Question # 13. Will I receive ESL training when I go to Japan to teach?

Question #13. Will I receive training when I get there?

Most schools will teach you how to find your classroom. That's about it. If you find a school that does more think happy thoughts.

At our schools, we allowed new teachers to observe 'veteran' teacher's classrooms over the course of about two weeks. After class, time was taken to explain why certain teaching methods were done the way they were or why certain things were NOT done.

After two weeks, the newbie was thrown into a classroom to lead/teach the class while the 'veteran' watched. This went on for about a week. After class, observations and suggestions were made.

By the fourth week, the new teacher was on his/her own. Then one-two months after the new teacher had been teaching, a veteran teacher would 'spot observe' classes to see how things were going.

Training classes were few and far between for us because everyone's schedule was much too difficult to arrange.

And, frankly speaking, I don't think it is that hard to teach English to Japanese.

Have good material to work from, slow down and be sensitive…yup, that's about it.

I'll go into much more detail on this in future questions…but I think the very best training one can get for teaching ESL is to be a serious student of Japanese.

Then…think real hard…what would you like for a teacher to do for you in your Japanese study? Do that for your students.

What would you like to learn in your Japanese study? Teach that.

And that's pretty much it. I think.

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