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hip-hop boy78
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 90
Location: Hip-hop land
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 Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:35 pm Post subject: westgate |
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hi people.
has anyone got any info on westgate, i checked out their website and their academy program(1 year) didn't sound too bad but was wondering whether anyone had worked for them before. do they sponsor a 1-year or 3-year visa?
any help would be great. thanx.  |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: westgate |
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| hip-hop boy78 wrote: |
hi people.
has anyone got any info on westgate, i checked out their website and their academy program(1 year) didn't sound too bad but was wondering whether anyone had worked for them before. do they sponsor a 1-year or 3-year visa?
any help would be great. thanx. |
They year long work visas (it's up to Japanese Immigration office if they give you a one or three year visa, and it seems like the decision process is arbitrary). The down side is that they only offer you contracts for 3 months. So, you will have to constantly renew your contract with them if they extend the offer. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| The down side is that they only offer you contracts for 3 months. So, you will have to constantly renew your contract with them if they extend the offer. |
More than that, you are not allowed to have consecutive work contracts with them, so even though you have a sponsored work visa because of their initial contract, you won't have a job for at least 2 months between contracts. Many take this opportunity to look elsewhere for the remaining nine months on their visa, find another employer, shift sponsorship, and get the visa renewed when the time comes. |
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babs
Joined: 02 May 2003
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject: westgate |
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| I worked for Westgate and wouldn't recommend them. (There are plenty of posts by other former employees of this company which outline their dubious practises. Take a look.) Ever thought about giving China a try? I made more teaching English at a Chinese university than I did in Japan and the cost of living is much, much lower. You'll save a fortune, get a decent apartment and lots of other benefits the 'eikaiwa' operators in Japan wouldn't dream of offering. |
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newyorkbunny
Joined: 18 Jun 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Tottori
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 6:21 am Post subject: Re: westgate |
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| babs wrote: |
| I worked for Westgate and wouldn't recommend them. (There are plenty of posts by other former employees of this company which outline their dubious practises. Take a look.) Ever thought about giving China a try? I made more teaching English at a Chinese university than I did in Japan and the cost of living is much, much lower. You'll save a fortune, get a decent apartment and lots of other benefits the 'eikaiwa' operators in Japan wouldn't dream of offering. |
Hi Babs,
Where can I find such jobs in China? The ones I'm finding seem very low paid.
Many thanks in advance.
newyorkbunny |
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andrei81
Joined: 13 Jun 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:37 am Post subject: |
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From looking at the Westgate website it's likely you'll be travelling lots from one place to the other, and chances are you'll be out in the sticks. Whether you'll like it depends what you're looking to get out of Japan. The Academy Program is a 12 month contract, University Program 3 months.
Yep, you get a one year visa, but that's pretty much standard practice, and sponsor/profession changes are easy to do. I think you're issued a 3 year visa when you renew your visa for the second time (i.e. after living here two years), but I'm not 100% positive.
81,000 yen is horrifically steep rent though. If you have the means to get your own accommodation do so, but I know it's hard if you've never been here before.
Hope this helps! |
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zorro (2)
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 47
Location: Newcastle, England
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 1:41 am Post subject: |
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it takes me 21 minutes from door to door where i'm situated. its not out in the sticks either. it takes me 50 mins to get to shibuya. considering i only go there once a week max, then this is manageable.
i agree 81,000 is pretty steep. its also very convenient for people who have never been to japan before to get everything sorted for them. for the kind of place you get with westgate, perhaps it would cost closer to 65000, but hey ho. as i said before the convenience and hassle freeness (?) is well worth the extra 15000 yen.
the general feeling for westgate on this site is pretty bad. to tell you the truth, people who feel that the westgate programme is worth doing generally don't post on here. why would they post positive things? this forum is one sided towards westgate. don't listen to them or me. come and see for yourself.
good luck. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:05 am Post subject: |
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| zorro (2) wrote: |
i
the general feeling for westgate on this site is pretty bad. to tell you the truth, people who feel that the westgate programme is worth doing generally don't post on here. why would they post positive things? this forum is one sided towards westgate. don't listen to them or me. come and see for yourself.
good luck. |
Its only bad because the people who go on it tend to get an inflated sense of importance as to the actual jobs they do, that they think they are on par with full time teaching professionals, when essentially they are low paid temp workers here the three months. The school has managed to convince higher institutions of learning that they are better off with cheaper, less qualified teachers than those with higher qualifications but cost more, while not paying most of the benefits that most teachers are entitled to.
The other thread which has been locked shows a pretty clear divide between the "westgate" side" and the "university" side.
Westgate is great for people with limited time and money, want a bite of the cherry without eating the whole pie, and they need someone to hold their hand from the time they step off the plane till the time they leave. No need for messy things like setting up apartments and furniture, learning Japanese and getting proper training and job skills. Good for people not worried about making a lot of money but want a 'taste' of living in Japan with everything laid on for them. |
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zorro (2)
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 47
Location: Newcastle, England
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:23 am Post subject: |
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paul you still have no idea that i was obviously taking the piste when i was saying 'i'm a university prof.' on the last thread.
really.
as a result of you not 'getting' it, you insist on being an ass. low paid, temp workers - not on a par with full time professionals.
i feel that these comments were designed to get a rise from us staunch westgaters.
all i ask is that you be less snobbish about your attitudes. these are peoples choices that you are mocking.
and to tell you the truth, with this stinking attitude towards us westgaters it makes me feel glad that your job security is threatened by our meer presence. dog eat dog.
good luck with your future. |
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