Job Discussion Forums

urbanrail · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 47

Hello,

This question is being asked purely out of curiosity. I am wondering if it is common to see teachers who stay in Japan for more than a decade and still enjoy their experience. In other words, is teaching in Japan generally considered a lifetime career, or rather as an interlude from which teachers later move on to radically different careers. All responses are greatly appreciated. Thanks! Smile

~Bill

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

I know 9 people, two of which have been here over 15 years.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

a lot of people don`t stay more than a year or two.
Since I have been here over 4 years I have been called a lifer.

You get used to people coming and going.
At first I thought I might stay a year, but I got married to a Japanese woman. I didn`t plan on that.

I know a guy who has been here about twenty years. He will teach here until he retires but he worries about paying his bills after he is 65 years old. He has a few part-time jobs so it is up to him to save for retirement.
He never got a MA, so that is why he is stuck where he is.
He doesn`t have a car, lives in public housing, but sends his oldest son to an Australian university.

I have a Japanese wife, so I could stay longer, but at some point I will want to go because since I am foreign, how can I move up? I don`t always want to be bossed around by others all my life. The only solution is for me to go back to the US, or get certified so I can teach at an international school. I think work at an international school sounds good because I like living overseas but I would like to be a part of the school, go to meetings where I know what people are saying, etc.
At my school I sometimes feel like I am on the fringe, like a part-timer or librarian.

Half of teaching is learning, and the learning goes on. I started teaching drama last year, and it has been a new challenge.

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

I work with 3 people who have been here for over 10 years. Two of them married locals. One remains single.

Sherri · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 7:07 am Post subject:

I left Japan last year after living there for 14 years. There were many reasons for leaving and many reasons why I wouldn't want to live in Japan for the long term. A big factor was that I didn't want my kids to grow up in Japan. Also I wanted to live somewhere more multicultural. I got tired of being an "object of interest" whereever I (and my family)went. Of course I know many people who have been in Japan for more than 10 years, it is totally possible. Whether it works for you depends on your own expectations and needs.
Sherri

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

There's not much more I can add to Sherri and Brooks comments. They share similar feelings as myself.

I'm in my 13th year, completed an MA along the way but haven't "put it to use" as of yet as I've put any moves on hold while we enjoy raising a family.

Most people I've met who've been here as long as myself or longer have eventually found themselves a sweet little position offering a darned good package. I'm one of those, I suppose, where if I moved into a university position I wouldn't realise any financial gain. That said, I still plan to make a move by the time our second child (due later this month) turns two just to justify dropping about ten thousand pounds for my MA even if it means taking a salary reduction.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

to make it long term in Japan you have to like teaching and you have to have patience with your students.
Be a self starter and be sincere about doing a good job.
You have to be flexible and go with the flow.
Don`t take things personally.
You need to have a thick skin, take criticism and be humble.

Don`t always think about the students who don`t want to learn, but remember the students that really make an effort.
You have to pace yourself, take care of yourself, and get enough sleep.
Exercise helps. Get out of the concrete jungle and breathe some fresh air.
Teaching takes a lot of energy. It can be a grind.
Some people work too much and only think about money and burn out and/or wonder why they get sick.
Some people deal with stress by smoking or drinking too much, but I don`t recommend that.
I like to chill out by listening to jazz or by playing my guitar.
With teaching you give a lot of yourself, so you need to have your down time where you can do what you want to do, not just what you have to do.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Brooks--

Excellent suggestions. I'd say, though, that they are more applicable to EFL teaching in general than to Japan in particular. If doing those things led to success in (or a desire to stay in) Japan, I might become a long-termer, too. Instead, I am out of here in a month, and to be honest I am glad to be leaving.

d

Sherri · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:

Hey, good luck Denise in your future travels and teaching assignments! I wish I had left Japan about 3 or 4 years earlier than I did.

Brooks, I agree with what you wrote and like Denise I think it can be applied to any career teacher, in or out of Japan.

For me being long term in Japan would mean (as I think you said before) being prepared to live on the fringe, being an outsider all of your life. Even though I had some very good jobs in Japan I never felt 100% a part of the organization since I was not Japanese. Also anyone thinking about a long term in Japan should read the recent racism thread for more reasons why Japan is not an ideal place for the long term.
Best
Sherri