Job Discussion Forums

[wolfman]

I'm really stuck here and i can't decide which program to apply for. here's my situation:

i graduate from college in about a month and i want to live and work in japan. i'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of each program that i've looked in to helping me do that...

JET

PRO:
From what I understand, the mgmt of this program is much more professional and fair.
Placement is job as a teacher's assistant, something i think would be beneficial since i have no teaching esxperience.

CON:
Application process only occurs once a year.
From what i understand t's hard to get placed in cities you ask for.
Be working with children, i'd rather teach people my own age or older.

AEON

PRO:
Can apply all year round, thus i can apply right after graduating.
I hear it's easier to get placement in a desired city, especially if you want to be somewhere like Tokyo or Kyoto (and i do).
Work would be more with adult students.

CON:
From the talk on this forum about aeon, i've heard nothing but horror stories about how horrible the administration of this program are to the teachers.

and honestly other than that one con for aeon, i'm more inclined to apply to it.

i'm just really torn. i maye have some incorrect information or false assumptions about these programs so if anyone has any advice, god knows i need it.

[DarkMagus]

JET is tough to get into, and even if you apply, you can't count on it. I applied (and am seemingly an ideal candidate) and didn't even get an interview.

On the other hand I heard back from the "big four" (eikaiwas) very quickly, and they all wanted to set up interview.

A more sure bet would be one of the eikaiwas.

[wolfman]

[DarkMagus]

PM me your email and I'll send you this excel file that compares the "big four" with JET. I didn't make the file, I got it from someone on this board.

[wolfman]

PMs on this forum confuse me. I sent my email address to you, did you get it?

[DarkMagus]

Got it, replied, and sent the file.

[wolfman]

thanks once again

[kdynamic]

You'll get paid more and work less and get more perks on JET. Probably. If you get in.

With Eikaiwa you pretty much know what you're getting into. It's not a stellar deal, but you know what it entails, pretty much. JET can be a roll of the dice.

[Chris_Travel_the_world]

I was in the same position as you were. After extensive research, applying and interviewing with both Aeon and JET I have decided to go with Aeon.

I made this decision based on a number of factors.

First, each JET's experience is very different (I know the same applies to Aeon), some people are human tape players, while others are in charge of teaching 40 children who don't see the use in learning English.

Second,at Aeon I get to actually teach, even though it comes from their workbooks, I still get to be the teacher, not the assistant.
Third, location, with JET you have no real say, sure you get to put your preference on your application, but with Aeon I asked for Kansai, espically Kobe, Kyoto, or Osaka, and they offered me Osaka, with Aeon you get to know where you are going before you sign the contract.
Fourth, I found the interviewers/recruiters at Aeon to be more friendly and approachable. At JET they were somewhat nice, laughed at my jokes, but I didn't get any sort of positive feeling. At JET they made my friend cry. She has a law degree and instead of asking question about teaching the kept asking her if she would sue them if the situation occured.

As much as I wanted the extra money that JET offers, as well as their free plane tickets (Aeon does pay return, or cash equivalent). I was very apprehensive about signing a contract without all the details.

You're right JET takes forever to get back to you, I applied in September, interviewed in february and won't get a reply until next week. With Aeon I had two days of interviews then a week later they offered me a job.

Hopefully this will help.
Chris

[yamanote senbei]

[stillnosheep]

[senza_vavoom]

I got accepted to JET just now. I received the mail and basically, I talked to my University counsellors, professors ( extensive experience in Japan - they teach Japanese politics and govt at U of T ), people who work in Japanese associations, alumni, people who are in OTHER schools NOW....

Basically, even the people who now have some experience in Japan ( with AEON ) wished they got into JET instead.

JET PROS :

- $ 3000 CDN
- Flight paid
- Less hours
- More travelling time
- Own apt ( not shared )
- Govt - cultural experience
- Does not focus on conversational classes alone -> they really want their pupils to be AWARE of your culture

AEON PROS :

- Pays rent for you ( 42 000 )
- Chance to get private students

[Seeker of truth]

I never even got an interview with JET, which in retrospect, leads me to seriously question their selection criteria since I already had a masters degree plus other overseas work experience at the time. Also, judging by the quality of some JETs I met while in Japan, I again seriously question their selection criteria. Eventually, one of the others hired me when I applied to them later on.

Looking back at my experience, I'm actually glad JET didn't get offered to me since I would have accepted it without question. Even though JET would have meant more money and a lot less work, it would have done very little in terms of shaping me into a better teacher. Other than getting a wonderful cultural experience at government expense, I would have had very little to show for it.

Even though with others like AEON, where you probably will get screwed in some way, your Japan experience will be much more realistic.

[senza_vavoom]

[sallycat]