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Teaching with Family

 
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:42 pm    Post subject: Teaching with Family Reply with quote

Hello,

I wanted to start this thread to see if i can get some valuable information on teaching in Japan with a family. I have a friend who is very interested in taking a teaching job in Japan, only if his wife and two children were able to move as well. Both of his kids are under 3. Any advice on where he can look for a job that will assist wih getting his family appropriate visas as well? He wants to establish a life in Japan, as he spent some time there as a kid growing up. He has some teaching experience, a masters degree, and plans on comitting to Japan and enrolling the kids in schol here when the time comes.

Thanks!


Last edited by Teachstorm on Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
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marley'sghost



Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 255

PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Google

http://www.transenzjapan.com/blog/dependent-visa-japan/

If your friend got a teaching job, most likely he'll get an Instructor or Specialist in the Humanities visa, both of which make him eligible to bring dependents. So says the almighty internet.......
But if you friend is really serious, he needs to do the research himself. This stuff is way to important for "...friend heard a guy on the internet said..." .
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks. I agree. As I have teaching experience, he asked me. I told him to go to Daves Esl Café, look at the job boards, and reach out to the employers that catch his eye. If he explains his family situation, they would be able to let him know if their company will assist with visa's or not.

If anyone has advice on specific school names, or other job boards, that would be great. Anyone's personal experiences are also greatly appreciated. I have seen couples positions for Korea, and am sure that there are families in Japan teaching as well.

Thanks for the comments!
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rtm



Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teachstorm wrote:
If he explains his family situation, they would be able to let him know if their company will assist with visa's or not.

I don't think visas will be the main difficulty with his plan. If he has a job that provides a work visa for him, his family will get dependent visas. More difficult will be:
1) Finding a job that provides an income that will support a family of 4
2) What will his wife do? She likely won't be able to get a job in nursing. Is she going to stay home with the kids?
3) Where will the kids go to school in a couple years? If they are, or can get to, a native-like level in Japanese, they can go to local schools with local kids. Most schools don't provide services for children who speak other languages. International schools are in English, but the tuition would be too expensive for entry-level English teachers.
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mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You would want a job at a university or at a private K-12 school.
I know people who have done it with kids. Usually, once a child turns 12, parents tend to think of other options to schooling, whether in or out of Japan.
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Both, thanks for the great info! He has looked at jobs that will give him a work visa, so knowing that he will be able to get dependent visa's for his family is assuring. Does anyone have experience with obtaining the dependent visa? Is it as easy as going to the Japanese Consulate and obtaining them, with the proper documentation accompanying?

His wife does want to teach once they are settled in. As his kids are young, the idea is that they will pick up the language over a few years before Kindergarten.

Any idea on where to find Uni job postings, aside from daves esl? :}
He is interested in working at a private training center, at least for the first year. Once he has his footing there he plans to look elsewhere. Any suggestions for private schools / training centers? He is looking outside of Tokyo.


Thanks!
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rtm



Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teachstorm wrote:
Any idea on where to find Uni job postings, aside from daves esl?

University positions are usually posted on JREC-IN (Japan Research Career Information Network; Google it to find the URL). Many more ads are posted in Japanese than in English (as many university employers want people with Japanese language proficiency). You mentioned that he has a master's, but you seemed to indicate that he has no teaching experience, so I'm guessing the master's is not related to ESL, teaching, or education. Without a related graduate degree and with no teaching experience, universities will be out of the picture.

If he's looking at positions at "private training centers" (i.e., eikaiwa), he's probably looking at around 220,000-270,000 yen/mo.
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awsesome, great info rtm. Thanks. I will definately tell him. He mentioned today he looked at Coco training center, and Berlitz, but wanted to do his due dilogence in regards to research before comitting. I will definatwly let him know about JREC-IN.

He has a masters in history, and has taught subjects before, but not esl. He wants to get a TEFL here in the usa before he leaves.

How much do daily life items cost in Japan? Is a salary between 220,000 - 270,000 yen/mo feasable to live on? What is the average family income in Japan among locals?
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This has got to be yet another troll post. Nobody with a spouse and kids would ask "a friend" to research their futures on an anonymous online job forum.

That said, in case anybody with serious questions is reading this thread, the age of the job applicant is very important here. Due to age discrimination, once you are over 40 finding jobs becomes extremely challenging (unless you are very qualified). However, if you are single and under 40--even with an unrelated MA, no publications, no relevant work experience and no Japanese language ability--it might be worth coming here. Yes, you might have to start in a low paying eikaiwa or "dispatch" ALT gig, but with effort you can work your way up to something much better. Many of the regular posters here have taken this path and are doing quite well now. I would also try for the JET program:

https://jetprogramusa.org/
https://jetprogramusa.org/eligibility/

Among other perks, they pay airfare to and from Japan, subsidize your insurance, and assist with housing. If you are serious about coming to Japan, I would try applying there and keeping your fingers crossed. (They take only about 50% of applicants.)

If you are married with kids but rejected by JET and lack the qualifications for a full-time university hire...I personally would not come to Japan. (An exception might be if your spouse is Japanese....) Whatever you do, do NOT bring your spouse and kids to Japan just to be a "dispatch" ALT. I'm talking about the bottom-feeder ALT positions you see advertised by employers like Interac and Heart--places that have been sued repeatedly (and successfully) for their exploitative, often illegal working conditions. Here's a video describing what happens at that salary they offer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G95K0vjB3A

Finally, there have been a huge number of threads on these topics. E.g. these:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=115057&highlight=
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=116268&start=0
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=113291&start=30

Perhaps try researching these threads as well?
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This isnt a troll post. I am not trying to create discord in the forum... i came to the forum to help a friend. He didnt ask me to come here and do this for him. I did it on my own in hopes of being able to relay additional valuable insight to bim. But thanks for your patrol on these forums Smile

He is 27 years old, and having some expierence myslef in the teaching world ( China and Korea ), I have seen couples with children work in education and do so successfully. With the right mindset and time commmitment in my expierence. My wife and I plan on teaching after some time here working and saving.

These links are helpful, and i agree, it is paramount that this decision not be taken lightly. So, everyones input is taken seriously. He was talking to a few eikaiwa's, but I want tk help and make sure those with expeirence in this matter have heir inputs noted. He is not in a rush, and since we work together I know he is keen on going next fall or spring. The rignt situation just needs to present itself. Thank you all!
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rtm



Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teachstorm wrote:
He is 27 years old, and having some expierence myslef in the teaching world ( China and Korea ), I have seen couples with children work in education and do so successfully. With the right mindset and time commmitment in my expierence. My wife and I plan on teaching after some time here working and saving.

Given that his MA is unrelated to teaching, a university position will be out of the question completely. He should have a good shot at ALT and eikaiwa positions, but those are entry level jobs with entry level salaries (and more and more employers want people who are already in Japan and already have a visa). Japan is a fairly expensive country, and entry level salaries have actually gone down over the last 10-15 years or so (when I first went to Japan almost 20 years ago, 250,000 was seen as an absolute minimum salary, and most places offered at least 270,000-300,000 yen/mo -- nowadays, you see dispatch ALT and eikaiwa ads offering as little as 200,000/mo). Those salaries are enough for a single person to get by and have a little fun (maybe not save much), but definitely not enough for a family of 4.
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Teachstorm



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think he could manage for a year with a blend of savings and salary. After that, he and his wife would both be working and the double income should be enough. If he plans on comitting to the move, he may benefit from time spent. He said he was looking at EF school, and thought it had good room for growth into management.
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teachstorm wrote:
This isnt a troll post. I am not trying to create discord in the forum... i came to the forum to help a friend. He didnt ask me to come here and do this for him. I did it on my own in hopes of being able to relay additional valuable insight to bim. But thanks for your patrol on these forums Smile

He is 27 years old, and having some expierence myslef in the teaching world ( China and Korea ), I have seen couples with children work in education and do so successfully. With the right mindset and time commmitment in my expierence. My wife and I plan on teaching after some time here working and saving.

These links are helpful, and i agree, it is paramount that this decision not be taken lightly. So, everyones input is taken seriously. He was talking to a few eikaiwa's, but I want tk help and make sure those with expeirence in this matter have heir inputs noted. He is not in a rush, and since we work together I know he is keen on going next fall or spring. The rignt situation just needs to present itself. Thank you all!


There is a notorious troll who has been posting here for years under different aliases (mrpianoman, chopin16, etc., etc.). Each time, he claims degrees he doesn't have and work experience he doesn't have--e.g., he invariably claims to have work experience in Korea and China (despite knowing nothing about working in either country). Other hallmarks include not listening to any offered advice and multiple spelling/grammar/punctuation errors in each of his posts.....

Teachstorm wrote:

I think he could manage for a year with a blend of savings and salary.


You need to reread rtm's posts and look at that video I included in my post. (The latter breaks down what living on a 220,000 yen/month dispatch ALT salary is like....) Unless your "friend" is independently wealthy, he's not managing "for a year" first moving here and then supporting a family of four on an entry-level dispatch ALT or eikaiwa salary. Also, neither your "friend" nor his spouse are Japanese, correct? Who will handle the Japanese-language paperwork and procedures involved with the kids' schooling? (They will not be able to afford tuition for an international school.)
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The Transformer



Joined: 03 Mar 2017
Posts: 69

PostPosted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know of anyone who came over to work in entry-level eikaiwa or ALT and brought children with them. You really couldn't support a family on that kind of wage. Just do the math, it's not difficult to work out.

I agree, this post is suspicious. If there is someone repeatedly coming on here under different names posting these kind of troll posts, it's very strange behaviour. Somebody clearly needs to get a life.
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kzjohn



Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277

PostPosted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teachstorm wrote:
... i came to the forum to help a friend. ...


So by now, your "friend" should have gotten the basic advice here.

How about if you stop posting and let your friend take it from here? (If they haven't seen the writing on the wall.)




If this "friend" is somehow unable to figure out how to register and log on here, or they don't have 'time' (or other BS), then I doubt they have the smarts to succeed in Japan--as a single person, let alone with a family.




The best thing you could do for your "friend" is to let them do it on their own.
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