[MMM]

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

Regardless, these people you speak of still came to Asia to see asia, not to teach. Teaching was just a viable option for them to get over here, and that's a fact. That's why we have people come here every day asking about how to get teaching jobs in Japan. It's a surefire visa. If it didn't matter where they went to, that all the more affirms my point.

I know plenty of people who can to Japan to TEACH, not came to JAPAN to teach. JET is a great way to get real classroom experience without having a master's degree or teaching certificate, and it looks good on a resume, especially of one stays for more than one year.

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

I don't think we're on the same page. I don't really have any beef with JET. At least they try and have the ALT thing kind of working. What I'm more referring to are eikaiwas like NOVA/GEOS who got shut down for bankruptcy, embezzlement, etc. Sounds great, huh?
But it's not elitist or condescending. Just like how you studied Japanese with the goal of getting to Japan, people go to school to be teachers if they really want to teach. How is that any different?

I only really know the JET program, but it is condescending to say "If you want to be a teacher, then get the proper education, but don't come to Japan to do it. JET is basically an apprenticeship, and not all of the people on the program are weeaboos and bad teachers that don't care about their schools or students.

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

Read what you said though. You came to Japan through the Jet program to see if you wanted to test out teaching? How the hell does that make sense?

Hundreds of people do it every year.

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

They just hire you without any teaching qualifications because you feel like trying it out, and it will get you your visa? So it's a game? If you don't like it, you can just quit? And you've wasted some poor family's money who was expecting a quality learning experience? Once again, this isn't necessarily directed at Jet, but the entire industry.

Again, I don't know about anything besides JET, but I think you are oversimplifying my statements and the English education industry. No, I was not hired just because I wanted to try it on like a jacket in a suit shop. JET is not throwing people into classrooms with a piece of chalk and a text book. Like I said, it is an apprenticeship. Rarely was I "alone" in a classroom without another teacher. Obviously I had to show a real interest, energy and dedication to my interviewers to get hired. I stayed as long in Japan and at my school as the program allowed at the time. It is made clear from the beginning if you quit before your contract is up you are going to make real problems and headaches all around.

The reason young graduates are hired for these kinds of jobs is they have the ability to actually go. It may be a kind of discrimination, but bringing a single graduate to Japan and housing them is much cheaper and simpler than bringing a college professor, his wife and their three kids.

I don't know what you mean by game, but right after college is many people's only chance to "see the world" before settling down.

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

I'm not going to kid myself and say I'm a "teacher" if I get some sh*tty job regurgitating mock conversations out of a textbook. That's a disservice to those who actually have a passion for teaching.

If all you do is regurgitate mock conversations out of a textbook, I wouldn't call yourself a teacher either. However if you work with your colleagues well, make lesson plans that will stimulate students interest, take time after school to help kids one-on-one, participate in school activities and clubs with pride and enthusiasm, then I think you can call yourself a teacher.