As anyone who has ever met me in real life will tell you, I’m not a particularly eloquent person. You’d be shocked to hear to my guttermouth london english. But when I write, I can usually write a lot better than I might say it. Sometimes my succinct speaking style creeps into my writing, and this is a case of just that. I guess because I didn’t feel that particular statement was so important to the post as a whole that I didn’t really consider it all that much, so please let me rephrase and put some thought into it.

When I say “i hate english teaching”, what I actually mean to say is: While I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences teaching english so far in my 7 years in Japan, I dislike the fact that I was recently made redundant from my university teaching position because they decided I was no longer qualified enough. It made me realise that I have no career teaching English here in Japan, and I really ought to start thinking about the future a little more.

I’m quite hurt that from that one statement you deem me to be one of the bad teachers. I have spent the last 7 years of my life doing the best job I can, a road paved with high hopes and a strong desire to change what is wrong with the education system here (another oft-muttered statement I think). I revolutionized the JET program in Kyoto city by creating a central database of teaching plans that every ALT there eventually contributed and greatly benefitted from every day, only to have the BOE dismiss it because using a computer to create anything more that New Years cards was quite beyond them. I’ve taught every level from 3 year old children in daycare centre, 80 year old guys in English conversation school, elementary, junior, and senior high schools as well as in a private university. I’m certainly not a qualified teacher, just as 99% of the other “teachers” that come here on the JET program – but then it isnt actually about teaching, is it? Of all of these, I must say I’ve enjoyed elementary the most.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t say english teaching isnt a real job – it just isnt a career, not here in Japan. If you think it is, then please come back in 5 years and tell me how your job position has advanced. No matter how qualified you are, you will never become a *real* teacher here in the eyes of the Japanese system. Which is exactly why most certified teachers end up leaving after a year of frustration and condescension from coworkers.

I used to be just like you. I remember arguing with my parents even. They told me, in my second year here, that I ought to start thinking about a real career path. I was hurt that they thought I wasnt doing a real job, that this was just some kind of holiday for me, and I defended myself just as you are. I theorised that in a few more years I might have my own English school; my super curriculum might have been integrated into the local elementary english programs; that I might head my own summer camp program (that last one I did, actually, but then all my foreign volunteers went home after their JET holiday was up).

I didnt actually come here to be in Japan, nor especially to teach. I just had the opportunity and I took it, knowing nothing of the strange land I was heading too.

But I’m curious – how about you? You said you came here with the express purpose of teaching English, but from your blog it sounds like this is just another stop on your tour of Asia. Are you a qualified teacher, if so may I ask where you see yourself in 5 years time? I sincerely hope that you will be one of the few that actually make a difference here, instead of just coming for a one or two year holiday before moving onto the next Asian country or running home to America like most couples I’ve encountered in my time. In the meantime though, enjoy your time here!

Although I thought most of this post was an interesting little insight into an aspect of the culture here, I just started reading your blog very recently. I’m a career English teacher, which means I came to Japan to teach English, and I’m not teaching English so that I can be in Japan. So when you said, “I hate teaching English, and I’m trying hard to move into a real career in computing…” I was pretty offended by your use of the oft-muttered comment that teaching English isn’t a real job. It’s people like you, people who teach English even when they’re not really interested in it or necessarily qualified to do so, that make it easy to think it’s not a real job.

So anyway, I just wanted to let you know, in case you wanted to consider my point of view.
Christin´s last blog ..My Japanese Debut (but for real this time)