Student at Sophia doing research on Language Teaching in Japan

[TanakaShinichiro]

Hello,

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Shinichiro Tanaka and I am currently a second year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts department in Sophia University majoring in international business and economics.
I am currently doing a research project for a sociology and comparative culture course on the unique obstacles faced by language teachers teaching in a foreign country. I am also interested in the technology or teacher management tools associated with and used most commonly by teachers.
I am finding it difficult to set up interviews with JALT teachers or language teachers in general so if the experienced teachers here could point me in the right direction, it would be very much appreciated! Any input, suggestions or advice will be much appreciated.
This gaijinpot forum seems to be overflowing with experience in a wide range of fields all concerned with Japan so it got me very excited when I found this website! I hope to be posting more in the future .
Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

Shinichiro Tanaka

If any teachers are willing to do interviews please contact me through private messaging.
Thank you in advance!
My gmail: help.shin.out@gmail.com

[KansaiBen]

I am finding it difficult to set up interviews with JALT teachers or language teachers in general so if the experienced teachers here could point me in the right direction, it would be very much appreciated! Any input, suggestions or advice will be much appreciated.
This gaijinpot forum seems to be overflowing with experience in a wide range of fields all concerned with Japan so it got me very excited when I found this website! I hope to be posting more in the future .
Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

Shinichiro Tanaka

The best idea would be to attend a JALT meeting in your local area. look up the particular Chapter or SIG on http://www.jalt.org or try to attend a conference or chapter meeting somewhere. I think the Event link has info on when meetings are being held. Non-members pay 1000 yen to attend a JALT meeting. If you are interested in technology then the CALL SIG is probably the best place to start (Computer Assisted Language Learning).

Im happy to answer any questions you may have.

[TanakaShinichiro]

The best idea would be to attend a JALT meeting in your local area. look up the particular Chapter or SIG on http://www.jalt.org or try to attend a conference or chapter meeting somewhere. I think the Event link has info on when meetings are being held. Non-members pay 1000 yen to attend a JALT meeting. If you are interested in technology then the CALL SIG is probably the best place to start (Computer Assisted Language Learning).

Im happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for taking the time to reply!
I will try to locate a JALT meeting to go to!
I have never heard of CALL SIG but I will chart to look it up.
Do you know of where I could meet non JALT language teachers? For example, international school teachers, small language school teachers, etc.

[KansaiBen]

Thank you for taking the time to reply!
I will try to locate a JALT meeting to go to!
I have never heard of CALL SIG but I will chart to look it up.
Do you know of where I could meet non JALT language teachers? For example, international school teachers, small language school teachers, etc.

Generally speaking international school teachers don't teach language per se, they will teach their given subject IN English, i.e. English is the method of instruction to teach something else eg mathematics or music.

My advice would be to contact the various international schools and ask if you can send a survey or conduct a phone interview. Teachers at international schools to my knowledge do not really meet outside their own schools, except perhaps education conferences etc.


http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/int...l_schools.html

For language teachers try ELT meetings (its the equivalent of JALT which is mainly made up of university teachers, ELT is patronised by high school, elementary school teachers, small language school owners, ALTs etc.


Another avenue is the JET program though Im not aware of an alumnae existing in Japan.

Japan Association of College English teachers

http://www.JACET.org

[well_bicyclically]

Hello,

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Shinichiro Tanaka and I am currently a second year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts department in Sophia University majoring in international business and economics.
I am currently doing a research project for a sociology and comparative culture course on the unique obstacles faced by language teachers teaching in a foreign country. I am also interested in the technology or teacher management tools associated with and used most commonly by teachers.
I am finding it difficult to set up interviews with JALT teachers or language teachers in general so if the experienced teachers here could point me in the right direction, it would be very much appreciated! Any input, suggestions or advice will be much appreciated.
This gaijinpot forum seems to be overflowing with experience in a wide range of fields all concerned with Japan so it got me very excited when I found this website! I hope to be posting more in the future .
Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

Shinichiro Tanaka

To lure the illusive JALT member out of hiding, you need to provide free food, free alcohol, and the opportunity for them to receive large volumes of smoke, to be inserted rectally, amidst an audience of their peers....

[TanakaShinichiro]

Generally speaking international school teachers don't teach language per se, they will teach their given subject IN English, i.e. English is the method of instruction to teach something else eg mathematics or music.

My advice would be to contact the various international schools and ask if you can send a survey or conduct a phone interview. Teachers at international schools to my knowledge do not really meet outside their own schools, except perhaps education conferences etc.


http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/int...l_schools.html

For language teachers try ELT meetings (its the equivalent of JALT which is mainly made up of university teachers, ELT is patronised by high school, elementary school teachers, small language school owners, ALTs etc.


Another avenue is the JET program though Im not aware of an alumnae existing in Japan.

Japan Association of College English teachers

http://www.JACET.org

Thank you for all your help!
I feel as though international schools will have many connections to language teachers and I could perhaps find some through them?
This is just guess, tell me I'm wrong :/.
This is a lot of new information so I will look through all the links and organizations you have suggested !

[Kionon]

Honestly, if you just lurk for a couple of days or weeks, you should be able to pick up a lot of what you want to know right here on the forums.

The issues we face are talked about ad nauseum.

[KansaiBen]

I feel as though international schools will have many connections to language teachers and I could perhaps find some through them?
This is just guess, tell me I'm wrong :/.
This is a lot of new information so I will look through all the links and organizations you have suggested !

Generally teachers at international schools are licenced and qualified teachers and dont really regard language teachers as "real" teachers or on the same level or rank as themselves. Schools are no different than elementary or junior high schools you will find in western countries and cater mainly to bilingual children and expat families.

They don't have much in common except for the fact both usually speak English.

[Glenski]

I have not met any international school teachers in the fourteen years I have taught here. Look up nonJALT teachers at ETJ meetings, JET functions, or public schools (ALTs).

[vallient]

There are only about 20 international schools in Japan (and 8 of them are in Tokyo). Most of them don't consider language teachers real teachers, but the ones in Tokyo are:

American School in Japan
British School in Tokyo
Canadian International School
International Secondary School
KAIS International School
Nishimachi International School
Seisen International School
Tokyo International School

[TanakaShinichiro]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to this thread for all the information!
I will try to contact all the prganizations mentioned to get interviews.
If anyone knows of someone willing to be interviewed by a student, or is someone who is willing to beinterviewed
Pease let me know !
It would be much appreciated!