Sorry for the mistake

[wasim]

Can anyone shine light on some professional challenges that gave them early grief while teaching within Japan or Taiwan, i.e. not knowing cultural norms/expectations, communication issues with staff or administration, facing exotic curriculum etc.

Cheers for any info
Wasim

[Rabindro Nath Roy]

Hi Wasim!

I am Rabindro Nath Roy from Bangladesh. I am writing to you as you seem to be from either from India or Pakistan. I am an English teacher at a reputed school down here. I have done my masters in English (not with a good result, of course), and also composed an Anglo-Bangla version grammar for 6-graders. My book is taught in different schools around the country.

I think you know the difficulties teachers face here. So I am thinking about going abroad somewhere like Japan or Korea. But I do not know how to proceed. I will be highly glad if you could give me a guideline. I beg your pardon for asking you for personal favor.

I will be glad if you managed some time and threw some light on the matter at my address: rabindrobd@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,
Rabindro N. Roy

[gfell]

Rabindro Nath Roy, if you look at Wasim's location flag, you will notice he is in fact in Australia and is preparing to head overseas. He is asking for advice on culture shock when going to teach in a new country.

The classrooms of the west are different to the classrooms of the east. Just take a look at some of the photos at ESL Classroom to get an idea of the atmosphere.

In China you have those HUGE class sizes and possibly with the aid of a Chinese teacher in your class. In Taiwan, there are local teachers assisting native teachers in the same class. In Japan, typically you will be in the class by yourself, however the class sizes are smaller. Unless of course you participate in an ALT program. ALT standing for Assistant Language Teacher, where you would have the assistance of a Japanese native teacher in your class.

As to study hours, many students will spend long hours at "after school classes". Instead of heading home to play a round of cricket or kick a football, many students in Asia will head to a cram school / bushiban / hagwon or equivalent where they study study study into the late evening.

Don't expect your work day to be 9 to 5 as is in the West. You will get home late and possibly have split shifts - a few hours off during the day. I'm trying to paint a realistic picture for you here. Of course, there will always be better and of course worse jobs around.

See Culture Shock for more of an insight.

[Rabindro Nath Roy]

Hi everyone!

I am sorry for the thread that was posted with the title Teaching Does not.... I did not mean to post a tread actually. I am sorry for the mistake.

[gfell]

That's cool. No problem at all. See you around. Cheers!