Job Discussion Forums

[Jawful]

I've been in Japan for 3 weeks now. I'm in Ise, Mie and have been trying to find a job in the area. I've interviewed at two Ise positions and didn't get either (first one they told me their teacher was staying til Sept and asked if I could wait until then, second one the recruiter had already told me the date I would train but then honsha told him they weren't sponsoring a visa for that position). This area is difficult to find jobs right now that are willing to sponsor for the visa, but I'm staying with a friend so it's not costing me much vs. living in Osaka where I probably would have exhausted my funds already.

Now the point. I interviewed at Altia Central. Seems like a great company, good people working there. I liked everyone I met, and they seemed to like me too. The recruiter will get back to me by Friday if they can offer me a job. I guess they have to convince the Board of Education that I'm right then they can give me a contract. Problem is, I'm inexperienced, speak minimal Japanese, and am American (3 things they specifically didn't want).

This position is for the school system in Shima-shi, way down at the end of the Kintetsu line in Mie. Small town, not much going on there.

I have an interview tomorrow for a position in Tsu as an eikaiwa teacher. Tsu is much bigger (it's the capital of Mie) so there's more to do, plus it's closer to the friends I've already made here in Mie, but it's eikaiwa.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted you to have the background. The question: Is an ALT job worth more than the other stuff, if it were you in my shoes as a virtually-fresh-of-the-boat foreigner?

I have another unrelated question. The ALT job offers me a car. There are 2 ways I can have it. Either I use it ONLY for back-and-forth to work and they pay 100% of all related expenses, or I can use it as much as I want for personal use, but I pay 50% of parking, 50% of insurance, and 100% of gas. I don't know how much driving to and from school will cost me in gas per month so it's a hard decision, but I like the idea of having the freedom of a car in a relatively small town.

[luckyloser700]

[TK4Lakers]

Sounds like you can relate a lot me, and I can maybe answer your question.

It all depends on what you want out of this experience/what kind of person you are. Let me break it down and let you know my situation. I am an ALT in a small-town in the Ibaraki-prefecture (and when I say small, its very countryside with hardly anything to do here). I teach at a main JHS and 3 different ES everyday. I teach about 5-6 classes a day, commuting to and from work (and the schools) but either bus or by foot.

Now, upon arriving to Japan from the states (LA area), I convinced myself that this was and has been one of my dreams for quite some time, so I promised myself to work hard and give it my all. I wake up early and get to school by about 7:15am, I teach, do whatever the schools ask me to, participate in club sports with the students, and get back home at about 7:45pm. add to this that I have NO car.

It's been hard at times, espcially adjusting to the city and the weekends when there's not a whole lot to do. but I'm trying to make the most of it...enjoying my time in a different country and culture, making friends wit the teachers, getting a long with the students, being dedicated and loyal to this ALT job.

the ALT job is fun...tough at times, but the interaction with the students and little relationships I'm developing are great. The small town? Eh, I wish I was in Tokyo, or someplace with better scenery and more to do, but its alright. I'm getting use to it, and just making the most out of what's given to me. I say you take the ALT job....atleast you will have a car and can get around with that. The ALT job is awesome though, hope you enjoy your experience, and best of luck.

[6810]

If you want to learn Japanese fast be an Elementary school teacher out in the sticks. It helped me immeasurably!

[Glenski]

I have not worked as an ALT, so I can't say whether it's better/worse than eikaiwa, but I have worked in eikaiwa and as a part-time and full-time teacher in a private high school.

In eikaiwa your classes will have 2 to a dozen people. As a mainstream school ALT, you will face 30-45 kids at a time.

In eikaiwa, students enroll to take the class. In mainstream schools, kids are usually forced to take the class whether they like it or not. Bad for attitude.

In eikaiwa, you may have adults from 20 to 90 years old in your class. People with zero to tons of worldly knowledge/experience. As an ALT, you might find a kid or 2 that has stayed overseas a bit, but that's all. The rest are 12 to 18 years old, full of hormones, p!ss and vinegar, and all that goes with it.

In eikaiwa, you are the boss in the classroom. Totally responsible for what and how you teach. As an ALT, you might get lucky with similar responsibilities, but the A means Assistant, so you will have to work with someone who is more in charge than you, and who might have to work on planning lessons with you (or might plan your lessons for you).

In eikaiwa, you usually don't assign homework and give quizzes to grade. As an ALT, this is more likely.

I disagree that working as an ALT is more favorably looked upon for future work potential. I worked 3.5 years as an eikaiwa instructor, then got work as a teacher in a private HS. Same with every other teacher there (that's about 6).

[wangtesol]

Just regarding the car, you gotta check to see what kind of insurance is on it. If it is jibaiseki hoken (the minimal insurance) then it only covers damage to the other car and driver up to 1,000,000 yen. So it does not cover you!!!! And 1 million will cover about 1 day in an intensive care unit in Japan.

The other insurance is zenbu hoken (全部保険) which is full insurance and covers injuries to you. You can check to see the little blue insurance card that is in the car. If you see the words jibaiseki hoken 自賠責保険 at the top then stay away from this company. If you get into an serious accident, you are screwed.

One ALT company in Saitama (R something) supplies teachers with cars with only jibaiseki insurance yet their contract says it is full insurance.

And note that any damage done to the car that is work related must be covered by your employer. And Workers Compensation (rosai) will cover any injuries to you if you are on your way to or from work. But if you are not enrolled in national health insurance (shakai hoken) and you wind up in the hospital, the hospital may try to charge you for 120% of your hospital bills. So, if you get the car, you gotta be enrolled in shakai hoekn. Don't mess around with your health.

ALT companies are notorious for fraudulent practices since the very private ALT system is built on illegal gyomu itaku (outsourcing) contracts that violate School Education Law as declared by the Ministry of Education in 2005. These contracts also violate Dispatch Law.

Check http://www.nambufwc.org/alt

[cornishmuppet]

I'm an ALT now and did 18 months at an eikawa before. I would never go back full time, I think I'd rather leave Japan. Six or seven classes a day, often without even a five minute break in between, constantly trying to get little kids to sit down or having to turn up the genki volume to amuse bored kids whose parents make them study extra after school, students always in your face, no escape.

Now I have three classes or less a day (occasionally four), where I set the task and spend the rest of the time monitoring, or ocassionally just watching while the main teacher does their stuff. I plan one lesson and usually use it for up to five different lessons in the same grade.

And I get paid more, not to mention loads more holiday, some that I can take when I like without the school ra ping my as s for costs to cover a replacement. No one on your back about why a student quit. No one telling you to sell this or that useless book in order that they can charge the students a 30% markup. No one whining to you in Monday morning meetings about how many students the school needs to get this month. No one telling you not to use the gas stoves in the middle of winter just to save a buck. Glad I'm out of there.

Eikawas suck in my opinion. ALT jobs rule.

[Glenski]

[Lynn]

[Willy_In_Japan]

When I worked at GEOS, I had 33 classes a week.

The day I left, they filed up my Thursday with 8 classes and my saturday was 8.....

Almost 3 years ago, at a company meeting in Tokyo for Kanto teachers, the president clearly stated that in order to keep going in these harder economic times, that teachers would be teaching more classes and larger amounts of students.

[Jawful]

Thanks for the different responses. I honestly still can't decide. The eikaiwa job pays more but does have more hours, something like 5 lessons a day M-F, then Saturday from like 9AM to 1PM they do a weekly english camp. He said the base 250,000 was for the M-F work, then it comes out to about 36,000 more per month when the Saturday work is paid at an hourly rate. He sounds like a pretty fair individual, plus I like the location better.

That said, I personally have no teaching experience and therefore like the idea of having less control as an ALT. That means I can work with the more experienced teacher for help on what needs to be done, though if I'm very unlucky he'll do everything and I'll be bored every day.

The ALT company did give me a job offer. I'm still waiting to hear back from the eikaiwa. I'm not sure if I should just take the ALT job or hope for the eikaiwa to work out and go with them.

Ugh I'm pulling my hair out on this decision.

[cornishmuppet]

I'd take the ALT job. You're part of an actual school, so you get to interact with the kids outside of class as well as in it. Eikawa kids turn up, get taught, go home. Yesterday, for example, I had just two classes, but I spent another lesson watching cheering practice in the gymnasium and another watching an inter-homeroom relay race. During lunch time I had a bunch of girls ask me about schools in England, I hung out with the geeky kids in the library and then I watched some boys playing baseball and attempted to explain cricket to another bunch. After school, I stayed behind for a bit and played guitar for a bunch of art students who were painting flowers out by the school pond. (not sure whether they liked it or not but it certainly amused them!).

Way more varied, much more interesting. In my opinion, of course. I like being part of a community, but I know it won't suit everyone.

Don't like the idea of working Saturdays either. Five days is enough!

[Speed]

About the car.

Go for the `half and half`.

If you`re only allowed to use your wheels for just going back and forth from work, it`ll be really inconvenient. The freedom to be able to drive around to take care of your own personal business is priceless.

You`ll be able to join sports teams, drive down to the beach, go shopping, join friends, without worrying if they`re located near your house/apt.

Unless you live in Japan`s megalopolis` with an extensive rail system, it`s very convenient to have wheels available to you 24/7.

Seeing that you`ll be in Shima, Mie, this is my guesss:
-You`ll pay about 5,000 yen for insurance. (10,000 yen)
-You`ll pay about 3,000 yen for parking. (6,000 yen)

-You`ll pay about 3,500 yen a week for gas.

Good luck with whichever job you choose to do. Have a nice drive.

[Glenski]

[cornishmuppet]

A student took me out for dinner a few months back and I had to eat sliced raw sea slug. I could not possibly describe it, but after a couple of pieces I waited until he went to the toilet and I hid the rest under a piece of lettuce.

But he did pay!