Teachers
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Conrad
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Todd
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Todd: So, you know, you have a very small school. Have you ever worked for a large school before?
Conrad: Yes, I've worked basically every different type of school possible to work here in Japan, starting with the kindergarden, junior high, senmongakko. I was at a university for four years and I also did a little bit of intensive English camps just a couple of years ago.
Todd: So you said senmongakko. What's that?
Conrad: That's a kind of technical or vocational college. It's a two year school.
Todd: OK.
Conrad: Yeah, I forgot to mention that I also taught at business company classes and of course, ei-kaiwa or language school here, too.
Todd: OK, do you think that, you know, when you have your own... from a teaching point of view, when you have your own school, is the instruction different for a small language school compared to a big language school?
Conrad: Well, the instruction is just depending on the teacher I think, and right now I'm the only full-time teacher and, you know, the guest teachers who do come, I know them personally so I know that the students always have a very qualified teacher and maybe that may be different because you know, sometimes at a big school it's hard to really monitor the teachers that you hire and even monitor what they are doing in the classroom.
Todd: Right. Now, when you talk about a good quality teacher, for you what makes a good quality teacher?
Conrad: Well, I think personality is very important for one thing, but also I think students need and want a teacher who has experience teaching English. Some of my friends back home tend to think it's easy to just be a native English speaker and teach English, which is really not the case, so I value an experienced teacher and someone who's also studied a little about it and has a TEFL certificate or something like that.
Todd: Well, good luck with your school, Conrad. I hope it's a big success.
Conrad: Thanks, Todd. Thank very much.
every different type of school possible
I've worked basically every different type of school possible to work here in Japan.
'Every different type of school possible' means that all variations of schools are included.
Notice the following:
- I have inspected every different type of school possible.
- She has taught at every different type of school possible.
vocational college
It's a kind of technical or vocational college.
A 'vocational college' is a place of learning where the students are taught what they need to know for a specific occupation, rather than a wide range of subjects.
Notice the following:
- I would much rather go to the vocational college.
- He is a professor at the vocational college.
monitor the teachers
Sometimes at a big school it's hard to really monitor the teachers that you hire and even monitor what they are doing in the classroom.
'To monitor the teachers' means to watch what the teachers are doing to make sure that they are teaching the right information in the correct way.
Notice the following:
- They have regular inspections so that they can monitor the teachers.
- I think it is the headmaster's job to monitor the teachers.
not the case
Some of my friends back home tend to think it's easy to just be a native English speaker and teach English, which is really not the case.
When something is not the case, it means that it is not true.
Notice the following:
- He thinks I do not like him, but that is not the case.
- Its not the case that I was late on purpose.
TEFL certificate
I value an experienced teacher and someone who's studied a little about it and has a TEFL certificate.
A 'TEFL certificate' is the academic certification for those
who teach
English as a foreign language.You receive this certification
after taking a class that teaches you how to teach.
Notice the following:
- I am going to study for my TEFL certificate this year.
- She can work abroad now that she has her TEFL certificate.
Vocabulary Quiz
the case • certificate
Try These Lessons
Conrad talks about starting up his own English language school.
