How to Find an English Teaching Job in Japan

Many have been asking how I got an English teaching stint here in Japan. I know a growing number of Filipinos having the same job and one of them is my close friend in the university. To those who are interested in this field, check this out.

First, if you are not an Education graduate major in English, Communication Arts and the like, take a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate course. TESOL is the term used in the USA. TEFL is the one used in UK. You can get one either online or on-campus.There are so many online courses available and the average cost is around P12,000 or $250. Just search the web using keywords such as “TEFL online course” or “TESOL online course.”

If you are currently in the Philippines, Harvest International School in Cebu City offers both online and on-campus. The following, I suppose, also offer good deals:

TEFL International

TESL Academy

Learn4Good

Second, make a very impressive resume. Your resume should be a Teacher Job Resume and not the otherwise. If you want to teach children, it would be really good if you can do a volunteer teaching job at a local preschool or kindergarten. If you live in the countryside in the Philippines, you can easily approach and talk to the teacher-in-charge or the principal of the school and have them arrange your teaching load. Let us say, you will teach the English subject two times  a week. I think most schools are very much willing to accept you especially if you have an excellent English ability. If you prefer teaching adults, then an English teaching/tutorial background will suffice. You can apply in English institutes and with the influx of Korean students in the Philippines, for sure there are many around. If you want to know more on how to write a Teacher Job Resume, this site would be a great help.

Third, post your resume in these English teaching job websites:

Gaijinpot

ESL Teachers Board

Dave’s ESL Cafe

Jobs in Japan

Like I have mentioned, there are tons of job sites. But beware, there are also tons of fraudulent cases. So, you have to be very careful and wise.

Fourth, send your resumes to job posters/prospect employers. Once you find their contact information, send your resume through email and just wait until someone replies to you. It would be better if you can include a cover letter. If you want to learn how to make one, here are samples.

Fifth, just persevere in sending your resume to different job posters. This might be only for a month or even longer. Most likely, someone will get back to you. Sometimes, employers in Japan prefer native-English speakers but even Filipinos like me and other nationalities are not, you surely have an edge especially if you have an outstanding command of the English language and are very passionate about the job.

So, have a god job-hunting! If you have any question, just let me know.

Nihongo De Onegaishimasu! (Japanese Please!)

I have finally started with my formal Nihongo lessons this month. I have been living in Japan for more than a year but my Nihongo is really awful. My Sensei (Nihongo word for “teacher”) is Mitsuko San, my Japanese spiritual mother. She has been teaching for decades and it is great to be one of her students. Most of them have taken Level 1, 2 and 3 already of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and I’m really challenged to take even Level 3, probably next year. JLPT by the way has four levels in which level 1 is the most difficult.

My Mina No Nihongo (Japanese for Beginners) books

My Pinoy friends can speak the Japanese language very well. When I have to go somewhere, I usually have a friend with me to help me out. But when I am just alone, I usually do body language. I had this funny experience because of my Nihongo inablity. During my first week here in Japan, I had to buy vinegar for my adobo recipe. I asked, “Do you have vinegar?” But the sales lady just said “Hmm? Hmm?” I went on making faces. I made a sour face and pointed my tongue. I closed my eyes, lifted my shoulders and pouted my mouth. But to my dismay, the lady just shook her head!

I had no choice but to go to school and ask my Japanese colleagues what is vinegar in Japanese. They said “su” or “osu” to make it polite. So, I had to walk back to the supermarket and after fifteen minutes, I finally got my vinegar! Whew!

A page in my Nihongo activity book

For now, I speak Cantilangnon (my native tongue), Bisaya, Filipino, English and a little bit of Spanish, having studied it for one year in college. How about adding Nihongo in that list?

I’m looking forward for my next class tomorrow. I might eat dinner with my Sensei. But just in case I will be needing vinegar, now I know how to say it in Nihongo already. “Osu kudasai.”

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Ate Kaye,Soar high in your JLPT level 2 exam!

Stray, Jong, Manuel and Jeric, hope you’ll make it too! Ganbatte!

Break a leg guys!

Could You Be Messiah To Me?

Last March, I went home to the Philippines devastated. On my first Sunday, I was in Manila and went to church with my cousin Ate Neomi. I attended the service at Victory Christian Fellowship Galleria where I used to go to during law school days. That church reminds me of teary Sundays way before.

"So, here I am again, willing to be opened up and broken like a flower in the rain."

-Flower in the Rain by Jaci Velasquez

When it was time to give our offerings, a man sang a beautiful song. It was my first time to hear it. I was deeply moved and couldn’t help myself but shed tears. It spoke clearly to my heart how desperate I was for God at that time. My soul was like parched land panting for water, still is and will forever be.

Could You be healer
To a heart that's been wounded
In a battle that's never seen
Could You be teacher
To a mind of confusion
Tell me what does this all mean

Are You deliverer
Of an imprisoned feeling in chains
Can You set my spirit free
And just one more question
Allow me this question
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah to me

Could You be father
To a soul that's been abandoned
By a world too busy to hear
Could You be friend
To a helpless survivor
Can You take away my fears

I heard them all sharing
This newfound conviction in them
Are You all that they make You to be

And just one more question
Allow me this question
Could You be Messiah to me
Please be Messiah to me

Now I've been looking for someone like You
And I'm so tired, i'm tired
I've read every book and i've sung every song
My mind maybe right but my heart feels so wrong
Tell me how much farther can my life go along
Which way do the roads lead where do I belong...

Are You forgiver
Of my most unknown secrets
Provider of all that I need
Could You be brother
The one who knows better
Would You now stand in the lead

When all this is over all the thunder and lightning
In the daylight just what will I see
The answers to my questions, to all of my questions
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah to me
Could You be Messiah
Please be Messiah to me...

Ako Nanay sanan Tatay

     Last May 8, I turned 23. This marks a turning point in my life. In this entry, I would like to honor my Nanay and Tatay whose lives are used by God to bring me into this world  23 years ago.  Their lives are the best stories I could always tell over and over again.

—To be continued—

His Amazing Grace

      Days ago, I’ve come to know more about the　lives of my spiritual parents here in Japan. Mitsuko San is a Japanese Christian since she was 20 years old. Her husband, Koumoto Sensei became a Christian only two years ago. He was a devout Buddhist then. When I knew about it, I couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement. "Hallelujah! Praise God!" With his stuttering English, Koumoto Sensei said, "God loves me so much that He never allowed me to serve another god for the rest of my life. My wife and I have been fighting for 20 years but God triumphed in the end."

Koumoto Sensei and Mitsuko San (middle) during a tempura party they hosted for me and my Filipino friends

     They told me about the history of Christianity here in Japan. During the past centuries, the Emperor of Japan decreed all Christians to be put to death. The test: Show them a cross on the ground. If a person would step on that cross, he wasn’t a believer in Christ. If he wouldn’t, he was. To date, only 1 percent are Japanese Christians. My spiritual parents are two of them.

     When I am with them, I can feel the warmth of God’s love through the way they care and pray for me. We sing together, pray together and study the Bible together. One time, they asked me what is my favorite Christian song. "Many," I answered. Koumoto Sensei said, "Only one." What suddenly popped out from my mind is "Amazing Grace."

Naohiko, Toku, Koumoto Sensei, my Chinese friend Reishu and Mitsuko San during Reishu’s Farewell Party (l-r)

     Before, I said that I am a Christian maybe because I grew up in a Christian family. But honestly, I haven’t lived the life of a true Christian. I was just professing, not possessing. Only when very dark times come into our lives when we come to know God in the midst of it. When we search our hearts, lie down on our beds and be silent, we’ll realize how we’ve walked in the counsel of the wicked and stood in the way of sinners. Before, I tend to rationalize when I do something sinful, but in the end my conscience always convicts me. "God looks at the heart" the Bible says; not on our minds.  I thank God for this great awakening in my life. If things haven’t happened that way, I would still be languishing in my dim past. Now, I’ve come to know what sorrowful repentance means. I feel sorry for myself when I feel embittered. But I just cast the anguish of my soul and  the agony of my bones to my God who can better handle them. I do lament but after all, I ask for His amazing grace. The grace that saved Mitsuko San and Koumoto Sensei. The grace that saved me.

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Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

Have Mercy on Me!

It has been three months already since I dived into one of the lowest points in my life. I was in despair then. As time goes by, God is slowly teaching me some of His greates truths.

I am human and He is God. He will do whatever he pleases that I may know He is God. I am a sinner and  have displeased Him with my wicked ways. I have created idols in my heart. I was full of pride and envy. I was too busy with life that I forgot what it meant to truly live.

He burned me with His wrath, that I may be ashamed of my sins. But far greater, He loves me and rescued me from my fallen self, for this is glory for Him. And for that, I’m in awe.

Many times, I feel so helpless. But that’s exactly what He wants to reveal. It is the best summary of the heart attitude that He accepts. He wants me to totally depend on Him and not even an inkling on myself; that apart from Him, I can do nothing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pensiero/257124301/

Let me cry out to God like King David in Psalm 57.

“1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,

for in you my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.

3 He sends from heaven  and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me;

God sends his love and His  faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;

I lie among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tounges are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, o God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—

I was bowed down in distress.

They have dug a pit in my path—

but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

9  I will praise you, o Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.”

What a sweet surrender to God!

On Captain Correlli’s Quote

Elections in Japan

Election time in Japan is different from that in the Philippines. There are things I learned here that would be very good examples Philippine elections could follow.

Last April 24th, Japan had their elections. First thing I noticed is it’s very clean  physically. You won’t see  posters everywhere. Usually during elections in the Philippines, you’ll see so many posters of candidates all around. True, there are COMELEC designated areas but do politicians stick to that rule? I don’t think so.

Here, candidates really post only in “COMELEC” assigned areas. The good thing is those places have super big rectangular boards with a  grid, in which each candidate has his/her own spot. Each rectangle has a number on the upper left side and that number belongs to a certain candidate. So, nobody could ever steal another’s space. Also, they follow a standard size of poster such that one can’t be more noticed than the other. I think, it’s 1 1/2′ x 1′ ft. You’ll see those big boards in many places and many could see them. I noticed, Japanese people usually stop by their cars in front of the boards and spend time reading the posters. People riding their bicycles and walking by also do the same thing.

A typical campaign board in Japan. This makes Japanese elections very clean and environment-friendly.

See the thing behind this? If only we could set up and follow that kind of rule, I think it would be good for us. Next time, it would be better if the Comelec will not just assign posting areas, but build decent boards with grids as well. Aside from the fact that people won’t get lured by popularity because of the number of posters, it would be very beneficial for the physical appearance of our place too. It’s very environment-friendly, so to say.

Another thing, I don’t know if I’m just too ignorant but as what I have known and noticed, candidates do less political bickering. It’s a very common scenario during Philippine elections (and even worse after that) to hear bad things from this side against the other and vice versa. What a childish way of gaining the people’s trust! How I wish our politicians would one day assume maturity in campaigning for themselves or for their party. Instead of destroying the other, why don’t they focus on laying down their agenda and their capabilities, and let people choose? Crab mentality, that is.

Finally, when they campaign here, they have their usual roving around the city but without the pomp. You can’t hear those jingles and see very big streamers and luxurious vehicles. Just plain and very polite campaigning with all the ‘kudasai’ (please) every now and then. The candidate is inside the car, wearing a neon colored jacket and white gloves, waving gently while the announcer goes on. He has his allies inside the car as well, wearing same attire and waving slowly too.

I think this kind of campaigning isn’t expensive at all compared to that in our country with all the glamor and production effects. Last week, I was with my Filipino friends and we were biking around the city at the height of the elections and they said, “Pinakamagaling talaga ang mga Pinoy pagdating sa eleksiyon,” with a sad effect. If only we can start doing a simple election campaign without those multi-million expenses, it would be more befitting. Less election expense, less corruption.

Japanese politicians are highly paid. Here in Okayama City, if I’m not mistaken, the Mayor earns a boom-tarat-tarat ￥3 million something monthly. That would be more than 1M pesos! However, they don’t overdo elections. What about us? How much does a politician earn per month? Why do they have to go through all the pomp during elections?

They should think. We should think twice.

Loneliest Christmas Ever

Grabe! Pila dakan ka oras Pasko na!!! Another day to celebrate Christ’s birth. Laman kay pinta kaaya nak diri. Inusara da intawon. First time ever sa ak buhay life.Ay laman gajud. I might go the Filipino store to attend the party there.  Hay, ngajan tungay duyom punto siguro kabibo sa cantilan. Dabo pakals sa bayay. Labi na kay jaon am mga kalumonan kay kasal ni Ingko Rudin silom. Then jaoy dajun maglibot na mga sakjanan mag-gujud nan mga lata. Kabibo lam. Then buto buto hangtud na mga utod an mga kamoy. Hehe. Bitaw marajaw na Pasko dakan sa tanan! God bless dijo!

LRG (Lahi Ra Gajud!)

When was the last time I posted here in my blog? Four months ago. Wahhhhhh! Well, this time it’s our christmas break so better post a new one.

Since August, a bunch of things happened to me at work. Extremes, maybe. There was this time I felt like I was at the lowest ebb in my life, but later I felt like I was at the top of the world. But the thing is, whatever happened to me, God has a purpose.

A lot of people asked me what am I doing here in Japan. Most of them thought right away that I’m an entertainer or a ‘talent’ (that’s the term here). Maybe because that’s the usual job of Filipino women working in this country. I really have nothing against entertainers  because I know that they are doing things not for themselves but for their family especially. Yet when they mess around, that’s another story.

Only a number of Filipinos are working as English teachers here. in fact my boss told me, I’m one of the blessed few. Most of the eigo no sensei (English teachers) are native English speakers. When I came here, I was an assistant. My colleagues used to tease me as a  ‘material girl’. Maybe because of the fact that I used to prepare materials for the teachers . If in Tagalog, I’m the ‘taga’ at school before- ‘taga-photocopy, tagagupit, taga-compile, tagalinis, taga-laminate etc. I used to set up the learning centers too. later, I was trained and promoted to teach Reading, having earned a  TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate.

It wasn’t easy at first but later I learned to love it. I realized, TEACHING is a passion that I have suppressed before. In my heart, I knew I loved the discipline but then I prioritized another ambition at that time. I wanna be a lawyer then.  “So, how’s it teaching English there in Nihon? Are you happy?,” people ask me. I’m happy that God is using me to help my family. I feel so honored too to raise the Philippine flag here and be a blessing to the people around me.

“Pano yan Aiz? Brain drain na talaga dito sa Pinas. San na ung sense of patriotism mo?” asked a college buddy.” Of course I’m still is patriotic. I won’t deny the fact that still it’s different serving your countrymen and all those Nihonjin kids. Whether I’m working in the Philippines or in another country, I’m proud to be Pinoy. In fact, I have the Philippine flag on my teacher’s desk. I just do my best at school, sometimes to the extent that I’m already burning out myself- just to prove that “iba ang pinoy.”

I know one day I’ll be back in Pinas for good. But not in my retiring age. I wanna serve there while I’m still in my youth.

Still, it’s different there. If in kuya Jun Avila’s words, LRG. “Lahi Ra Gajud.”