Job Discussion Forums

[ByeBye6]

I am applying for positions to teach in Japan for the first time. What do people recommend- Working at one of the four big eikaiwas or a smaller private language school? What are the benefits/disadvantages of working in a big eikaiwa or a small language school?

[Glenski]

First time teaching in Japan, but how about elsewhere? That is, what is your teaching experience?

I would have to generalize and say that if you need the life support system a larger school would be able to provide, go with them. By life support, I mean a wider opportunity for branch offices, a greater likelihood for training, and a more chance to meet other foreigners. in the office. Otherwise, if you are fairly independent, a smaller school would seem equally acceptable.

Look at it from another standpoint. Can you come to Japan and interview? If not, you are pretty much limited to the bigger places that interview abroad, but you are also at the mercy of their interviewing dates and locations.

[ihorner]

Follow-up questions then.

If I were to go to Japan, and look for a job there, would it be better to go on a working holiday visa (I'm Canadian), or go on a tourist visa, and apply for a work visa once I've secured a job.

Second, I have a bachelors degree in Psycology. Is this going to be enough for me to find a job on, or is it becoming a necessity to have some sort of supplimental english teaching certificate?

[Glenski]

With a working holiday visa, you pay 20% tax. With a regular work visa, you pay 5-7% tax. WHVs are good for only a year, while work visas can be renewed endlessly. With the WHV, you don't need a degree or an employer to sponsor you. With the work visa, you need both.

On a WHV, you can come to Japan and start working from day 1. If you plan to come on a tourist visa status, you can't work until you have your work visa processed, and that could take a couple of months, during which time you are paying for your own expenses, and you might even have to leave the country to process the final stages of your work visa (more out of pocket expenses for you).

To get a work visa, all you need is a bachelor's degree, any major will do. To get a JOB, some employers are more picky, but most eikaiwas don't care. I have proofread resumes from people with a variety of degrees. You really need to sell yourself as a person with enthusiasm, openness to the culture, a willingness to adapt to Japanese ways, and a likelihood that you will survive the culture shock. Speaking Japanese isn't necessary for the job, but it IS for most daily living, even in large cities like Tokyo.

If you have no teaching experience or training or education, doesn't it make sense to get some? If you are only going to stay here a year, that would be the only excuse I could see in not investing in it. However, there are situations where you might not be given a teaching format and training by your employer, so you would be solely responsible for planning, creating, and presenting all of your lesson plans, and you might not even have a single textbook in the office to use as a reference! How would you handle that situation? Moreover, whatever training you might get is only going to be applicable to that specific employer's teaching format and textbooks. Learn as much as possible about all methods. And, as a side note, knowing how to make and present lessons could come in handy if you decide to teach private lessons or advance to institutions like high schools.

[joncharles]

Being from the USA, I don't think you can get a Working Holiday Visa so you are stuck with the Tourist Visa or get hired before you go and have the visa before you go. If you do go on a tourist visa watch out.. there is an earlier post somewhere in this forum about the dangers of working on a tourist visa. An example would be if the visa expired before your work visa was ready you could end up in jail and deported. Plus if you get caught working on a tourist visa.. trouble!

[shmooj]

I would say small time eikaiwa every time with these criteria
in a smaller city nearer a bigger city for escape
with an owner who is around and who has experience of living abroad/speaks English well
with a couple of other foreign teachers
who will find you accommodation

I think this setup is great for first timers as it provides enough support without an overwhelming workload and an opportunity to really get into Japanese culture if you want it.

Working for the bigger schools you will often (not always) find it very difficult to actually befriend and mix with Japanese

[Glenski]

[ByeBye6]

I don't have any formal teaching experience, but I do have a Masters Degree.

I am willing to go to Japan and interview on a tourist visa(American), but I'm a little scared I'll get caught and ruin any chance of teaching at all!

I feel like I'm losing out on 75% of the ESL market by NOT living in Japan. It's almost like you HAVE to be in Japan to get a job. There seems to be a lot of competition at the USA recruiting offices, and I personal wouldn't mind teaching at a small city in a small city.

[Glenski]

[ByeBye6]

So what do you recommend?

This is my tentative plan:
1) Get a RT to Japan end of the summer (beginning of Sept)
2) Live with a friend near Okayama
3) Search eslcafe.com, gaijinpot.com and others for jobs
4) Apply
5) Get a position
6) Go to Korea to change visa
7) Come back and start teaching!

Anything else to consider? Is this OK?

[Glenski]

ByeBye,

As an American, you can't get the WHV, so you are stuck with getting a regular work visa (unless you marry a Japanese, or marry a non-Japanese with a FT job here, or become a student here).

So, your next set of options circle around whether you want to/can come here to job hunt. It is expensive, and even with a master's degree, you are not guaranteed a job. So, the first thing to consider is money. If you can afford to bring US$4000-5000 with you while you job hunt, then I would recommend coming here. If you can't do that, then you are forced to rely on the very few (about 10) places that hire from abroad and sponsor visas. In such cases, you are at the mercy of their recruiting schedules and locations.

Learn as much Japanese as possible, for daily living, if nothing else.
Learn as much about Japanese business practices and customs.
Read as much as you can about the eikaiwas to see what real news and what gossip is available. Learn to tell the difference.
Learn what life is like in various locations, because if you are given a choice of branch offices, you will be able to put in a request, and you might as well make it an informed one.

[shmooj]

[ByeBye6]

[Glenski]