I did it for a year in public school. Salary was same but bonuses and benefits really pushed it over. Using non-Japanese English textbook was 100 times better. Just design, exercises, how grammar fit in, more importance put on communication than grammar. The Japanese textbooks are just utter garbage.
If you are full time Seishine you will be busy busy busy. They just pack a ton of duties on you. If you are contract you tend to be less busy because they trust you with less. These are things like clubs, committees, preparing for events (college, bunkasai, test). If you are half Japanese and have a native level you will a ton of extra duties related to English- Japanese at a professional level. If you are just n1 and really high they will keep you towards English side of things or more student connected things. Normally homeroom assistances but I have heard of others being put as homeroom heads, though never saw it. Think its more common in private schools.
You make tests and stuff and depending on seniority you will have ability to make bigger changes. Beyond that teaching was not much different than my ALT experience. Maybe a few more spreadsheets. Though I did a ton of T1ing as an ALT so experience could vary. Main thing was the extra duties.
Some cultural things that are different especially if you are coming from a western teaching background. Class grades and in class test scores are a thing but not really anyways comparable in importance as they are in the west. Also kids just do a ton of tests, a good chunk of which are basically just practice for the main tests for college. Due dates are also a lot more loosy goosy with a ton of nagging. Very little you miss a date and fail, more you miss a date and a teacher nags you more or you come for a few days in the summer. Main reason I left was due to parents getting old. Even though I had more vacations days at my old job I could never use them for a consistent 2 week period straight. That said it was more fulfilling and I did really love the school and the principle. I had some disagreements with teachers but they were pretty small and more pedological.
Ok think this wall of test is long enough.
edit: If you are talking about schools with an IB curriculum. My school was internationally focused but heavily SDG project based. The projects were also no joke. The teachers my principle brought in Japanese and native side were just a step above. Lots international experience, connections to universities, social progress oriented.
As an ALT?
Working at an IB school that also does regular japanese coures also. Lots of foreign teachers doing other subjects too. Most teachers do about 18 to 20 hours of lessons a week. IB teachers tend to do less as it is more demanding.
Complete control of the classroom.
Pay is pretty good compared to what else is out there, maybe not as good as The American School.
oh man, teaching in Japanese public schools with an International curriculum is a mixed bag. salary is decent, but working hours can be long. load is heavy too. ib schools seem promising, but tough to tell which ones are truly international.
4 comments
I did it for a year in public school. Salary was same but bonuses and benefits really pushed it over. Using non-Japanese English textbook was 100 times better. Just design, exercises, how grammar fit in, more importance put on communication than grammar. The Japanese textbooks are just utter garbage.
If you are full time Seishine you will be busy busy busy. They just pack a ton of duties on you. If you are contract you tend to be less busy because they trust you with less. These are things like clubs, committees, preparing for events (college, bunkasai, test). If you are half Japanese and have a native level you will a ton of extra duties related to English- Japanese at a professional level. If you are just n1 and really high they will keep you towards English side of things or more student connected things. Normally homeroom assistances but I have heard of others being put as homeroom heads, though never saw it. Think its more common in private schools.
You make tests and stuff and depending on seniority you will have ability to make bigger changes. Beyond that teaching was not much different than my ALT experience. Maybe a few more spreadsheets. Though I did a ton of T1ing as an ALT so experience could vary. Main thing was the extra duties.
Some cultural things that are different especially if you are coming from a western teaching background. Class grades and in class test scores are a thing but not really anyways comparable in importance as they are in the west. Also kids just do a ton of tests, a good chunk of which are basically just practice for the main tests for college. Due dates are also a lot more loosy goosy with a ton of nagging. Very little you miss a date and fail, more you miss a date and a teacher nags you more or you come for a few days in the summer. Main reason I left was due to parents getting old. Even though I had more vacations days at my old job I could never use them for a consistent 2 week period straight. That said it was more fulfilling and I did really love the school and the principle. I had some disagreements with teachers but they were pretty small and more pedological.
Ok think this wall of test is long enough.
edit: If you are talking about schools with an IB curriculum. My school was internationally focused but heavily SDG project based. The projects were also no joke. The teachers my principle brought in Japanese and native side were just a step above. Lots international experience, connections to universities, social progress oriented.
As an ALT?
Working at an IB school that also does regular japanese coures also. Lots of foreign teachers doing other subjects too.
Most teachers do about 18 to 20 hours of lessons a week. IB teachers tend to do less as it is more demanding.
Complete control of the classroom.
Pay is pretty good compared to what else is out there, maybe not as good as The American School.
oh man, teaching in Japanese public schools with an International curriculum is a mixed bag. salary is decent, but working hours can be long. load is heavy too. ib schools seem promising, but tough to tell which ones are truly international.