Job Discussion Forums

[Mosley]

Matko, your post's points(and its spirit) are well taken. You're right of course: outside of some university jobs, esp. in Japan, JET is the best gig teaching ESL in Asia. Like Cinderella's ball, though, it ends at midnight for 98% of JETs(i.e. the 3 yr. limit). Allow me to put my spin on that. More to the point; the alleged gold mine that it is.
First, relative to duties and required qualifications, JETs ARE well paid. But again, the 3 yr. limit has to be kept in mind. Second, anyway you slice & dice it, Japan is perhaps the most expensive place on earth. Third, if you are young and full of ... you know, the stuff and vinegar, the temptations to spend are there in spades. Having said that, let's look at a hypothetical situation: a JET newbie arrives at Narita penniless but debt-free. Over 3 yrs. he saves $1000 CDN/mo.(an optimistic figure, I dare say, but....). Then he leaves & gets a $7000 pension refund(in about 6 mos.). So he's looking at savings of $43000 CDN. In Canada, that would give you a modest (work-free)lifestyle for... two years!
JET is great to help you pay off student loans or start some investment schemes but you will NOT get rich and you'll NOT retire after 3 JET yrs.!
Myself? I came to JET middle-aged(oldest JET in my prefecture by far), penniless, and saddled w/a crushing 4 yr. bank loan. As it turned out, I saved not a nickel but I paid off that loan(P & I) in 3 yrs. All thanks to JET. And, yes, I'm damned grateful to them for that.

[Willie Nelson]

Thanks for the clarification, matko. I see what you mean. Your experience leads you to see the "ladder," as it were. I tend not to see working in ESL abroad as a ladder. More like a big, thriving field filled with rare species, some valuable finds and a lot of thorny briars.

Mosely, you continue to provide food for thought. I'm seriously looking at some Korea positions. I'll keep y'all posted.

Anyone know anything about the ESS Jr. School in Busan?

[mcfly]

Hello. everyone out there,

I am going to be leaving for the JET program in August and I am going to be living and working in the chiba-ken area. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the region and also if anyone lives or works around there. I will be new and hoping to go out and get to know the area. I am a high school teacher in my first year out of college. I teach outside of chicago in Theatre and English. I am also actor when I have time. I am very much looking forward to moving to Japan for a year. Send me a line to say what's up or just to pass along some freindly info. I would very much appreciate it. Hope you all are having a great experience, thanks.
Josh

[Mosley]

mcfly: your question does not belong on this thread. In fact, this site might not be your best bet. Go to the "Big Daikon" site-an UNOFFICIAL JET site. I'm not a fan of it, but....

[canuck]

Nova is a step down after JET. A big step down.

[Mosley]

What Canuck said: yep!