"Why you want to teach" Essay - ESL Teaching

smsfarrar · Mon 24-Sep-07, 04:06 AM

Hello,

I am currently looking for teaching jobs in Japan. I have been requested to submit an essay to AEON. I know why I want to teach in Japan. I'm looking for some advice as to what the interviewers are looking for. I am used to technical writing using complex and concise words. My question is this, what are they looking for and how complex or simple would be best?

Thanks,
Michael

gfell · Mon 24-Sep-07, 11:12 AM

AEON Letter
The AEON essay is probably asking you why you want to come to Japan and teach. Just write about how the Japanese culture interests and that you like their healthy foods and technological advancements etc. etc. etc. Basically AEON are trying to gauge whether or not you will fit into Japanese society.

Don't try to lose the reader in your technical jargon. Keep it simple and concise. One A4 sized document with bullet points, bold and underline will keep the reading easy. The reader will most likely be a native English speaker, but they may also submit this letter to the school they place you in where the local Japanese staff may want to try and read it.

EF English First · Mon 24-Sep-07, 07:33 PM

As a recruiter of English language teachers, I would be looking for your motivations and I would be looking for a commitment from you that you are serious about moving to Japan.

Firstly, by simply completing the task for AEON you are demonstrating that you are a serious applicant so I wouldn't be too concerned about the content - by writing anything at all you've scored one point.

To score another point with the recruiter at AEON - check the document for errors. You are applying for a teaching post so they will be looking at how you communicate and they will expect perfect English.

Now onto the content itself. The key here is your motivations. You know your best students are the ones who are motivated. AEON is looking to reduce their risks when they recruit you. They want you to complete the contract. If you are genuinely interested in any aspect of Japanese culture it makes it more likely you will enjoy life in Japan and therefore reduces AEON's risk when they employ you.

Just be truthful - tell them what you love about Japan, tell them why you want to work there and what you expect from the placement. Again it reduces AEON's risk if they know that you know what you are committing too.

I've been in TEFL recruitment for 10 years and the last thing anyone wants is for a candidate to arrive and then say they hate it and want to leave. Recruiters will do anything to make sure this doesn't happen. AEON's application process will have this in mind and I'm sure that this is the main purpose of this essay...

Best of luck with it

Teach English In China, Indonesia & Russia | EF English First

Boke · Thu 01-Nov-07, 11:57 PM

I'd go with the "I'm going to Japan for the Green Tea and Onsens" route, works everytime!

AdvantageEnglish · Wed 16-Jan-08, 02:23 AM

WOW...this is a first... I'm Speechless...

I was going to rattle off my suggestions, but it seems that GFELL and EnglishFirst have pretty much hit my nail on the head...

I definitely agree with EnglishFirst...
Japan is very different to western countries on so many levels and they probably want to know that you have an interest and at least a slight understanding of or a great curiosity to experience that culture and lifestyle.

Japanese ability is very rarely a benefit in the Big 4 (or is it now the Big 3 ??) but if you have it, it shows an interest in the country and will help you communicate with staff. If you don't have it... you don't need it.

If you've lived or even travelled overseas before - mention it... The longer the better because it shows that you're not going to get homesick and walk out on them.

They want to know that you'll be punctual, polite, well groomed and professional... Japanese labour (labor) laws are different to those you're used to. They can ask for a photo, your age, your gender, religious affiliation if they wanted to... (and any of those can be used as criteria for employment) Adding a photo of yourself wearing a suit and tie with neat hair and a big goofy smile can help push your case.

But the bottom line - the essay should show that you have a sincere desire to live and work in Japan for a number of years; an interest in the culture and lifestyle and a desire to learn more about it and experience it to the fullest; a love of travel and the ability to live away from home; perfect native English skills - demonstrated by way of a well written yet down to Earth essay; and finally, a desire to communicate with Japanese people and to help them improve their English skills - because nothing makes you happier than the look of absolute appreciation and awakening on a Japanese person's face when they finally understand that idiom, phrase or vocabulary item you just explained to them ! If you haven't experienced that for yourself - you've read about it or heard about and can't wait to be a part of it.

Good luck...
================================================== ==

AdvantageEnglish
MA (TESOL/JAPANESE), BA (ASIAN STUDIES/JAPANESE)
Get my free 30 page Ebook :
IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS (Click for link)
Click English Weekly on left, then Get Ebook Now on right.

Mon 24-Sep-07, 04:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
smsfarrar Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 11	"Why you want to teach" Essay Hello, I am currently looking for teaching jobs in Japan. I have been requested to submit an essay to AEON. I know why I want to teach in Japan. I'm looking for some advice as to what the interviewers are looking for. I am used to technical writing using complex and concise words. My question is this, what are they looking for and how complex or simple would be best? Thanks, Michael

Mon 24-Sep-07, 11:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 656	Re: "Why you want to teach" Essay AEON Letter The AEON essay is probably asking you why you want to come to Japan and teach. Just write about how the Japanese culture interests and that you like their healthy foods and technological advancements etc. etc. etc. Basically AEON are trying to gauge whether or not you will fit into Japanese society. Don't try to lose the reader in your technical jargon. Keep it simple and concise. One A4 sized document with bullet points, bold and underline will keep the reading easy. The reader will most likely be a native English speaker, but they may also submit this letter to the school they place you in where the local Japanese staff may want to try and read it. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 24-Sep-07, 07:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
EF English First EF English First Join Date: Jul 2005 Occupation: Teacher Recruitment & Training Location: Posts: 80	Re: "Why you want to teach" Essay As a recruiter of English language teachers, I would be looking for your motivations and I would be looking for a commitment from you that you are serious about moving to Japan. Firstly, by simply completing the task for AEON you are demonstrating that you are a serious applicant so I wouldn't be too concerned about the content - by writing anything at all you've scored one point. To score another point with the recruiter at AEON - check the document for errors. You are applying for a teaching post so they will be looking at how you communicate and they will expect perfect English. Now onto the content itself. The key here is your motivations. You know your best students are the ones who are motivated. AEON is looking to reduce their risks when they recruit you. They want you to complete the contract. If you are genuinely interested in any aspect of Japanese culture it makes it more likely you will enjoy life in Japan and therefore reduces AEON's risk when they employ you. Just be truthful - tell them what you love about Japan, tell them why you want to work there and what you expect from the placement. Again it reduces AEON's risk if they know that you know what you are committing too. I've been in TEFL recruitment for 10 years and the last thing anyone wants is for a candidate to arrive and then say they hate it and want to leave. Recruiters will do anything to make sure this doesn't happen. AEON's application process will have this in mind and I'm sure that this is the main purpose of this essay... Best of luck with it Teach English In China, Indonesia & Russia \| EF English First

Thu 01-Nov-07, 11:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Boke Wannabe Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Occupation: School Owner Location: Posts: 38	Re: "Why you want to teach" Essay I'd go with the "I'm going to Japan for the Green Tea and Onsens" route, works everytime! __________________ Goodwin English Schools , 福山　英会話

Wed 16-Jan-08, 02:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
AdvantageEnglish ESL Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Nationality: Australian Occupation: English Teacher / Director Location: Posts: 26	Re: "Why you want to teach" Essay WOW...this is a first... I'm Speechless... I was going to rattle off my suggestions, but it seems that GFELL and EnglishFirst have pretty much hit my nail on the head... I definitely agree with EnglishFirst... Japan is very different to western countries on so many levels and they probably want to know that you have an interest and at least a slight understanding of or a great curiosity to experience that culture and lifestyle. Japanese ability is very rarely a benefit in the Big 4 (or is it now the Big 3 ??) but if you have it, it shows an interest in the country and will help you communicate with staff. If you don't have it... you don't need it. If you've lived or even travelled overseas before - mention it... The longer the better because it shows that you're not going to get homesick and walk out on them. They want to know that you'll be punctual, polite, well groomed and professional... Japanese labour (labor) laws are different to those you're used to. They can ask for a photo, your age, your gender, religious affiliation if they wanted to... (and any of those can be used as criteria for employment) Adding a photo of yourself wearing a suit and tie with neat hair and a big goofy smile can help push your case. But the bottom line - the essay should show that you have a sincere desire to live and work in Japan for a number of years; an interest in the culture and lifestyle and a desire to learn more about it and experience it to the fullest; a love of travel and the ability to live away from home; perfect native English skills - demonstrated by way of a well written yet down to Earth essay; and finally, a desire to communicate with Japanese people and to help them improve their English skills - because nothing makes you happier than the look of absolute appreciation and awakening on a Japanese person's face when they finally understand that idiom, phrase or vocabulary item you just explained to them ! If you haven't experienced that for yourself - you've read about it or heard about and can't wait to be a part of it. Good luck... ================================================== == AdvantageEnglish MA (TESOL/JAPANESE), BA (ASIAN STUDIES/JAPANESE) Get my free 30 page Ebook : IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS (Click for link) Click English Weekly on left, then Get Ebook Now on right.

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