Job Discussion Forums

[dawnbuckley]

Hi,

I have been considering Japan for a while but have just been offered job I think could be pretty good and have to make my mind up asap. Now the reality of actually going there is hitting and I am getting pretty nervous. I did go off and teach in Korea on my own before and it ended up being great. I didn`t have to do anything about sorting out my living situation, lived with 2 girls so had company, and just showed up and did a bit of what I would call after having done a CELTA since, crap teaching.

This is a bit scarier though as I will have to find my own accommodation etc. and as there aren`t as many foreign teachers in the school as there were in Korea so I`ll be a bit more proactive about meeting people. Its the same for everyone going to Japan, I realise, and I want the challenge but I cant help feeling a bit nervous.
Anyway, I was just interested in hearing other experiences of arriving in Japan, looking for accommodation, initial costs, (the school will help find accommodation and pay some flight money on arrival), meeting people. Finally, im going to Hiroshima, if anyone has any more specific info on it!

Sorry this is a bit of a ramble. I must be REALLY nervous!

Thanks,

Dawn

[ripslyme]

Things you can do:
1.) relax
2.) find out as much about Hiroshima as you can
3.) learn more about the school/company you're going to work for
4.) read some blogs from people teaching in Japan
5.) study Japanese

Also, do you have native speaker contacts at your new job? Write them and find out how they did it.

Arriving in Japan - is someone meeting you? If you've never been to where you're going, that will help a lot. If not, try to figure out as best you can how to get from A to B.

Looking for accommodation - You said the school will help. Will it be ready when you arrive? Furnished? Move-in fees?

Initial costs - setting up your accommodation will be the biggie, move-in fees (deposit and key money), utilities and internet mainly. Also getting a mobile phone is important.

Meeting people - when you first arrive, you'll probably depend on your co-workers for socializing. Later, when you get more comfortable with your surroundings and the language will you be able to go out and do your own thing. It may take time, but if you're personable enough it will happen.

[melonpie]

Hi dawn! :]

When I first moved to Japan as a student, I only knew my boyfriend. I was still nervous but I found it was super easy to make friends, as long as you're friendly and personable like ripslyme said. I'm pretty sure we're in different age groups but I think music is pretty much ageless, so if you're a person who likes going to concerts and what not, it's a really good way to socialize and meet people. I don't mean like Sonic fest or anything big like that, but actual local small concerts in live houses. I've met almost all of my friends this way. Jazz shows, Rock shows, Punk, R&B, Heavy metal, you name it, I've seen it hehe. And local bands will always take time to talk to potential supporters. And by going on outings, you meet other people linked through that person whom you never know could end up being your best friend in the world hehehe (happened to me ;D). Other friends I met through modeling jobs I got through my agency. Every time I was assigned a new job, I always walked out with at least one new friend, unless it was a job on my own. In other words, just be friendly and show them you want to talk and make an effort to say hello. I met my hair stylist now by giving her a smile in a shop, and acknowledging her presence (which unfortunately seems to be rare in Tokyo) and through that she's become my permanent stylist and I get a -huge- discount from her because I let her test her make-up designs on me before implementing them in actual shows abroad in Paris, London, etc (Dior, Chanel, etc). I'm not sure how Hiroshima is, but if it works in a city as cold as Tokyo, I'm sure it's bound to work in Hiroshima too hehe.
Just be friendly and open to what may lie ahead. =)

And of course, the best way to learn any language is to actually have to speak it and use it everyday. The biggest problem I see people have when they move to Japan, is that they end up feeling too afraid to socialize, and they cling on to people of the same ethnicity as their self, in fear of the big language barrier that they may face. Learning through mistakes is but yet another learning method of life though =). I actually dropped Japanese school after 6 months, had my model agency sponsor me on an entertainer's visa for a year basically (2 6 month visas), and just lived there learning Japanese by talking to people. I improved SO much faster than I was progressing in school. Now I'm at the point where I'm not afraid to go anywhere by myself, holding conversations are nothing anymore, and receiving job assignments don't require me to scramble for my dictionary hehe. I'm not saying to stay away from English speakers, because you do need to be able to speak your own language once in a while to give yourself a little mental break, but don't latch on and limit yourself to socializing with English speakers only. Even my Japanese friends who travel abroad do this, everyone does it. That's why they come back with only very very little improvement in English etc. Many of my old friends from that Japanese school still, after over a year and 7 months, have a horrible time trying to communicate with people in Japanese because they spend most of their time speaking English or their own native language. It's no good ^^

About the apartment, my friend who works for a fashion company located in Shinjuku (she buys and sells from shows all over the world), when she was in Japan still and not hopping around Europe from show to show, they also promised to help her with finding a place to live. However, it took about 4 months or so before they found her a place (and a month later she was sent to Paris lol) so I suggest consulting with the company and confirm that you will be able to find a place as soon as you get there, or at least within a certain time period and make sure you have a place to stay during that waiting time, if it won't be available to you as soon as you arrive

Anyways, above all, good luck! I hope you have a great experience if you do decide to try it out! I think you'll enjoy it. ^^

[Glenski]

First of all, nervousness is natural. We all feel that way, even after being here some time.

Second, what are the details of your potential employer helping to find housing? Most that I know have housing already on hand for teachers to move into. They have to realize the enormity of the task of coming in from overseas and looking for a place to live, so at the very least they should help you find a place. Where are you supposed to live until you start teaching (which is likely less than a week from the time you land)?

Third, we can probably help you more if you tell us where you will be and perhaps even the name of the employer. If you're too shy to post that name publicly, so be it. PM it. Do you know the area of Hiroshima where you would live so people in that area can point out places/areas to look at or avoid.

[dawnbuckley]

Hi Glenski,

Thanks for the reply and many thanks to melonpie too. I am really grateful for your time and there is alot of useful info for me there!

It is David House English School and I will mostly be based in Nakamachi , their central school. They will help me get a place and put me in a hotel or another in another current teacher`s house free of charge from when I get there up till when I am settled somewhere - which they reckon will be in about 2 weeks.
They sound totally willing to help. My training will last 2 - 3 weeks and they think I will easily have somewhere by then. Does this sound fair enough?
I am sorry for being so clueless! I am reading up on this as much as possible but I guess nothing is going to ease the nerves!

If anyone could let me know about anything to do with accommodation in Hiroshima, furnishing costs, or anything actually! it would be much appreciated!

Dawn

[Brooks]

sounds fine to me.
Trust me, there are worse schools to work for.

[Glenski]

You are in good hands. Now focus on learning what you need to choose an apartment (PM me for links, and read the FAQ, question 9) and learning how to teach there. Best of luck.