SPED options in Japan
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:25 pm
Hello all,
I want to get a gauge from people that have experience working for international schools in Japan and/or are Learning Support/Special Education teachers in international schools (anywhere).
Background: I am an American male SPED teacher in my lower-30's. Less than 5 years’ experience, but with several years’ experience "teaching" English in Japan in the past. I'm certified to be a classroom teacher from K on up to middle school, but have only worked as a special needs teacher (almost exclusively with students that have mild to moderate learning impairments). I have no IB experience or training, but have a Master's in SPED as well as Reading and ESOL endorsements (for whatever that's worth). My wife is a Japanese national and we're looking to move back by next summer. If it matters, I speak Japanese, though not terribly well.
So here are my questions:
1) How difficult is it to find a job as a SPED teacher? How saturated is the field?
I am under the impression from what I've gleaned during my job search, that top-tier schools tend to have Learning Support positions but that lower-tier schools do not. That's nice in a way as I'd love to work at a higher-tier school and benefit from the better... well, benefits... On the other hand, it stands to reason that higher-tier school are more discerning and I worry that my lack of experience may hurt my chances when competing with other individuals that undoubtedly have more international experience and/or IB experience.
2) Would playing up my ties to Japan be counter-productive?
I have been mentioning that my wife is Japanese in cover letters to alleviate the concern that a school might have about her visa, but I wonder if playing that up might paint me as someone that ONLY wants to live in Japan and not as a serious teacher. Reality is kind of both, that I'm a serious teacher that is not (at this time) interested in living somewhere other than Japan.
3) If nothing materializes and we move back to Japan, and I take a non-certificated teaching position... Would I be shooting myself in the foot with regard to later obtaining the kind of job I'm actually after? Would it be easier to get a SPED position if I were already in country? Along these lines, does subbing at a decent school ever turn into working full-time at that school in your experience(s)?
Apologies for the novel. Brevity is not my strong suit...
I want to get a gauge from people that have experience working for international schools in Japan and/or are Learning Support/Special Education teachers in international schools (anywhere).
Background: I am an American male SPED teacher in my lower-30's. Less than 5 years’ experience, but with several years’ experience "teaching" English in Japan in the past. I'm certified to be a classroom teacher from K on up to middle school, but have only worked as a special needs teacher (almost exclusively with students that have mild to moderate learning impairments). I have no IB experience or training, but have a Master's in SPED as well as Reading and ESOL endorsements (for whatever that's worth). My wife is a Japanese national and we're looking to move back by next summer. If it matters, I speak Japanese, though not terribly well.
So here are my questions:
1) How difficult is it to find a job as a SPED teacher? How saturated is the field?
I am under the impression from what I've gleaned during my job search, that top-tier schools tend to have Learning Support positions but that lower-tier schools do not. That's nice in a way as I'd love to work at a higher-tier school and benefit from the better... well, benefits... On the other hand, it stands to reason that higher-tier school are more discerning and I worry that my lack of experience may hurt my chances when competing with other individuals that undoubtedly have more international experience and/or IB experience.
2) Would playing up my ties to Japan be counter-productive?
I have been mentioning that my wife is Japanese in cover letters to alleviate the concern that a school might have about her visa, but I wonder if playing that up might paint me as someone that ONLY wants to live in Japan and not as a serious teacher. Reality is kind of both, that I'm a serious teacher that is not (at this time) interested in living somewhere other than Japan.
3) If nothing materializes and we move back to Japan, and I take a non-certificated teaching position... Would I be shooting myself in the foot with regard to later obtaining the kind of job I'm actually after? Would it be easier to get a SPED position if I were already in country? Along these lines, does subbing at a decent school ever turn into working full-time at that school in your experience(s)?
Apologies for the novel. Brevity is not my strong suit...