Thinking of going to Japan to look for an ESL teaching job

[MysticParadise]

I am thinking of going to Japan to hopefully land a job as an ESL teacher. I'll be needing a place to stay. Anyone willing to share a room initially. Or if not maybe people here know others looking for a roommate. Either way is fine as I just want a place to stay. I have no preference as to which city so as long as you are within the boundaries of Japan and willing to share a room or know someone that does then great.

[handofg0d]

Have you actually already looked into ESL placement in Japan? Most recruiters will offer Visa assistance and help with finding a place to live. This is probably the best route to go because you have the job (and income) already lined up, along with a place to stay. Going this route you shouldn't need to bunk with a friend, nor worry about when/where you'll land a job.

[Taucias]

Yeah, get something sorted out before flying over. Otherwise you're going to end up in trouble, especially if you don't know Japanese.

[Speed]

Is this what you are looking at?
http://www.jetprogramme.org/

If so, I was under the impression that they help you locate
a living space and also place you in a job.

[Legion]

Good luck with this Mystic - please let me know how you get on as I plan on going next year ! late next year :)

[GaijinPunch]

Is this what you are looking at?

http://www.jetprogramme.org/


2 months ago, yes, he probably was.

[graciano1337]

2 months ago, yes, he probably was.


:lol::lol::lol:

[MysticParadise]

Hi. I'm still here. I interviewed with Nova late last month and am waiting for their decision. They said it will take a month. I'm also waiting to be interviewed by AEON and ECC. I thought about the Jet Program. I may send in an application after I get some decisions from these schools whether they want to hire me or not.

[GaijinPunch]

Jet is a million times better than the other three. I've never worked for any, but know plenty of people that have.

[Yakumo]

Hi. I'm still here. I interviewed with Nova late last month and am waiting for their decision. NOVA !!!! Don't work for Nova !! They are the worst company in Japan. They have recently had loads of trouble from ripping off clients, not paying teachers plus they are now in deep financial trouble. For Gods sake, don't work for Nova ! They are the Satan of language schools. Geos and Aeon are better but even then I'd go with the JET program if I was you.

Yakumo

[ccovell]

The JET program is the way most people go, as the work can sometimes be very, very easy, and you get the weekends off for partying, etc. But don't expect to love your job.

I work for one of the large eikaiwas (GEOS) and although the work can be hard, they treat you pretty well, and sometimes I almost love my job. (Though today I hated it :-)) There are good and bad points to either.

DON'T work for NOVA.

[iestyn]

NOVA !!!! Don't work for Nova !! They are the worst company in Japan. They have recently had loads of trouble from ripping off clients, not paying teachers plus they are now in deep financial trouble. For Gods sake, don't work for Nova ! They are the Satan of language schools. Geos and Aeon are better but even then I'd go with the JET program if I was you.

Yakumo

You'd think Nova could not get any worse than they've always been but hat's off to them, they managed it.

[Wolfrider]

Actually I've heard some nasty things about Jet placement from friends who've used them and friends of friends. Issues about apartments, and transportation and just the general "the work really isn't worth it." At least at the ESL level. It wouldn't say avoid them, but don't let JET be your first choice.

I've been planning on doing this for a while myself, and from my research AEON seems like the best company to do business with. But, yes avoid NOVA at all costs.

[ASSEMbler]

I hear nova is hiring lol.

[GaijinPunch]

Actually I've heard some nasty things about Jet placement from friends who've used them and friends of friends.

From people that've obviously not worked for the others.

JET Benefits
-Teaching week is somewhat standard at around 25 hours. There are some "in office" hours where you basically play with your mobile phone.
-Government issued visa. No questions of whether you're visa-able.
-Rent is partially covered
-There are a few other things to do than teach (speaking Japanese helps w/ these jobs though)

What happens w/ Nova and the others:
-35 to 40 hour teaching week (burnout hits around week 2)
-All kinds of other shit

At least w/ Nova you might get a Nova Usagi shirt or something.


I hear nova is hiring lol.

They were ordered not to take any new students until the investigation was over. That's pretty bad.

[ccovell]

Here's one (semi-) good thing about GEOS, and most likely AEON too (as they used to be the same company): The contracts limit teaching hours (ie: add up the minutes of all your classes) to 25 hours per week. If you don't want to teach any more than that, they can't make you.

[Yakumo]

They can't make you by law but they'll sure try to make you feel as guilty as hell if you don't work longer :nod: Then they'll puul that "It's the Japanese way" bull shit on you. To which I always say "Yeah, and this is the British way" :lol:

Yakumo

[ccovell]

I've never had to point out rules in my contract but if I do, I'd simply say, it's in my contract. Here's my signature, and here's the signature of the HR department head. So it's something we have both agreed on.

If anybody makes me feel guilty for taking vacations longer than 4 days, it's my students. :-D

p.s. From Sunday I'm taking a 6-day holiday around Tokyo with my mum, coincidentally. :D

[ASSEMbler]

You can also do phone tutoring, but your Japanese has to be pretty spot on to do that.

[GaijinPunch]

My sister-in-law worked for Geos for like 10 years. She worked her ass off. Now she has a job that's in slow-motion by comparison and she's bored to tears.

Having a hard time coming up with anything else to contribute to this thread b/c I'm checking out technoviking.

[Taucias]

You don't want more than 30hrs of teaching a week. The prep work, marking, paperwork etc adds a huge amount of overhead and you'll be beaten down quickly by the stress and workload.

Also bear in mind that you'll face a certain amount of culture shock and adjustment, which can also take some getting used to and will be stressful.

I've never done ESL in Japan, but I have taught English in a foreign country and it is hard work and can be a tough life. JET sounds like the best option if you want to enjoy your time there.

[GaijinPunch]

The prep work, marking, paperwork etc adds a huge amount of overhead

I don't think the big guns make teachers do this. Other poorly abused Japanese employees would be doing that. Prep work for my classes was 15 minutes on the train, and I was teaching high level business English. O_O

[Trenton_net]

What kind of overhead do you incure naterally and what do you control? For instance, do they provide you with lesson plans, or do you make them up yourself? Do you dole out standardized tests they give you, or do you make them yourself?

I suppose if you had a lot of control, you could make things really easy for yourself (though, its pretty bad for the students who are learning from you).

[GaijinPunch]

Working for any big school, they will not only provide everything, they will make you teach "their way" even if it flat out sucks. You're not a teacher... you spew out their English propaganda. They say they'll allow you to gauge the students and find out what's best... but they lie.

Generally, when you're a full time employee in Japan you should have zero overhead. Even your transportation from home to the office is reimbursed.

[Yakumo]

Generally, when you're a full time employee in Japan you should have zero overhead. Even your transportation from home to the office is reimbursed.Try telling that to the fuckers I work for. It costs me 30'000 yen or more per month but all they'll give me is 15'000 max ! After a lot of messing about buying 3 month passes for trains I managed to get the total down to 23'000 yen but I'm still out of pocket. Dam, I can't wait to buy my new car :crying: I hate all this 3 trains and a bus to work every day.

Yakumo

[sven666]

can i ask what ESL teaching is anyways?

it seems anyone can apply even without knowing any japanese or having any teaching experience?? :shrug:

[cez]

ESL=English as a Second Language

Yes, in most cases the only prerequisite is that you are a native speaker. For smaller language schools even that is secondary. Everyone can apply but generally the market for language schools is declining and it's getting harder to find a good job. One exception is teaching (pre-school) children. There is demand for that but of course not everyone can do that kind of thing.

[sven666]

ESL=English as a Second Language

Yes, in most cases the only prerequisite is that you are a native speaker. For smaller language schools even that is secondary. Everyone can apply but generally the market for language schools is declining and it's getting harder to find a good job. One exception is teaching (pre-school) children. There is demand for that but of course not everyone can do that kind of thing.

but how does that work if you cant speak japanese? doesnt teaching language atleast require that youre bilingual?

seems to me that it must be really awkward trying to teach someone something when you cant communicate with that person in the first place?:shrug:

[Yakumo]

No, a good teacher can teach without the use of the learners native language. Just think how a baby learns language. Good demonstration and simple words are all you need to start. Kids pick things up fast, adults on the other hand.....

Yakumo

[cez]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071017a2.html

News from Nova. They won't make it much longer.

[GaijinPunch]

Try telling that to the fuckers I work for. It costs me 30'000 yen or more per month but all they'll give me is 15'000 max !

Well, yeah, I'm sure there's limitations. 15,000 yen sounds about normal. I've never lived that far out, so never had to test it. 30,000 yen? How the fuck far do you live from your work?

[Yakumo]

How the fuck far do you live from your work?Hmm, if you can see a map I live in Chofu Shimonoseki and work in Tobata Kita Kyushu. I have to take 3 Fucking trains! thanks to JR pissing about with the lines in January plus a bus. I really hate traveling to work and back. It never used to be so bad. Last year I could get a train right from Chofu to Tobata which took 30 minutes but now I don't get home until about 7pm even though I finish at 5:15. This is why I need a new car :crying:

Yakumo

[Taucias]

Wow, that is hardcore man. You must be tearing your hair out with the nipper keeping you awake at night!

As for the question about not using native tongue, it is only really tricky when you are teaching absolute beginners. Once you take a teaching course or receive training you are taught methods to teach without use of native tongue and all of their textbooks will have translations or a glossary of the words used in the lesson, so they get the idea. Most of the students you end up teaching usually have a fairly good grasp of the language or there are students in the class that are better than others that will help the weaker ones out.

The only time I wish I knew better Greek was when the cheeky ones used to back chat me. But I soon learned the most used cursing and so on. Skase malaka! Oh really? 250 lines my boy. Yes, I really gave them lines, and the head teacher would make them do them too.