# 65 Are there additional training opportunities available when teaching ESL in Japan?

Posted by Bill Belew on January 26th, 2008 in Japan | Comments Off

Are there additional training opportunities available when teaching ESL in Japan?

 

There are many more now than when I was in Japan. When I first arrived in Japan, ESL degrees, majors, minors and such were unheard of. Now, they can be obtained online. Though, I question the validity of an ESL degree obtained in such a fashion.

Don’t misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with a lot of the online education programs. ESL, however, is a hand’s on activity. The prospective instructor has to get in front of the student – try, speak, listen, repeat, laugh, and so on.

The Internet has more resources for teaching ESL than you can shake a stick at.

In actuality, the problem is not finding good material, good ideas, the problem is narrowing them down, knowing which one to use. It is not so much a problem to find something to read as much as it is knowing what is worthwhile reading… that sort of thing.

Larger schools have training available on site. Smaller schools generally do not.

The conscientious and resourceful instructor will have no problem finding ways to better their performance when teaching ESL in Japan

 


 

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