Without a healthy economy, will there still be a demand for English teachers? Will there be cut-backs, and reduced salaries among Japan's Eikaiwa instructors? Will it be the end of the JET program? What opportunities exist for foreigners with minimal language skills if the bottom falls out of the ESL industry? Jason asks how this economic shift will affect you? Is it time to pack up and go "home"?
Who Soc'd It?
If your students are the best among their peers then you will always be popular.
The unfortunate thing is, the English Industy in real terms is just like any other industry and they all run their course. I do feel in Japan at least, while there will always be a market for English, it is drastically being reduced by being over-saturated with schools, population decline and simple economics of people needing to spend their money on what they deem to be more important things in life.
Another unfortunate thing is that while decent schools may have qualified or experience teachers who actually know what they are doing, many schools employ teachers with now experience and no idea of what they are doing and Japanese do not do a very good job of distinguishing between these schools.
With the gradual influx of foreigners to this country seeking jobs, it is only inevitable that the market will become very difficult to say the least. Obviously this is only my opinion.
Keith
If you have some P.T.A mothers who like you and believe in your system your in a very good position.