Job Discussion Forums

auckies · Joined: 26 Oct 2003 Posts: 23 Location: Vancouver

From what i hear the teachers in Japan usually stay more than a year. To me this says that Japan is a great place as teachers in korea and taiwan usually just stay 1 year or less. Is it true? Is Japan a great place to live and work?

markosonlines · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Ise

No, most teachers here last just a year, maybe two (I'm ambitious, planning on 3 - 5!!!). But, I would think there are more teachers staying on here than Taiwan and Korea too, though it's still a minority.

Is Japan a great place to live and work? That just depends on who you ask, whether Mars and Jupiter are in conjunction, and if you see the cup as half full or half empty. Oh, and your employer and neighbours have a bit of say on it too. Just read a bunch of these threads and you'll get a slight semblence of truth to base your decision on.

Best of luck

Markos

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

I don't know where marksonline gets his figures about teachers lasting a year or less. What is your source?

JET ALTs have the OPTION of staying 3 years if CLAIR and the JET agree to it. Don't really know how many of them do this, though.

All teachers I have known here (eikaiwa, high school, university) have stayed here much longer than a year.

3rdEye · Joined: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 35

Auckies,

As I've heard somewhere before: "every situation is different", so I also agree with the above point that people can and do stay long terms. The length can range from less than a year to decades. This might be influenced by any number of reasons, such as the terms of the contract itself, the job situation, social or other personal interests or reasons. Its that broad. Its that diverse. There are people who leave mid-contract, those who are transient and intend to move on after a year, those who intend to stay a few years longer, and those who end up starting families. There are many in between any of these.

Auckies, your question is so general that there is actually no definite answer. For what its worth, you might want to find a contract allowing you to come here for a year, and then take it from there, if you want to renew your contract and stay longer, or move on to another country. JET, a private school, or "eikaiwa" company, are some ideas. If Japan doesn't turn out to be the place for you, at least you had the chance to earn a little, meet people and gain new experiences. The future possibilities are always unpredictable. But if you sincerely feel that working in Japan is one of your interests and hopes, then I suggest that you do come here, experience it first hand, and then take it from there. In any event, whatever you decide, all the best.

Cheers!

markosonlines · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Ise

Glenski,

I said a year or two

And you probably don't want to know where I got the figure from. Exclamation

Markos

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

markosonlines · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Ise

Glenski said:
All teachers I have known here (eikaiwa, high school, university) have stayed here much longer than a year.

Conversely almost all of the teachers I have known here (eikaiwa, high school, university) haven't.

It would seem like you've pulled out your info from a similar dark place as I. This is not to discredit the info, as I don't think many newbies would be looking for empirical data on an internet discussion forum, just personal opinions and expressions, etc.

Not to say that such empirical data wouldn't be welcomed if you're in possession......

Markos