| When applying for teaching positions in Japan I think | | | | Role play activity. One member takes the teacher |
| it is very important to get your interview right. You'll | | | | the other members the students. Get your role play |
| need to prepare for this now more than ever | | | | and instructions ready. Keep it simple and remember |
| because of the increase of supply (teachers) and less | | | | keep teacher talking time to a minimal. |
| demand (positions). Getting a job at an eikaiwa | | | | PART 2 : WRITTEN TEST |
| (English Conversation School) just isn't as easy as it | | | | IMPORTANT : This test may be about 15 or 20 |
| used to be. So if you don't prepare properly then | | | | minutes. *-The written test has 3 parts: Multi choice, |
| your competition will simply win. A lot of Eikaiwa hold | | | | Grammar exercise and a short essay. The short |
| their job interviews in foreign countries. They have a | | | | essay is usually something about how you might fit |
| quota to fill and they choose what they consider to | | | | into your new environment in Japan. |
| be the best of the bunch from the English | | | | PART 3 : PERSONAL ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW |
| conversation teacher hopefuls. The goal of this brief | | | | This might take 15 to 30 minutes. It may consist of |
| article is to make you familar with the interview | | | | basic everytime interview questions and more than |
| process and to excel in the interview itself. The | | | | likely you will be hit with a quick fire question and |
| interview process: First of all after sending in your | | | | answer session. this consists of a maximum of 3 |
| application you'll be invited to a group interview of | | | | word answers. If you um or arrr then they simply |
| about 5 hopefuls. This group interview process is | | | | move onto the next question. So get ready for |
| especially popular with the larger Eikaiwa companies | | | | that.e.g. ) Recruiter : What are your best qualities? |
| who recruit the bulk of applicants from foreign | | | | Applicant : Leadership, interesting, energetic ( ONLY 3 |
| countries. This interview may last 3 or 4 hours. It is | | | | WORDS ) |
| kind of a workshop. Here is the kind of thing that | | | | Next they recruiter may as you to do a role play |
| may fill up the schedule: | | | | where he/she acts as the student and you as the |
| THE INTERVIEW IS DIVIDED INTO 3 SECTIONS | | | | teacher. Sounds easy right? Well you'll be given a |
| 1.Information session about the company, pay & | | | | lesson and asked to think on your feet. You'll have to |
| schedule details and living in Japan in general ( | | | | think of a good role play that incorporates the |
| Activities included in here, so participate! ) 2.Written | | | | grammar they want you to teach. Be creative and |
| test 3.Personal, one-on-one interview | | | | once again remember teaching talking time. The |
| INFORMATION SESSION Basic information about | | | | recruiter won't make it easy for you. They'll pretend |
| Japan and the company. You may have to do a | | | | they don't understand and give one word answers. |
| group activity here so don't be shy and | | | | So think how best to react to that before hand. |
| PARTICIPATE. This session can last upto 3 hours! | | | | After that you'll be asked how you felt it went and |
| Activities may include each member of the group | | | | be given constructive criticism. Maybe you'll be asked |
| telling an important Japanese custom. Each member | | | | to practice some particular part again. |
| will have to contribute to the list. Make sure you are | | | | Lastly they'll ask you what you want to achieve by |
| prepared! | | | | teaching in Japan. Good luck to all who try coming to |
| Other possible activites: Describing a picture precisely | | | | Japan. It is most definately worth the effort in |
| and accurately. Other members will have to find the | | | | getting over here. |
| picture. | | | | |