Job Discussion Forums

HappyPizza · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 40

...but teachers in Japan CAN teach privates, correct? You gusy own your own visas, correct?

happypizza

furiousmilksheikali

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

HappyPizza · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 40

Would either one of you be willing to take a look at a contract for me?

To me, it seems rather dodgy, but it may be the norm.

Please?

happypizza

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

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

You can teach private lessons, yes, but some employers have clauses in their contracts forbidding that.

Your visa is yours, not your employer's. You keep it until it expires, even after you lose your job by resigning or getting fired or laid off.

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

If the contract says that you can't teach privates well aside from the legalities (illegalities) of it, think about how they are going to police it? Will they make random checks on your whereabouts? Companies put this clause in contracts to discourage teachers doing stupid c rap like poaching privates from the school, (this why schools put in a no fratinisation policy also).
A former school had this policy but it didn't stop most of the staff having privates, even conducting classes in the school provided apartment, everyone did it on the quiet and the school did little to actively police it.

HappyPizza · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 40

Ok...thanks for the information guys.

Sent a couple of you folks a copy of the contract. I don't really know the norm for Japan contracts, but my experience in Korea sent off some warning bells.

I was pretty sure about the visa situation, and I could easily leave the school and find something else. But, I honestly don't want to go through the trouble of that UNLESS I had to....and I don't to waste the time of the school either.

Happypizza
xtra happy please!

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

A fairly straightforward question/answer, but just bear in mind, as others have already pointed out, you may lose your MAIN job because of it. For instance, I am a civil servant (employee of the municipal gov't) therefore, as such I am not allowed to moonlight. And that rule extends beyond foreigners, it applies to all public employees (at least in my city it does) from the mayor down to the garbage men. And I suppose it makes sense, becaues given the average number of hours worked by most people around here, when would they actually have TIME to have a second, part-time job?

The other consideration is the nature of the second job. Your visa dictates what you may and may not engage in, therefore working as (for example) a wedding celebrant (fake priest) would most likely contravene your visa if you were hired as an English instructor.

One could argue that immigration wouldn't find out or that they would be lenient, but the government has been really cracking down on any kind of visa violations the past few years.

HappyPizza · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 40

Good point.

However, I would not engage in teaching privates to the students of the school. That is something I would frown upon, if I were an employer. Actually, in all my time here in Korea, I only taught one private lesson. I enjoy my free time too much. But, if the right opportunity came, I would definitely consider it, and would want the freedom to do it.....especially in Japan.

Sigh.......hopefully I'll get there someday. It is too bad. I spent some time speaking with the owner of the school, and I thought it was good to go........not meant to be I guess.

happypizza