Job Discussion Forums

[gazzby]

I'm thinking about applying for a teaching position in the JET program or through one of the big private companies which supply ALTs to elementary, junior high and/or high schools? What's it really like? What could I expect in regards to pay, work hours, job satisfaction...?

[JimDunlop2]

[Glenski]

For an unabashed description of life as a JET ALT, go to www.bigdaikon.com . I also suggest you look at the links on that site for other JET sites.

[PAULH]

JET program survey

http://www.zen13795.zen.co.uk/jetsurvey/

Take with a huge grain of salt. Twice daily.

Also read "Importing Diversity:Inside the JET Program" by David McConnell, for info on history and case studies etc . Available on Amazon.

[dtomchek]

Hey:

Well, if you go JET, it will not be until next year...apps come out in September...also depends upon placement...I make 330000 Yen per month and only have 11000 Yen in rent...no car...very little work (only 1-3 classes per day) so it is really easy and a lot of money ...I am leaving after 2 years as I think it is time...you cannot go wrong with JET as it is more money for less work that any private company which usually offers 250,000-280,000 Yen for more work.

It is just a pain to get into! GOOD LUCK!!!

[fluffyhamster]

The pay will almost certainly be higher on JET (but bear in mind that's mainly because you'll be required to pay into national pension and health insurance schemes, the former of which you can partially reclaim when you leave Japan), and there are more perks generally (e.g. flights to and from home country paid, substantial assistance with accomodation, much of which has been set up and running smoothly for years already); remember also that there are orientations and a sizeable JET community to be found (potentially good for socializing, information, and networking), especially if you end up working in or near a larger town or city.

Dispatch companies, on the other hand, have if anything been reducing wages (in an attempt to outbid competitors) - there might not be any assistance with accomodation, and probably none with flights - and you will probably be under a fair bit more "pressure" from your company and the "customers" (the cash-strapped local government guys), especially the former, to act professionally at all times (perhaps there'll be set school times and a formal dress code, whereas JETs can often get by with rolling in late or leaving early, in casual clothes).

I've worked in both types of job, and the JET position was by far the more preferable...that being said, you sometimes hear of lousy host institutions and people not having a very good time on JET (location also has a lot to do with it, and it's a bit of a lottery, much moreso than with dispatch companies, because at least with dispatch companies they advertise positions in specific areas), so even if you won't be pleasantly surprised with a dispatch company, at least you hopefully won't be drastically and UNpleasantly surprised!

Regarding the actual job itself, the duties and expectations are pretty similar (you work in public highschools for both JET and dispatchers), although as I said above, things may be a bit more laid-back on JET, especially if you live in the area and can socialize more easily with the teachers after school. Bear in mind also that dispatch companies may expect (ask or offer) you to do extra work, potentially in eikaiwa-style settings, if you have days that are not scheduled at a school, and you may find yourself being paid by the day and with no paid leave at all if you are ill or want to take a holiday during term time (sucks I know, but at least with such an arrangement with a dispatch company, you won't have to report to the local government's education office every day during school holidays just to justify being paid the fixed juicy JET monthly salary).

[JimDunlop2]

dtomchek: I thought that JETs who taught so few classes and were overall not busy would be moved around to help out at other schools in addition to their own. (At least that's what my friend who's on JET told me).

[dtomchek]

Hey,

well, I do not know what goes on in different areas. I know here, we are each assigned different schools. I have 5 schools to go to. 2 Jr. Highs and 3 elementary schools. I am scheduled to go to a school on a given day and I go. Today, I had no classes. Next Tuesday, I have 5 classes (though this is unheard of in the 2 years that I have been here). But a JET always goes to the same 3 or 5 or 7 schools and only 1 school per day whether they have anything for you to do or not. At least that is how it works here.

Stay Genki

[gazzby]

Do all the teachers in the Jet program teach the same curriculum? Who provides it? I have heard that some teachers have to make various curricula as they are given insufficient, irrelevant, and/or difficult material to work with. Is this true?

[PAULH]