Job Discussion Forums

[HLJHLJ]

I'm sure you'd already have a job if it were that easy

Wherever you go you need enough money to a) get there, b) survive til your first pay check (possibly having to pay for deposits, key money, etc first) and c) always have enough in the bank to get you a flight home if it all goes belly up. Trying to do it on a shoestring, especially when you first start, is just a recipe for stress and disaster.

You could try somewhere like Westgate, who will pay your flight and sort accommodation out for you. Their contracts are short too, so you can test the water with teaching. But research them thoroughly first so that you know what you'd be getting into. Also, you will have to decide whether the advantages of having a job that helps with things like travel and accommodation outweigh the disadvantages of having no control over them.

Or you could look at cheaper areas, Latin America, China maybe. It depends on what you are looking for really.

[Glenski]

24 years old still living with parents and presumably not working right now, and with little money on hand you want to move to a very foreign culture thousands of miles away to do a job that you may be forced to do (teach kids) despite having some level of Asperger's...

This is looking less and less like something you should consider, for all the reasons previously mentioned. Anyone moving abroad to any country will have some degree of culture shock just in the different living conditions, but to move for work will only compound it. I am becoming less in favor of this plan. If you have not already spoken to a doctor or counselor about this, please think about it. Being independent in your own country may eventually be tough enough, but to do it in a land where you can't even sound out the written language (kanji), and where you have to be "on" every day in the classroom could be even tougher.

[G Cthulhu]

I'd ignore everyone on here (myself included) and think it through for yourself. You have some level of motivation for wanting to teach and wanting to do that in Japan, yes? You recognize that you have concerns and you also recognize that you don't have a strong basis for judging the merit of the concerns. You've assessed your current position and where you want to be and what the steps are in between.

To me, that sounds like you're covering all the bases rationally and reasonably. Time for the big boy pants to go on and just get on with it if it's what you want.

Yes, there are lots of unknowns, but that's life. I've interviewed (rather a lot of) people that have never really had a job or worked or lived outside of home. Some are good for the role of ALT and some aren't. It's not your concern: deciding if you can do the job is the interviewers task, not yours. They know what the job entails and (hopefully!) whether you could be a good match.

I've seen experienced, professional teachers crash and burn in Japanese classrooms. I've also seen people with Asperger's and the social skills of a rock (I'm looking at you, Jonothan!) be stellar teachers in Japanese JHS/ES classrooms. The important point IMO, and especially for ALT's where you are not the teacher but only the assistant, is that you go into it with your eyes and mind open and try to do your best.

The only advice I would give is stop over-analysing & over-planning it and just get on with it.

[OneJoelFifty]

[Pitarou]

[quote="kajigoddess"]I only have around $3000. My grandparents might be able to pay for certain things if I'm serious about it, but the certification alone would eat up my money. Perhaps some other country would be better?[\quote]
Didn't you imply earlier that you were interested in Japan because you knew "a significant amount about its language and culture"?

It sounds like, financially, Japan would be an all-or-nothing gamble for you. Like I said earlier, you face a high risk of becoming too depressed to work. If you can't afford for that to happen, don't come here.

I don't like trampling on peoples dreams, and I understand that you need to get out, but I really believe that Japan isn't your exit route.

[Pitarou]

Trying to be more positive than my previous answer:

Have you heard of Daniel Tammet? He is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and spent a year teaching English in Lithuania. His autobiography -- Born on a Blue Day -- sold rather well.

I'm not saying you should give up on going to Japan if that's what you want to do, but you should find some stepping stones.

[timothypfox]

I'd say go for it! With a good internet connection, skype, and youtube, people don't get very depressed overseas anymore. Some of these folks relate to their experiences in the 80s and 90s when there wasn't much internet. LOL

As for being 24 and living at home with parents, many young people live at home for economic reasons these days, and with certain cultures such as Italian Americans or Japanese Americans - this is quite normal. No Japanese would bat an eye if you said you were living at home with your parents before you moved.

As for money, you can do it if you really want to! You could do your TESL Cert through a college and get a small student loan - and that way you could save the money that you have ($3000), and get a part-time job (earn $1000) and borrow another $1000 from your grandparents. No shame in borrowing a little from family. I did a while back to become a public school teacher.

Then just go to your bank and have them set up permissions for overseas withdraws at a japanese post-office ATM from your US bank...

[Glenski]

[Cool Teacher]

[Pitarou]

[ssjup81]

[Cool Teacher]

[Yorrick85]

Here is my two cents:

Only you can assess whether you are able to live and work successfully in Japan. If you do decide to come I would strongly advocate that you develop some strategies before you arrive to deal with the gamut of challenges that living in Japan brings. For example:

Working in Japan often requires you to have a high tolerance for ambiguity. I have worked as an AET for 2 years and as a college teacher for 2 years and in both situations my schedule would often change at a moment�s notice. I�ve found it�s really important to be flexible. How would you handle that?

What strategies will you use to deal with the social isolation of living in a foreign country? How would you deal with being in rural setting in Japan (a possibility if you sign up for jet)? What strategies would you use to make connections with people around you esp. when there is a language / culture barrier to consider? What�s your plan for when you feel homesick? What strategies will you use to cope in situations where you can�t read or speak the language?

As an ALT in high school classes the Japanese teacher will look to you to bring life into what can be dry academic lessons. In elementary schools you are expected to be an entertainer. What strategies would you use to deal with that? How would you keep up your energy and motivation this classes like this?

You flagged motivation and organisation as being issues for you. In my opinion, teaching in Japan requires a lot of motivation. Without it you run the risk of falling into the black hole of �desk warming�. If you�re not motivated to give students the very best class you can, you have no business being a teacher (sounds harsh but its true).

The final thing I would advise is to think about whether you really want to come to Japan and be a teacher or do you just want to get a job, ANY job (I've been unemployed and I know how frustrating and depressing it can be!!). Do you want to specifically be in Japan or are you just looking for a way to change your life? Because if so, there are easier ways to a go about that�

I really wish you the best of luck!!

[72308]

I have Prosopagnosia. I've never mentioned it when applying for any job (including when I applied to work in Japan) simply because if you can work around something (especially a condition you've had your whole life) then there's no need to let other people know. I'm sure you have many great skills to offer employers - if you let them know about a condition they probably know nothing about then there's a chance they'll dismiss you without giving you a try.

Good luck.

[kajigoddess]

Here's an update on my situation: I just got hired today by a local tutoring company in an ethnically diverse area (Vietnamese, Mexican, Somalian, etc.). Not a foreign country, but close enough to one! But seriously, I know the area well because I have taken computer classes nearby. Fitting in shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'll be starting my training there next week. The manager already has a good impression of me.