Job Discussion Forums

[shoosh]

Hello.

Some background info first: I live in Ontario, Canada. I'm 27, male, universty grad.

I am trying to decide where to teach and Japan is a place I am considering. I hear it's pretty expensive to live in Japan but

no one seems to specify if this is true for everywhere or just big cities like Tokyo.

I do want to end up making some decent money to bring back so I thought maybe I should look for a place outside the big

cities. Is cost of living still high outside the city? Can anyone recommend some nice places that are close but not actually

in the big city?

Another question is if I want to make good money should I be content with teaching in a elementary/secondary school or will I

have to teach at a univeristy/college? I have a BA in Kinesiology from my 3 years in university and my TESOL cert and no

prior teaching ESL experience. Somehow I doubt this will be enough to get hired at a university in Japan

I'm trying to decide between Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, or the UAE. Right now I just want to know where I would be better

off if I want to make decent money and live in a nice place.

Would I be better off applying to Japanese schools through an agency (I hear about Aeon, Nova, etc) or doing my own search?

Also, how intense is the work in Japanese schools (ie. do they have you working 60+ hours a week)

I'm drawing a blank with the questions now so I will have to come back

Are there links in this forum for websites describing how it's like to teach in Japan (ie. what it offers, the pros and cons

of teaching in Japan, etc.)?

Thanks for your help

[furiousmilksheikali]

Hi Shoosh,

A good place to start is with the FAQ stickies at the top of the Japan Forum page.

The cost of living outside of the cities is often lower because accommodation is often cheaper than in Tokyo or Osaka but also because you have fewer options to spend your money as there is less nightlife. If you are disciplined, however, then living in the cities is not that much more expensive.

I don't think you can get full-time work in a university, certainly don't count on it although Westgate hire people who only have BAs. There seem to be some advantages with Westgate but also a lot of drawbacks. Search the site to find out more on this company (there has been quite a lot posted on this company).

Also NOVA and AEON are not agencies but eikaiwa (English conversation) companies. They get a lot of stick but they generally aren't that bad if you want to get to Japan.

The agencies such as Interac and hundreds others get a lot more criticism and deservedly so.

Good luck.

[Glenski]

I guess things depend on what you call "big city" and what you can comfortably live in. Obviously, the smaller and more remote you get, the more Japanese you are going to need, and the fewer foreigners you will have around you. Some like that, some don't.

[Squire22]

[shoosh]

Squire you keep mentioning that you'r an ALT. What is that exactly?

I think I'm going to have to change my mentality on this now. I guess I'm not going to consider the money as an important factor seeing as how I have no experience. From the way people talk on here it seems like a beginner just doesn't make a whole lot of money. I guess I will have to accept the fact that a contract for a beginner simply pays you enough to survive and maybe have a little bit of cash left over. When I get experience if I decide teaching is something I want to keep doing I can worry about making contacts and getting better paying jobs after I get more experience.

I guess now my question is how do you end up deciding where to go? DO you just pick a place you're curious about seeing? Do you look at what countries are offering the best contracts? I need to try and find more info on what it's like teaching in these different places.

[furiousmilksheikali]