Hello everyone,
I apologize as I have asked similar questions in the past regarding a PhD (this is my last one, I promise).
I have a BA in French, an MA in Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism (joint degree from both a Lithuanian and German university, completed in English), and a CELTA. I have three years of experience as a JET (2014-2017) and will have one year of experience at the equivalent of an eikaiwa in Taiwan soon. I have been told that I wouldn’t need to complete another MA in TESOL in order to get into a PhD program in Japan (bad grade on my thesis, which is why I asked), but would my current qualifications be sufficient to land me one of these Tokunin Koshi (full-time lecturer, max out at five years) positions? I know that I may need to start with part-time to get experience.
I understand that you need a PhD to get a faculty position, but this comes at the cost of losing out on all that vacation time and having a far worse work-life balance. Work-life balance is really important to me and I don’t mind moving around, so I think I may not mind sticking to these less stable jobs, even if that sounds unambitious of me. Would I be better suited getting a second MA in TESOL? I’d honestly rather not get a PhD if I can help it. There is a deadline to apply for an online MA coming up, and I want to try and use the remaining time I have in Taiwan wisely. I have been advised to get the second Masters in TESOL if I want a position in South Korea, how about Japan? Should I just spend my remaining time in Taiwan trying to get a publication out if I choose Japan?
I was thinking of getting into the country through an eikaiwa once my contract is up in Taiwan and then applying to unis from there. I’m 30, and want to believe I can do better than an eikaiwa type job at this stage, but COVID really screwed me over and now I am having difficulty trying to figure out my next step. I don’t want to waste any more time. International schools aren’t an option-I would be forced to teach French due to my BA and there’s much less of a market for that.
Thank you.
9 comments
Most limited-term university contracts in Japan now require you to have some publications (often at least 3, but of course, the more yet better), and many prefer (or explicitly require) university teaching experience. It’s possible to pick up something part time, but there are even part time positions that require the same things now. I don’t think you need a PhD for these 5-year contract positions if you have an MA (especially in that field). Your best bet will be to try pick up some part time classes at a smaller university with fewer application requirements, and then use that time to publish articles and build up your tertiary work experience before applying to a contract position after a few years. Good luck!
Publications, contributions to academic societies, near-perfect Japanese, ability to do committee work in Japanese, and, if possible, being able to teach a class in Japanese are now the bare minimum requirements for a full-time starting position. A Ph.D. would be nice but not necessary. Some universities having trouble finding teachers due to location or level might have slightly lower standards, but buyer beware.
Unless you have some world-class ability at your age, tokunin positions are for ex-announcers, sports stars, astronauts, Ex- CEOs, or specialists who would otherwise fail to become professor the regular route.
The university teaching job is highly competitive, and you will be competing with Japanese applicants. Speaking and being able to teach English and having a certificate counts for little to nothing. The only exception is if it is a unique Eikaiwa position where you are put in a room and teach conversation 9 to 6 five days a week for 25 a month on a yearly contract.
The position you would qualify for now is 講師, the bottom rung. But without refereed papers, chances are you won’t make it past the first screening.
Sounds brutal? It is.
If it’s any consolation I’m on the job hunt too. Fresh out of my MA and was told “ma and experience will get you a job”. Boy was that wrong. Keep on plugging away.
>but would my current qualifications be sufficient to land me one of these Tokunin Koshi (full-time lecturer, max out at five years) positions? I know that I may need to start with part-time to get experience.
No, you have no publications, PhD or actual teaching experience (Your experience as a JET/Eikawa is useless). MAYBE you could fine some part-time stuff with your qualifications. (or Westgate)
In the old days, just an MA was fine. Now there are a ton of people with MAs on the market and the competition is fierce.
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>Would I be better suited getting a second MA in TESOL? I’d honestly rather not get a PhD if I can help it.
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No, getting a second MA is dumb. Spending that time/money on a PhD would be better.
Not sure why you’re against the PhD – if you want to stand out from the sea of MAs, this is the way to go
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>I was thinking of getting into the country through an eikaiwa once my contract is up in Taiwan and then applying to unis from there. I’m 30
You mean for part-time jobs? Maybe this would work. Maybe you could get something. But maybe you wouldn’t be able to (we don’t know how personable you are, how good of a teacher you are etc)
You might end up coming here, unable to find a Uni job, and be stuck teaching Eikawa at age 32. Now THAT would be depressing.
> I understand that you need a PhD to get a faculty position, but this comes at the cost of losing out on all that vacation time and having a far worse work-life balance.
Excuse me, but this sounds like some part timers I run into–their uni classes are a MacJob to them, and the POV is how can I get the most classes in the most compact schedule, and then do the least work while there (hey, I’ll bring my guitar and sing songs to fill the time, and I’ll pass that kid who never does anything because they seem to like my music). Always winging it, might even be habitually late, stops class early, etc.
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I can’t give a proportion, but contract teachers can be managed more closely than regular faculty. The idea that you have to be there even when you don’t have classes comes as a surprise to some. “Huh, I can’t just leave?” (after class, or during any break)
That kind of job is still out there (I know of one place in town), but I know of more/others where that is very much not the case. And you won’t come across very well if you’re asking questions about this during the application process.
How about getting a uni job in china? From what I read, low hours, free time, pay is lower than other jobs but at least adequate.
Uni sector in Japan is shrinking, people already working at unis are chasing the same jobs, I wouldn’t necessarily advise going to a lot of trouble to maybe try and get a job there. Odds are not great for you.
Japanese language skills can make a big difference -most full-time positions now prefer/expect people to be able to function in Japanese (speaking/listening as well as reading/writing).
My advice is not to go for a MA TESOL. You can probably get part time uni jobs quite easily especially outside of Tokyo. However, you should try to publish at minimum 3 articles in the field.
If you want to be a full time lecturer in Tokyo you will probably need a PhD or many more years of experience + publications. If you are looking outside of Tokyo I think MA plus 3 publications might be enough. However, the field is getting more and more competitive recently.
Also you should work on your Japanese skills as most interviews I have attended full time and part time had professors asking me numerous questions in Japanese.
Apply!
If you want to work at Uni, but have no experience, why not try Westgate?