching English!
Reply
Reply
Maybe Singapore's national language is Malay.
But the problem is that for all Singaporeans, our first language is English, and apparently, they only consider that our national language is Malay, which is pretty contradicting.
In Singapore, I guess our English is pretty weird. Can be either both American English or British English due to pronunciation. (but we actually learn British English in Singapore).
Am hoping to get myself a teaching job in Japan once I get my hands on my BA next year.
But am thinking more towards of ALT rather than eikaiwa, coz hearing from your experience I find it pretty scary.
But lets say if I'm not a native speaker of English, but yet my country's first language is English, would I be able to say that I'm almost a native speaker?
Reply
It should be the same for Singaporeans then :)
What's scary about my job? XDDDD
It might be more difficult to get the "instructor visa" if you're not a native speaker - which is the visa you need for ALT jobs. Requirement is education in English for at least 12 years in school.
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I'm sure it's not everybody's thing. And like I said, I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy being a teacher in a "normal school", especially not back home!!
So I understand your feelings :3
But eikaiwa, at least at my school, I really enjoy a lot :)
Maybe it's also because I'm not a native speaker of English, so it's not so boring, but sometimes challenging for me :)
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Japanese english lessons suuuuuuuuuuck! My sensei (I also study japanese) explains in english when she doesn't know how to say it in spanish (my mother-tongue) and I can totally tell she is "thinking" in katakana!!! I am OMG! No wonder they write Angelina Jolie like that!!
They are still adorable when trying to speak in english, hehe.
Good luck on your work and with the laptop problem!
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Sometimes I don't understand the name of a foreign star when they say or write it in Katakana! XD
Thanks! I got an e-mail that it was send out from the company abroad and will arrive here in about 10 days. Quite late, but I hope it's still okay!
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Ah yes all this! Even though England says we're so multicultural (yes lots of people here), I still feel that we're so insular when it comes to other cultures! In Asia everyone can seem to cross over regardless of language (like Korean dramas are popular everywhere not just Korea, Japanese bands in Thailand e.t.c). But us Brits only stick to English!
Reply
I think we miss out on alot, its like everyone hates the english too much they don't want to share with s XD jk.
I noticed any foreign films that do happen to be on tv are usually dubbed or on late at night when everyone is sleeping (¬_¬) although I was really happy the time Letters from Iwo Jima was on tv XDD
Reply
English here.. is pretty much at the same level as our real language.. people like me is even more versed with English than Filipino (shame on me!) but we have a "3rd" language which is our vernacular one (the name depends on the place of origin). So basically, those who didn't live in the main city of Manila (the capital of the Philippines) are most familiar with their own vernacular language then English then Filipino... Those near it are, of course, well-versed with Filipino more than any language (including English). English is used mainly on teaching methods especially sciences and math. The books are either in English or Filipino (Philippine history, Filipino subjects only)
Plus, English is the dominant language in government, business, education, etc - meaning, people tend to learn English more if you aim to have a better place in society...it sucks but true.. :{
Reply
Ahhhh I had my last classes today and I haven't really processed that I'm finished.... :(
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Yah, I guess it all depends.
A lot of kids don't understand WHY they should learn English. The truth is they don't really need English in Japan.
:( *hugs*
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