TESL for Kids is Really the Hot Ticket?

[ticadel1]

Fantastic to avail of these wonders of modern technology - internet message boards. Imagine what we'd not do without them. Well, I don't have to imagine, because last I was in Japan message boards didn't exist, so gaijin had nothing to go on but the resources of our small personal circles. Now it's potentially anyone, anywhere - incredible!

Here's my question, but I ought to start with a sentence of personal history, so's someone could have an idea where I'm coming from.

I lived in Japan from 1989 to 1994 and taught ESL to adults and did rewriting work. Then I moved to Latin America, and for the last couple years I've been kind of dreaming of going back to Japan - that's how much I liked it.

Problem, however, being that I'm 46 years old now, and thinking I might be "over the hill" when it comes to teaching adults.

But here I read these two articles, this one:

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=feature&id=631

"English education business for kids thriving,"

and this one:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20040422f1.htm

"English classes all the rage at elementary schools"

and I'm wondering if there really are good opportunities to teach ESL for kids?

Also thinking that with kids, my (advanced) age wouldn't be an issue.

Does anybody in Japan now have an ear to the ground about these things?

Thanks, one and y'all.

[DJEB]

Your age won't be a problem. There's plenty of ESL teachers out there older than you. Also, if you can and want to teach kids, I think that you wouldn't have much problem finding work.

[ticadel1]

If ESL for kids is raging, you think by any chance you could go ahead and start your own school yourself? The assumption here being that there is such a good demand, you could organize classes partnering with a Japanese partner - if say you're in a small town where they don't yet have jukus already representing major competition.

Also, do you think the special ESL credential for teaching children make much difference? It's the Advanced Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners (CertTEYL), offered here http://www.teyl.com/

[DJEB]

I think credentials would help, yes. I also think that it would be possible to open a school, but I'm not too sure on how business would be in a "small" town. You'd really need to be here and check out the community in question to see if there was enough demand for such services...

[imagineyoung]

Certainly possible to open a school up in a country town. You do need contacts and sponsorship. Help if you like the life too.
Teaching certificates won't help, a good and effective teaching system and good dedicated teaching will.
Forget the mainstream books - Let's Go etc. They are pap. As an Aussie surfer friend said to me, the main surfboard making companies make adequate surfboards that allow poor to adequate surfers think that they are any good.
Good teaching, good networking, nice marketing and you can boogie.