Job Discussion Forums

Matt_22 · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 193

I'm a 23-year-old American male w/a 4-year bachelor's degree and am about to collect my TEFL International TESOL certificate in a week from the school in Phuket, Thailand. I don't have much cash to blow and already have a significant amount of student loan debt ($25k+).

Wants: I want to move to Japan and hopefully work as an ALT rather than a full fledged head teacher. I hope to have private housing and a salary that would allow me to pay my monthly loan payments ($175) and still provide the opportunity to save for the rare trip back to Koh Phi Phi. Is this possible?

Should I try to line up a job before coming to Japan? Or should I do this Thai style and just show up and look for work? Any suggestions would be wonderful. Thanks.

japan_01 · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gifu Ken

You will definetely be able to save $175 a month. Just be careful on what/where you buy from. Although I have never lived in Tokyo, you should be able to save 20,000yen with no troubles. As for coming without a job... that can be a little risky. If you have a place to crash at for a few weeks I would say do it. Otherwise, try and ground a job before arriving. I could never think of anything worse than becoming a full fledged teacher in the USA. Although Japan definitely has its good and bad points, I could never see myself working in such an unsafe environment.

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

There are essentially 2 types of ALT jobs in Japan:

those with the JET Programme.
those through dispach agencies.

The former has applications only once a year. You have to interview in your home country.
The latter takes applications anytime and mostly from within Japan. They also have received a lot of flak in the past year or two because of their unscrupulous behavior and treatment of teachers.

You're qualified for both types.

JET sets you up with housing. I don't know about dispatch agencies, but I don't think they all do. Perhaps most of them don't. That would mean you forking out a lot of money just to move into an empty apartment (no appliances, furniture, or light fixtures).

Ai · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Chile

The school year starts in April, so that's when most ALT gigs are. Jobs starting at other times may be shady (as in the person before you would have left mid contract).

JET seems to be the best deal, but the application process is long. There are other ALT dispatch agencies but i haven't heard anything great about them. I think that Interac should be avoided. There's lots of negative information from their former teachers if you do a search.

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Glenski is right about two types of ALT jobs. Dispatch companies pay a lot less and most don't offer housing. They will help you find an apartment, but you will pay the full rent.
Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world followed by Osaka so you need to think this through.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

What about direct-hire ALTs?

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Three jobs and these can be briefly salvaged from OUTSIDE the airport.

Pack all of the book needs, such as tapes and the odd and better DVDs. If the students believe that you are a competent teacher then you have won half (50%) of the battle. And when re-hiring returns in the second year in a much stronger position.

Other posters have retold about differences between Tokyo, Kumamoto, Nagoya, Nagasaki and the island that did not host the World Cup (Nakamura).

400,000 yen is unrealistic to expect at first. Settle in and bank whatever you can afford and always eat at least once.

Learn the lingo, practice, practise and improve.

No regrets and Tamori might even invite you to say, "Hey"

Best of the best.

emypie · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:55 am Post subject:

$175 a month? Is that ALL that you're looking to save? You can save a LOT more than that in Japan. I live in Tokyo, and even on 250,000� a month, after paying my bills, I was am to save about $800 US a month. Of course, if you go out and blow 10,000� three or four nights a week on booze, you'll see your money go down the drain. But hells yeah! The money here is great.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Step 1
Don't rule out everything but ALT positions, besides some ALT positions can leave you all by your lonesome anyway.
Step 2
try and do as much as your job search as possible before you get here, send off a bunch of resumes, arrange some interviews etc. There are some recruiters working out of Bangkok. Look in the Post, or try ajarn.com

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

[quote="emypie"]$175 a month? Is that ALL that you're looking to save? You can save a LOT more than that in Japan. I live in Tokyo, and even on 250,000� a month, after paying my bills, I was am to save about $800 US a month. Of course, if you go out and blow 10,000� three or four nights a week on booze, you'll see your money go down the drain. But hells yeah! The money here is great.[/quote]

That is incredable! You save $800 a month and live in Tokyo Question

You must live like a monk! Or don't pay rent!

ripslyme · Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 481 Location: Japan

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379