Job Discussion Forums

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Another plus for JETS or ALTS is their work schedule. By finishing work much earlier than eikaiwa instructors, you have a better chance at finding private students. Although privates are a big non-no for JETs, most still do it and some (around where I live) get the BOE to give them extra paid work.
I would recommend the JET program to anyone fresh out of uni.

wee eejit · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Japan

Hey Adriana

I am a JET currently thinking about not recontracting after my first year and leaving to work for an eikawa. JET does pay more :about 300,000 but you can get about 280,000-290,000 for some eikawa jobs. Just depends how hard you look. I have a huge amount of debt and have hardly made a dent so far. I don`t really know any JET that has saved a great deal since they have been here. My rent is comparably low - about but I pay for what I get and what I get is a hut. Some of my friends pay nothing but that is dependent on the gig you get. Generally if you work for a local BOE (elementary and junior high school) you get a better deal that if you work for the prefectural office (senior high school). The local BOEs tend to have more cash and seem to put their JETs in accomodation of a far greater quality.
If you are placed in a city you can kiss goodbye to a great big chunk of you paycheck. A friend pays 70,000yen for the tiniest room I have ever seen. Also you are often liable for key money and deposit. Key money is a nice term for a big fat present to the landlord for having you. A friend near Osaka paid over 2000pounds sterling for this privilege.
I thought my money would go a lot farther but once I pay for living costs which can be quite high I never find myself with a whole lot left. I also live in a rural place which can be lonely as hell and drains my income as for my own sanity I like to escape every so often.
I am not sure whether I want to be a teacher and although I know some teachers here on the JET program with me, this is not a job-furthering career. If you are a teacher and are used to, and enjoy having the control of your classroom then being an ALT could be a problem. It took me 3 months to get it into my head that I was going to have to relinquish all control to the teacher. Very frustrating when there is no discipline and a class of 40. I am often reined in by the confines of teachers who cannot be bothered and textbooks which are appalling to say the least. Sometimes I get to do something creative but this is rare.
Very few of the teachers I work with show me the respect that I give them. I am treated like a second class citizen most of the time although this situation is improving. The person who was supposed to be looking after my welfare was so horrible in the first 6 months that it was almost impossible to work with her.
Anyway I am painting a really bad picture! I have friends that are both JETs and some that work in eikawas. Both have their downfalls. With JET you never really know where you could get. Would you be happy in the middle of nowhere with no train route or shops? However you have a standard working week and some of the best benefits around for ALTs. Anyway have blabbed on enough!

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

I am a JET. I don't try at all and I save over 100,000 yen a month. I have a nice apartment in a midsize town. And I find my work very fulfilling and rewarding. That's the thing about JET, it's a crapshoot and you never know what you're going to get. But it also comes down to your attitude and what you want out of it as well.

AdrianaBanana · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

I wasn't asked back for an interview but thanks for the suggestions anyway.