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Saturday 27 July 2013

The ESL Job Search Continues – Peppy Kids Club

So Peppy Kids Club has become the fourth interview in my expedition to find work teaching English abroad – and the third for Japan.

If it isn’t obvious by now, it’s an after school club of sorts that caters primarily to children. They say they’re the third largest school of this jurisdiction in Japan but the number one for children. Sounds good to me. Very reputable even.

I will admit, however, that I did have my reservations. I’d read mixed reviews online, but after speaking with a couple of people who had actually worked there, I decided to send in an application. My interview was scheduled for two weeks later and so off I went.

I arrived forty-five minutes early to this one. A downgrade from the ECC interview, but still way too early so I dossed about for thirty of those minutes – found a skirt in Topshop that I think I’ll buy next week – and then eventually went in.

My interview commenced with a grammar and writing test. The grammar test questions were pretty standard – identify the error and insert the correction type stuff. For the written part of the test, I had to pick one question and write a 300 word (or less) essay type response. Halfway through this section, my pen ran out of ink so I had to embarrassingly step out of the room and ask for a pen. Fortunately, the interviewer was really nice about it. She gave me one and told me to keep it.

The second part was a presentation. I knew most of the information already, but there were some handy parts that I didn’t know or had actually intended to ask questions about. The interviewer was really pleasant and made me feel at ease. I was then shown a DVD of a typical Peppy Kids lesson and got some laughs out of it.

The third part was the section I’d been dreading, but interview questions are pretty much the highlight of every interview, aren’t they? Fortunately for me, I’d done some research beforehand and some of the questions that people had mentioned actually came up in the interview so I had some answers ready. There was one question that did catch me out, however, despite the fact that I had looked it up.  I was asked how I’d deal with two disruptive students so I talked about introducing a merit system. I was then asked what I would do if it didn’t work. I actually went quiet for a moment because I hadn’t expected this, but somehow managed to churn out an answer about channelling that energy into something positive. I have no idea how I pulled that one out as in general, I don’t really feel like I interview too well.

The final part was my teaching demo. I’d pre-planned this and I’m glad I did because initially I wasn’t going to and the interviewer seemed very pleased with this. (I think my experiences with ECC might have potentially made me lazy). Overall, however, this went okay as well.

They took my photo and I nearly walked out without the documents that I was supposed to bring.

This included both my original degree certificate and my passport.

What the fuck?

Overall, I thought it went well but the last time I thought something went well, I got rejected, so we’ll have to wait and see.

I was told it would be ten days before I hear anything.

Let the countdown begin.



36 comments:

  1. Hello! thank you for sharing this. i'm so grateful that i found your blog! ^__^v
    i'll be having an interview with PKC next weekend and i'm so nervous as this is my first time to be interviewed in person. may i ask about your teaching demo? how long was it? could please share the interview questions that were asked?
    your help would be greatly appreciated.
    thank you so much!

    PS: Congratulations! I've read in your other post that you got in. i'm so happy for you. ^__^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous.

      Thanks for reading my blog. Don't worry too much about the interview. The lady who interviewed me made me feel quite relaxed. Teaching demo wasn't that long at all. I think mine lasted for around five minutes. My advice would be to hunt around the internet in regards to questions. This is what I did and it turned up some useful stuff. You'll get some of the standard interview questions, I reckon e.g. Why Peppy?...etc, but a few situation questions as well such as "what would you do if..." sorta thing.

      Best of luck with your interview. I'm sure you'll be fine. =)

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much! ^__^v

      Delete
  2. this is really helpful..i got an idea on how should i prepare..i don't have proper experience when it comes to teaching..i just did volunteer works for our church school programs, so this is really helpful to me..thanks!!

    i don't have the date for my interview with Peppy Kids Club yet, but i'm crossing my fingers for it..i just received an email from them this morning asking me if i'm still interested for the position and asked me to send my response and then they will send me the details of the venue where the interview will take place..so now i'm waiting..

    may i ask about the result of your interview?? ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While teaching experience is useful, it's not the be all and end all with Peppy Kids or with a lot of eikaiwa for that matter. I'm pretty sure there were some people who managed to get in with absolutely no experience whatsoever so don't worry too much about this. Just show them the best of yourself. Enthusiasm is paramount. =)

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    2. Hello fellow anon!

      Will you be interviewing in Japan? if not, where? ^__^

      Delete
    3. Hello Melissa!
      My name is Qoqo, btw. ^_^ not to be confused with other fellow anons. ^^ anyway, I know this is a stupid question but did they asked you for a self intro? if so, how long did you do yours? and was your interview a one-on-one or was there other candidates in the same room? how long was your interview? sorry for asking too many questions.. ^___^"

      Thank you so much!

      PS: your posts and info are the most helpful and the best out there, no joke. ^__^

      -Qoqo

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    4. I also forgot to ask, did they have a copy of your resume or your online application form? or did you have to bring a copy of your resume then hand it over to them during the interview?

      my past interviews were all just thru skype or by phone and the questions asked were rather more on my availabilty, etc. so this kind of interview with PKC is really different. ^^

      -Qoqo

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    5. Hello Qopo.

      I didn't do a self intro and I didn't bringing in my CV either. For my interview, it was one on one so I felt a lot more at ease than I did at my JET interview. The whole thing took around a couple of hours or so, but I think that you're told how long it will be anyway.

      Best of luck to you.

      Delete
    6. Hi melissa!

      about the grammar test you said, "identify the error and insert the correction type stuff." does that mean that type of speech, grammar concepts, etc. were not included? was it like the super easy grammar test, like the ones you can just practice online?


      thanks so much! ^^

      -Qoqo

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    7. If I'm honest, I don't really know how to respond to this one as it's been a while since I did it. Beforehand I had actually studied for a grammar test for another company so I didn't go hard with the preparation for this. I only went over things that I was a little wobbly on. A couple items stumped me but then I have a problem with over-analysing things because truthfully, it was mostly common sense. however.

      Delete
  3. oh you got the job..sorry i got excited on posting and i didn't read all ^_^V
    congrats then!!

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  4. do they prefer those who know how to speak and write Japanese? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. Not at all. They prefer native English speakers.

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  5. hi..just a question, is the pay less if the teacher is let's say an Asian? because i read somewhere that it is less..is that true?

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  6. good day/noon/eve to you!
    thanks for this blog. very helpful.
    may i ask if do you already know where in japan you will be assigned? :)
    congrats btw ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry. I haven't got a clue yet. Could be anywhere.

      Delete
    2. oh i see..thanks ^_^

      Delete
  7. hi jem ^_^ congrats on getting the job!
    i just want to know, did you hear from them exactly after 10 days or was it earlier? ~ thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. hi Jem (⌒▽⌒)☆ this is Anna..
    i would just like to ask if PKC pays for your plane ticket?
    because i've read in some blogs that some Eikawas do not pay for the plane tickets..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anna.

      PKC doesn't fund your air fare unfortunately. I don't think there are many eikaiwas that will fund your plane ticket. I have heard that some will reimburse you upon contract completion but the only project that I know that pays for your flight to Japan is JET.

      Delete
    2. i see (⌒▽⌒)☆ thanks for answering..

      Delete
  9. Hi jem! what did you do for your demo? ^__^ thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous.

      There are loads of different lesson plans/content out there. http://www.eslkidstuff.com is a good place to start.

      Good luck with your interview.

      Delete
  10. hi jem..
    this is joy ^_^
    i have an interview on the 19th, and if i passed that, i will be having a demo on the 20th..
    how long did your demo take if i may ask??
    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your format might be a little different. Mine was 5 minutes tops.

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  11. oh i see..thanks ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  12. hi jem :)
    there are other Asian countries looking English teachers too but why did you choose Japan??is it better than teaching in, let's say, Korea??
    i'm thinking of applying too..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Based on what I've read, the South Korean job market is blowing up at the moment. There is a lot of ESL work there but Japan still has its fair share of jobs too. China, also. Hong Kong, Taiwan...etc. So certainly keep your options open if that's what you want.

      I picked Japan because I've always been interested in the country and its culture more than any other Asian country. It just fits for me.

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    2. oh thanks ^_^ ~ will certainly keep my options open..

      Delete
  13. Hi Melissa!
    Well, I got the job at Peppy! Thanks so much for your post!
    May i ask if you've already got your visa and coe processed? how long did it took?

    Thanks again!
    -Qoqo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Qopo.

      Congratulations on getting the job. The recruitment office will soon issue you with a guide book that will have answers to just about everything. CoE didn't take very long at all but they send off for it so that it coincides with your expected arrival date. (I reckon mine took around 2 weeks). They only last 3 months, you see. The visa took even less time. I got mine within 3 days. My advice to you would be to join the PKC Facebook group. Even though it's at times quite quiet, it was always a help to me.

      Delete
  14. Hi Melissa,

    Firstly, great blog!
    I am planning to teach for PKC too. I aim to arrive for the training in March 2014. How is your experience so far with PKC? I have read many other blogs and forums saying PKC requires a lot of travelling and the housing is not very good.
    Any of these true in your opinion?

    Many thanks!
    Diane

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    Replies
    1. Hello Diane.

      Thanks for reading my blog.

      Based on what you've read, I can confirm that yes, travelling is quite important as you'll be required to work at multiple schools (this isn't really a secret however). As for housing, I quite like my house. It's actually quite new and a decent size for me. Gets quite cold but that's Japanese housing for you.

      I've only been here a month and I'm still settling in. Peppy will be what you make of it. All the best for your arrival in March. =)

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