Job Discussion Forums

Andres · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Montreal

Hi,

I live in Montreal, have just graduated in English-French Translation. I am half Italian half Chilean and came to Canada at 6 months old. I taught English to children for 5 months in Taipei last summer. I plan to go to Japan in late August to teach English, learn japanese and train in bowjustsu and kenjutsu.

Tokyo is where I really want to be in Japan, both because i'm used to living in a big city and have heard that there is a big Brazilian-Japanese community there. I have been practicing capoeira for more than two years and would love to be able to keep doing it in Japan.

I got an interview with one of the big 4, but what are the chances they'll send me there (I'm sure there must be many others wanting to go to Tokyo)? Also, their schedule is from 10am to 9pm. I don't think that will allow me to do the activities I planned. Should I just fly to Tokyo and try to find a job there or go with the company (if i get the job!) and quit it once i found something that suits me better (am - 6~7pm), although i feel it is not very fair ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You will have to go wherever they send you. None of them guarantee a location, so your post will be where they need the most people.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

If you are serious about the Brazilin community thing, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka ken is the place to be, not Tokyo. Not to say there won't be a Brazilian community in Tokyo being as big as it is, but they are far more visible in Shizuoka ken.

Mosley · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 158

Glenski's advice was right on(it usually is). But there's another area w/ a large Brazilian and Peruvian flavour:northern Mie-ken. Damned hard to find a "9 to 5" teaching job there, though....

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Hi ... I agree with Lajzar... I lived in Shizuoka ken briefly and there was a large Brazillian community there... Not necessarily the capoeira dancin' variety ... more like depressed factory workers ... Nevertheless, I think if your goal is to do capoeira blah blah blah, you're definitely better off being in the inaka than in Tokyo. Pursuing all those activities will set you back a fair bit in Tokyo and you'll probably work a lot harder here than in the countryside... thereby having less free time. You say "Tokyo at all costs" ... Other than your love of big cities, WHY? Have you been here before? You may get a shock if you haven't. Not a whole lot of capoeira goin' on.

A.S.

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

Glenski is on the money.

Conversation schools like the Big 4 are mostly catering for people who want to study English after work or school. Therefore most teachers work in the afternoon or evening, like waiters really Laughing

I live in Aichi-ken, big city is Nagoya, which is north of Mie-ken (don't know how up on your Japanese geograph). The is a big Brazilian population here and I have heard of capoeira being practiced here, sorry no details.

Get ready to pay through the nose to do any form of martial art. I pay 5,000 yen a month for 1 aikido lesson a week. I not complaining because I like Aikido, but that is expensive any way you cut it. Add to that EVERYTHING in Tokyo is more expensive, I'm not down on the place just telling it like it is.

If you signed a year contract with a Big 4 school and quit for a new job before completion you would not be the first to do it. However, keep in mind that employer you work for has no interest in you doing anything other than work, that's why they are paying you.

Good to see you are comming to Japan with some goals.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

One more thing to consider if you are thinking about coming here with one of the big 4 and planning to ditch them for "greener pastures". None of them pay for airfare, but a couple of them will give you a "bonus" at the end of the contract that will make up for the airfare. You don't get it if you quit on them early.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Word to the wise: Be careful about posting a description of yourself and your intention to use an eikaiwa for the ride over. I'm sure some of the eikaiwa have people who check in on these forums to see how they're being discussed here.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Vince, shouldn't that be a word to the foolish... from the wise Wink

You can bet that if I was a recruiter for the big 4 I'd be on this board in a few different forms...

Maybe I already am.... Twisted Evil

Anyway, Tokyo didn't work out for Andres as he is now posting from Taiwan. What happened Andres... some people here gave you some great advice, so it would be nice for them to get some feedback.

Otherwise, I guess that closes this thread then Wink