Job Discussion Forums

[Dancali]

I have poured over the postings on this discussion board, looked into TESL in general, browsed job ads, etc. So I have a feel for things, but I know enough to know that I don't know much.

Let's see, I'm 23, I graduated with honors from a top American University, and I have about $20K saved up and invested. I have options.

I have been travelling around South-East Asia for the past couple of months and have generally had a good time. But I am now feeling quite bored with this mode of existence and I have a need to start adding to the coffers instead of draining them at a slow but steady pace.

The idea of going to Japan to learn the language, get to know the people, experience an important country, and make $20-$30/hr teaching on the side sounds tremendously appealing. Further, Japan is a big, rich country where I could potentially find outlets to bigger ambitions in the future -- maybe having a full-booking of group privates where I make a minumim $40/hr, maybe starting a language school myself, maybe starting some other sort of business, maybe getting a top business job after gaining fluency in Japanese, etc.

But I'm afraid that things aren't as easy as I sometimes hope. It looks like the main path to Japan is through a big conversational school where you are worked with long hours in a potentially unrewarding atmosphere. There seems to be little time to do the social and cultural things I would like to do. Further, the contracts tend to lock you in for a year. Now, don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for a job like that, but if I wanted to be penned up in a school/office all day, I could end my little foray into Asia and get a better job in America. And I am sure that day will come, but not just yet.

I think JET would be a good experience -- normal hours, light work load, good money. But even if accepted, I wouldn't start my job until about 12 months from now. Besides, they don't recruit outside your native country, I am pretty sure.

NOVA, AEON, etc., sound good for a few months to get me started, but I really do not think I would find it worthwhile to stay with them for a whole year. Some suggest dropping out after a few months to find greener pastures, but wouldn't this look terrible on your CV/resume as you look for better jobs later? Besides, would they even recruit me since I am in Bangkok and not America?

Maybe I could hang out here in Thailand, get a CELTA, do some English teaching, and head over to Japan in a few months looking for suitable work once I get there. I just worry about wasting my time, and (especially with the $1400 CELTA) my money. And the idea of having to live in Tokyo for an unknown period of time off of pure savings really hits me in the stomach (why do you think I chose to travel in dirt-cheap south-east Asia as opposed to, say, Western Europe?). But every day I twiddle away in Bangkok is a day where I could be learning the ropes of a real future in Japan.

So, what do you suggest I do? All bits of advice are appreciated.

[Glenski]

JET will accept applications from within Japan, but it still interviews in your home country.

[PAULH]

[tjpnz2000]

OK, I am going to apologise right off because this post is going to be harsh.

[rickman]

"The idea of going to Japan to learn the language, get to know the people, experience an important country, and make $20-$30/hr teaching on the side sounds tremendously appealing."


How would one go about teaching privates? Is the money really this good ($20-$30)?

[tjpnz2000]

Most privates are arranged through agents or personal contacts. Basically being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. Work is sometimes advertised at International Centres and the like.

The most quoted rate is 3000 yen (about US$25) an hour. However, you have to figure preperation time, about 30 minuets to each contact hour, and travel time, probably no less than 30 minuets and almost certainly more.

Then you have to remember unreliabiltiy of your students (no class no pay), lack of medical or any sort of job protection.

Starting to not look as attractive, right?

Most teachers us privates as a way to make a little extra and vary thier teaching. For example, if you teach kids all day it is nice to have some adults for a change.

I have heard of teachers supporting themselves on a combation of privates and irregular company classes but these are people who have been in Japan for 5 years or more, are fluent in Japanese and most importantly know EVERYBODY.

IMHO, there is no way, no how a newbie could do something like this. Anyone who disagrees with me please state your case.

T

[Celeste]

When I teach privates there are 2 prices that I charge.

For friends of friends who mostly want conversation practice I charge 2500yen for a 60 minute lesson. These people come to my house. I do not do much lesson planning. We use a conversation textbook that I have at home, or we just talk or they can bring materials if they want. They pay each time they come. If they cancel, I don't sweat it because I am at home.

For groups of people who have heard about me because of my fine teaching reputation , I charge 7500 yen for a 90 minute lesson. I go to their venue. I do quite a bit of prep work;up to an hour's worth. I make photocopies at the local convenience store (10 yen per page) and I pay my travel expenses to and from their venue (400-1000yen each time). They pay me up front for 4 lessons at a time. No cancellations allowed (okay, I made an exception for a typhoon once).

It sounds like great money, but I work really hard. I have little free time, so if I am going to take on extra work, it had better be worthwhile. It took me about 6 months before I had enough connections to start getting privates. As tjpnz says, it is not steady income, and I wouldn't want to rely on it as my bread and butter. Also, I have several years of teaching experience, a good sized collection of EFL materials that I have purchased over the years, and I have a TEFL cert(for whatever that's worth). There are ways to make money in this business, but I have never heard of anyone making fast or easy money in this business.

[Glenski]

I agree with celeste and tjpnz about privates. Been in Japan 5 years, and it takes a while to acquire private students, since most of the time, people pick them up from their eikaiwa classes.

There are a lot of things to consider when teaching them (if you are serious about it, and want to provide quality lessons in order to keep your students, that is). I have created an Excel file which describes privates in Japan. I tried to cover a lot of things, so if you are interested, send me an email.

[email protected]

[ryuro]

Just thought I'd add a few more thoughts on privates.

When I was living in Tokyo I massed quite a few of them, and at first they seemed like a great way to make extra cash- and they are, BUT...

After a while I really started finding them to be more of a hassel than they were worth. Sometimes they can be your most demanding students and often want to cancel or change their lesson times at a whim. The key is treating it like a business from the beginning and basically putting down in writing (somewhat like a contract) what is expected of you as a teacher and what you expect of them as students.

Finally, I agree with everyone here who says they are really only good as a supplemental income, and I found that after working all day (or week), the last thing I wanted to do was haul myself to some private student's house to continue teaching- got to be too much of a brain drain.

In short, my personal time was worth more to me than the additional income, so I wound up spinning off all the privates I had- glad I did it too, but don't regret having had them when I did.

Cheers,
ryuro

[ryuro]

Just thought I'd add a few more thoughts on privates.

When I was living in Tokyo I massed quite a few of them, and at first they seemed like a great way to make extra cash- and they are, BUT...

After a while I really started finding them to be more of a hassel than they were worth. Sometimes they can be your most demanding students and often want to cancel or change their lesson times at a whim. The key is treating it like a business from the beginning and basically putting down in writing (somewhat like a contract) what is expected of you as a teacher and what you expect of them as students.

Finally, I agree with everyone here who says they are really only good as a supplemental income, and I found that after working all day (or week), the last thing I wanted to do was haul myself to some private student's house to continue teaching- got to be too much of a brain drain.

In short, my personal time was worth more to me than the additional income, so I wound up spinning off all the privates I had- glad I did it too, but don't regret having had them when I did.

Cheers,
ryuro

[Nagoyaguy]

I avoid private lessons, as in one on one. They are a big time drag.

Groups, OTOH, are great. Here is my take on it.

2 hour group, meets once a week, 6 students, each student pays 10,000 a month. So, I get 60,000 for 8 hours teaching.

I find the text, students buy it . Students split the cost of my teacher's manual and the CD. I copy the CD for the students.

Pay in advance, at the beginning of the month. No cancellations of the class, except extreme weather orthe coming Obon season.

Teach at the customer's office. Most businesses have conference rooms you can use, especially at night.

Good supplement for the beer budget, but I wouldn'T want it as my main income source.

[Mark-O]

I've just read this post and got dizzy from the original posters recurrent statement of $$$$$$$. Sorry, but I think you're on the wrong website. If all you are interested in is the dollar (and a quick one at that), then take your 20k and your top american degree and go and play on the Stock Exchange rather than contemplating a teaching career and neglecting an honest teacher of a job.

[ajarn]