Real Live Classroom Videos

People can't take shots like these in class anymore, it's illegal because of the issues of people not wanting to be broadcasted, but these must have been taken before it was banned. These classroom shots are a great resource.

Thank you Daniel-sensei!

http://www.youtube.com/user/danierusensei

Life as an ALT Vlog

I've been researching and reading accounts of American ALTs since I first started studying Japanese in high school. Meaphe's V-log on youtube, although containing a lot of face time, is pretty useful at showing the scene without requiring reading and imagination, although some of it functions a little bit that way since a lot of the stories are just recounted orally. However, I say a job well done and commend her for putting herself out there like that.

Meaphe on YOUTUBE:

American, in Japan, Vlogging Daily

http://www.youtube.com/user/meaphe

Sorry, I wanted to embed it but you'll just have to go to the link.

My Youtube Channel

So... I'm trying to make a body of work for both students and potential employers. It's quite small now, but starting this youtube channel is a part of that. I also might post videos of my pets and other things I like just for fun and to show a little bit of what my life in America is like.

School-Based Blogs

These blogs are written by leaders of Japanese school leaders, or are representative of small language schools themselves, and I have gathered them below:

Maxwell English School, Kanagawa

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/maxwell_eikaiwa

The Big EFL Resource Link Repository

Here are my selections. They are defined as FREE or FEE as indicated.

This is a work in progress as long as this blog is continued.

FREE

Daves ESL Cafe (this site has been recommended by the current company I work for, and many other places)

http://www.eslcafe.com/

http://www.onestopenglish.com/

http://www.englishclub.com/

Total ESL.com: Kind of disorganized, but there are some job listings and resources there.

http://totalesl.com

How to teach English in Japan

http://www.how-to-teach-english-in-japan.com/seiha-english-academy.html

ESL Resources for Children and Young Learners:

Other Helpful Sites About ESL for Young Learners:

Everything ESL.net

http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/pre_school_information_99051.php

ESL Songs and Ideas for Young Learners

Good for ideas but the sitemaster is promoting her book and CD

http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/eslsongs.htm#CD1

Rong-Chang.com, ESL, EFL For Children

http://www.rong-chang.com/kids.htm

ESL: Why Games, Stories, and Movement Activities Work

http://www.teachingenglishgames.com/Articles/Teaching_ESL_Preschool_Ideas_and_Tips_for_Successful_Classes.htm

Advice for Newbies

Source Link: http://www.121sensei.com/teaching-job-japan.html There are some good links for job listing sites there, but most things having to do with class materials are just suckering you into sites that want you to pay to access their resources. There are too many free resources available to bother with this. In the lessons

Punctuality is always good. Teachers rushing in late and having to compose themselves is a hassle. Having your lesson plans and teaching materials ready before your students arrive makes you look prepared and eager. Ease into the lesson with some small talk to get your students to relax. Speak slowly and clearly. Choose user friendly topics. Basically if it's not something you would talk about with your granny then it may not be appropriate to teach in a lesson. Grade your speech to your students level and try to be sensitive to signs that may indicate that they don't understand, e.g: avoiding eye contact, going quiet, pained quizzical expressions. Doing a brief review of the last lesson can help identify problems they may have. It also shows that you're keen. Teachers may want to keep lesson records. When possible, teachers should try to incorporate the theme of the chosen lesson into the warm up. Throw in a few comprehension checks along the way as students often say they understand when they actually don't. Allow a bit of time at the end of the lesson for a warm down, and ask students if there are any questions about the lesson. Homework can be fun (?), even in the form of quizzes and word games. Make sure you know the answers though. Final points... Schedule the next lesson... Get paid... Don't forget your student's name!

Big Recruiting Companies

These are bigger: what that means, more structure and more organization for someone who doesn't have that much experience on their own in Japan yet, good support with getting documents in line for working visa sponsorship. However, it also means more competition.

ALT

INTERAC, nationwide provider of ALTs

https://www.interacnetwork.com/recruit/

EIKAIWA

AEON, nationwide

http://www.aeonet.com/aeon_index.php

AMITY, a division of AEON focused on children

http://www.amityteachers.com/

EPION, Oosaka

http://epion.mabuchi.co.jp/english/index.html

must be residing in Japan

The Big Job Search Link Repository

Jobs in Japan.com

http://www.jobsinjapan.com/?loc=JJA_EFL_Teaching

Gaijin-Pot.com

https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/index/index/lang/en

JoyTalk Company, ALTs and Eikaiwa Schools

http://www.joytalk.biz/

My Newest Blog!

Welcome to EFL in Japan with Malia.

I'm currently a graduating senior at the University of Oregon, majored in Japanese.

Teaching EFL in a foreign country has been my dream ever since I got into French in middle school, and in high school my passion sort of transferred over to Japan。I have been studying Japanese language and culture now for more than six years and have experienced the highs and lows of learning, experiencing, and being immersed in a foreign culture. I have both great enthusiasm for Japan and also realistic understanding that I did not have when I was an idealistic teenager. The only thing I know for sure is that teaching, culture and language studies, as well as Japan are the best fit for me as all my educational and work experience has prepared me for it.

I'm in the process of applying to various jobs right now, but this blog will:

-document my journey from the point of looking for a job to (hopefully) the point of being employed as an English teacher in Japan.

-post useful resources and information about teaching itself as I come in contact with it, as well as the process of finding work.

-post Japanese language information, if you're working somewhere it is good to know something about the language

-talk about issues relevant to expats and people working abroad, mostly in Japan but some topics may brush on other countries too

You can contact me for more information. Please enjoy your stay.

ごゆっくりしてくださいね！