Roswalle's Workstation

Smaller schools are generally categorized as having something akin to a family or community atmosphere. In a small school the teacher plays a bigger role ... He gets more say in things like choosing textbooks, deciding what to teach and deciding the most convenient schedule for both teachers and students. In the big school the management staff will decide what to do regardless the opinion of the teacher and the student. In the small school there are fewer students so the teachers know all of them very well. It would seem that small schools are more convivial places in which to work you are appreciated, teacher opinion carries more weight and has a much larger degree of control over what and how you teach. But there is a downside. Teachers who worked in small schools often spoke of feeling under more pressure there than in big schools. If a tiny cog in a huge machine breaks down, it's unlikely the whole thing will come to a shuddering halt. That's not the case when the teacher is the machine. Another common sentiment was the difficulty in leaving work behind in a small school. Teachers spoke of receiving e-mails and telephone calls from their bosses (students) at unsociable hours and on days off. This rarely happen at large schools unless you are in a management position. "There are many good places to find English-language teaching work in Japan, but unfortunately they seem to be becoming fewer in number. That’s all folks see you next time. Bye!