Job Discussion Forums

Jetset · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 74

I want to fly over to Japan and check out the scene, but I dont really feel like slaving away in a boring classroom environment to pay the bills.

Is it possible to fly over and post a few ads up and basically live off private lessons?

What is the going rate for them over there?

Thanks!

JS

Cool

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

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

What Paul said.

mrjohndub · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 198 Location: Saitama, Japan

PAULH, well put.

On a related note, do you have any tips for acquiring private students? I'd like to put my feelers out for some extra work, but I live in suburbia and don't think the typical 'visit your local community center' advice would work well for me here because (a) I've been to the community center here and it's %#@$ (b) I have current, gossipy students employed there and (c) my Japanese is poor, necessitating help with anything I might wish to post. The most immediate help would be from my coworkers, not a good idea, or from my friends, who themselves are closely related in some way to my employer. The websites that exist to promote connecting teachers seeking students and students seeking teachers look like a waste of time on the surface. I could be wrong on that. Any thoughts?

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

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

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

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

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

I would suggest working for '7act' for the best odds of getting students.

They usually have serious students, not flakes.....they pay 3000 yen an hour and that is not negotiable.

You should have text books before trying to get hired however. Something like the New Interchange series.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Yeh. I too, like Glenski, was going to point out that it would be impossible to do without a visa. They won't give you a visa for coming to teach private students.

Even if you got that obstacle out of the way, the problem with having only privates is that they generally aren't reliable enough to make a full-time living. They're always rescheduling, not coming, quitting, etc... If you have 1 or 2 students you won't see that side of private teaching so much, but once you assemble a larger number to make ends meet, it will become a major issue.

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

I have a mate who did it this way. Came out, worked for an eikaiwa for a year or two, then quit, went it alone, but in a different city. He rented a place to live for cheap from someone he met, and now does a variety of privates and part time work. He's not making that much and is still suplimenting himself with savings, but in about three months managed to get himself up to about 160,000 worth of work, which I thought was pretty impressive. Mostly throught hard work, meeting people, placing ads. Of course now his visa is about to run out, so he's looking for a full time position. Its been hard for him, with the usual students trying to get a deal, not turning up, not paying etc, and I'm not sure he's found it worth it. By the way, he speaks excellent Japanese.

I think to just come out and do it is impossible. All of the people I've known who do/did full time and ongoing it are married to Japanese people. I know a lot of people who have one or two on the side, but it takes time to build them up, and you get tons of time wasters. I had a girl last week wanting me to teach her Cambridge Advanced English (UK university entrance level) for free.

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

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

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

kitano · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 86

I was up to about 180 000 last year but I have been slowly cutting back because of the visa issue. It is actually pretty good but you should be aware of all the pros and cons. I wouldn`t reccommend it straight off the boat but try it out part time and if you think it might be better than your job go for it.

One specific point I want to make is although students do quit and flake out this is not really a big problem, at least not as much as others make it out to be. You build up a group of solid students and you are always picking up a few more, a few will turn out to be flakes but you get rid of them and hang onto the good ones. Think of yourself more as an entrepeneur than as an employee and I think that kind of thing makes more sense. If you want want 100 000 income a month from privates set up 110 000 or 120 000 to ensure your 100 000. Also if they flake out to much get rid of them, and/or make them pay up front so if they cancel suddenly you are not out the money.