Job Discussion Forums

[Benjy]

Hi all, this is my first post, I'm thinking about coming out to work in Japan and just had a couple of questions for anyone who might be able to help.
My girlfriend and I want to come and live and work in Japan from January for around six to eight months. We both have degrees, my girlfriend has a fair bit of teaching experience and I have just completed a CELTA certificate at grade B.
The problem is this - We've been researching various schemes such as the jet programme, nova etc and these all look really tempting in terms of money and benefits etc, but all seem to work on a one year minimum contract basis, whereas we're not looking to stay quite that long. Also, we are both very keen surfers, and therefore would want to be in specific places, ie near the coast, which no programme seems to guarantee.
What I'd really like to know is, with the qualifications that we have, how possible is it going to be for us to just turn up at this time of year and find work, and will anyone employ us for less than a year? Also will the money still be as good if we do it this way?
Finally, are there any surfing EFL teachers out there who can recommend us good schools near any good breaks? (it wouldn't matter so much if we had to sign for a year as long as we were near some waves!)
Thanks very much in advance!
Ben and Sian.

[worlddiva]

Hi!

As per shorter term contracts, Westgate offers contracts as short as 3 months, so you might want to check them out.

http://www.westgate.co.jp/

WD

[Glenski]

You are going to find that 99.9% of employers hire on 1-year contracts. Westgate (as worldiva mentioned) is the only one that hires for shorter ones.

Look at it this way. The school prepares a curriculum for a full year with your name on the brochure. They and the students expect you to be there.

Look at it another way. Except for the JET programme, which pays airfare, the only way you are going to get back your airfare is to stay until the end of the full contract, at which time you might get a "bonus" equivalent to airfare. Extremely few places pay for it up front.

As for locations, I'm not a surfer (but I've heard that Shikoku is good for surfing; it's just not good for teaching). Moreover, if you are looking at places that hire from overseas and sponsor visas, there are only about 10-11 outfits that do that. Many of them are big, with several branches. While this may sound attractive, it does not mean you have your pick of places to work. You can state a preference, but you go where they have the vacancies. Soooooo, if you get selected for Hiroshima, and your girlfriend is slotted for Utsunomiya, you are going to be a long way apart. Most schools don't care about keeping a couple (certainly an unmarried one) together. They are in business to keep students happy. But, I think you have begun to realize this already.

[Gordon]

[PAULH]

Glenski

just in case you didnt know, Language House is based in Takamatsu with teachers in Takamatsu, Tokushima, Kochi, Matsuyama and Niihama

Not at much work as in a big city like Osaka or Kyushu etc but surfers tend to go for the lifestyle rather than the money anyway. Most surfers I knew back home used to sleep in the back of the cars so they could catch the early waves.

[Glenski]