Category Archives: Eikaiwa

Is a bad one to one teacher more useful than pairwork?

Posted on 04/09/2009 by alexcase

This is a question that is increasingly relevant now that students all over the world have the choice between a group class with a qualified and experienced teacher who is finally getting a living wage suitable for an adult or … Continue reading →

Posted in Eikaiwa, links, Teaching English in Europe, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL in the UK | Tagged | 10 Comments

TEFL links of the month April 09

Posted on 18/04/2009 by alexcase

Bondage as a common TEFL advertising theme from Gaba in Japan and EF in China, from More on Weirdo Language School Ads– The Atlantic “Spaced learning” (nothing to do with drugs, despite the name) and other new teaching methods that … Continue reading →

Posted in CLIL, EF, Eikaiwa, ELT publishing, Gaba, Grammar books, Guardian TEFL, links, Pearson Longman, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in China, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Thailand, TEFL, TEFL chains, Wall Street | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Two new ways of blacklisting schools

Posted on 09/03/2009 by alexcase

As I’ve worked for the school in these two links I can tell you that the changes in technology certainly haven’t improved on the usual TEFL blacklisting accuracy (although they can’t be much worse than Sandy’s recent accusations of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Eikaiwa, Let's Japan, links, Shane Language Schools, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TEFL blacklist, TEFL chains, TEFL Tradesman | Tagged | 6 Comments

TEFL scabs

Posted on 05/10/2008 by alexcase

Seems that there is an interesting TEFL strike story going on right on my doorstep that I hadn’t even heard about, including loads of juicy controversy. You can see the recent open letter by the leader of the Berlitz strike … Continue reading →

Posted in Berlitz, David English House, Eikaiwa, English Teachers in Japan, JALT, Job security, links, Teacher associations, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL conferences, TEFL strikes, TEFL unions, TEFL working conditions | 3 Comments

The disadvantages of teaching in Japan

Posted on 18/05/2008 by alexcase

“My first two years in Japan were spent teaching English… The students… studied English- or should I say, English was taught in their presence. Nothing ever seemed to sink in. Years of classes and endless tests and still they couldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in becoming a teacher trainer, British Council, Business English and ESP, Cambridge Delta, CELTA, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Dave Sperling's ESL Cafe, Eikaiwa, English Teachers in Japan, Functional language, JALT, Materials, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Problem students, Teacher forums, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching low levels, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL working conditions, TOEIC | 22 Comments

The benefits of teaching in Japan

Posted on 12/05/2008 by alexcase

Number one is that the status of English teachers is not so obviously low that when I met the love of my life and asked her to marry me she actually agreed! You won’t hear a lot about it on … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Discipline in the classroom, Eikaiwa, ELT management, English Teachers in Japan, IELTS, Job security, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Spain, Teaching Japanese primary school children, Teaching older students, Teaching shy students, TEFL, TEFL working conditions, TESOL, TOEIC | 7 Comments

Multimedia English Conversation

Posted on 16/04/2008 by alexcase

If you feel like being shocked, amused, and/ or disgusted, have a little browse through what a search for “Eikaiwa” (“English conversation” in Japanese) on youtube brings up 

Posted in Eikaiwa, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan | Leave a comment

How teaching English can save your life Quote of the Day

Posted on 09/03/2008 by alexcase

“I will practice my English with you, if you will do me the honor” “You keep alive just to practice your English?” Ken Watanabe and Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, enacting a scene set 130 years before Nova teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in History of English teaching in Japan, Let's Japan, Nova, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL blogs | Leave a comment

2007- A year in Eikaiwa

Posted on 06/01/2008 by alexcase

2007 was yet another year in which the world of TEFL made its way into the consciousness of the general public for all the wrong reasons (a crack down on teachers in Korea, English teaching sex offenders etc. etc), and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALT, Gaba, Interac, Nova, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching in Japanese universities, Teaching Japanese primary school children, TEFL | 6 Comments

Not new news on Nova,…

Posted on 10/11/2007 by alexcase

…but nicely summarized.  I take it all back about Time magazine. It may not be the Economist or L’Express, or even El Pais Sunday magazine, but they have managed the article about Nova from a publication outside Japan with least … Continue reading →

Posted in EFL exams, Nova, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TOEIC | 4 Comments