English Teachers Go To Court

[Mulboyne]

[canman]

I was reading this article on the Japan Today site, and then started to read some of the responses. Can anyone tell me why so many people either in country or out hate English teachers so much.
I don't really care, as I am one and proud of it, but I just don't understand why there is such a anger towards us. I know a lot of people, I don't want to use the wrod teachers here, come to Japan and just screw around and don't really help students etc. But I think for the most part the people who do come try to make a difference. Sure some are whiney and trouble makers, but I'm sure every other field have people who are similar.
So can anyone explain to me the reason for this vitriol that is being spewed towards English teaachers. Thanks

[Maths Dude]

I was an english 'teacher' well, english 'tutor' because I did not have a teaching degree. So, probably 90% are not real 'teachers' anyway. I stayed tutoring in Japan for 5 years and it was the worst mistake of my life. I would say that 1 year should be the longest time that one should stay. That is unless you want to stay forever. 'Teaching english' in Japan is totally looked down upon in my home country, so much so that alot of people simply remove it from their resume and replace it with travelling or something. Personally I look down on most english teachers?! in Japan. The only ones I dont look down on are those with real teaching degrees. 90% of the teachers who went through the school I was at were just dickheads. I hope they change the immigration system then all those dweebs who get 2,500 yen /hour wil be on minimum wages .

[canman]

Mathsdude, why do you feel it was a mistake. ANd if so why did you continue for 5 years. I agree there are some people who don't know what they are doing, and that is a big problem. But I don't agree with you about people looking down on it in your home country, at least not in Canada. Perhaps others who have been to Japan might look down on it, but for the most part people at home look at it as a good experience. But again, there seems to be hostility towards teachers but why?
By the way what are you doing now? Are you still in Japan? Are there any dickheds where you work now? I'm not looking for a fight just trying to get a few questions answered.

[GuyJean]

Mathsdude, why do you feel it was a mistake.

I've always considered 'mistakes' as growth, but your world can be half empty if you really want it to be..

ANd if so why did you continue for 5 years.

Man, you're an asshole.

GJ

[amdg]

The unreported fact is that this has been happening for three years. Each year the assistant teachers, who are full-time workers, have had their salary cut and have been forced to sign new contracts that specify a lower salary. A guy I know who has worked at one of these schools for 5 years, turned up for the first day of school this year to find that he no longer had a desk to sit at. The desk had been assigned to the maintenance crew (who already have a fully furnished room separate from the teachers), and the assistant teacher was told that he could sit at the common table.

It seems pretty obvious that someone from on high within the education department has told the schools to force the teachers to quit.

"Listen up kids!, can anyone here say 'constructive dismissal'?

[American Oyaji]

That's bull.

Sometimes I hate the Japanese passivity in dealing with interpersonal situations.

[amdg]

[AssKissinger]

I was reading this article on the Japan Today site, and then started to read some of the responses. Can anyone tell me why so many people either in country or out hate English teachers so much.
I don't really care, as I am one and proud of it, but I just don't understand why there is such a anger towards us. I know a lot of people, I don't want to use the wrod teachers here, come to Japan and just screw around and don't really help students etc. But I think for the most part the people who do come try to make a difference. Sure some are whiney and trouble makers, but I'm sure every other field have people who are similar.
So can anyone explain to me the reason for this vitriol that is being spewed towards English teaachers. Thanks

Canman, first off who cares what these assholes think? If you can support your family teaching English that means you're good at it. You have every right to be proud of that. Plus, and you already know this, you really shouldn't let crap people post on the Internet (and especially that crap ass cyber toilet paper Japan Today) get to you.

[canman]

I'm not worried about it, but just wanted to know what the hostility was all about. Honestly for the life of me I can't understand it.

[Ptyx]

Don't you know the famous gaijin hierarchy ?

I guess it's because gaijins who are not english teachers feel that they are specials. Teaching is considered the easiest way to make it here, so if you find something else it's probably because you're better than all those teachers.
That is total bullshit of course because most of the people who are not teachers are actually doing a shitty job that they wouldnt do back home. It's all part of the whole "what are you doing on my turf" thing that goes when you look at a gaijin in the train or when you prudently ask the question "how long have you been in Japan ?", when you really mean "where do you rank in the gaijin scale ?".

[canman]

Ptyx, good response. I never really thought about it that way. And I guess being up here in Hachinohe, we only experience other English teachers, or US military. And I have heard some English teachers put them down, so it might be a pissing contest of sorts. Thanks for the post.

[FG Lurker]

Ptyx, good response. I never really thought about it that way. And I guess being up here in Hachinohe, we only experience other English teachers, or US military. And I have heard some English teachers put them down, so it might be a pissing contest of sorts. Thanks for the post.

Sure, I think it's a bit of a pissing contest. A lot of people feel a certain amount of pride at having "escaped" the English teaching world.

For me personally it depends on the person and the situation.

If someone comes to Japan for a year or two and works at Nova etc of course I have no problem with that. For long-termers who have built up a private school I think that is great (no sarcasm -- a business is a business, and if it is making money legally then more power to the owner!). Also no problem with people who escape from Nova etc to move into more lucrative jobs teaching at companies, universities, or likewise.

But as a fairly career-oriented person I completely can not understand people who stay at Nova (for example, but any big school really) year after year after year. I don't mean the ones who move into management... I mean the ones who stick it out in the trenches for 6 years, 7 years (or even longer), can speak no Japanese, and generally have no desire to move on. I realize everyone has their own priorities, and if a long-term "trencher" is happy with their situation then...okay I guess. It is just too far removed from my own situation to comprehend.