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hgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: Teaching in Japan |
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So I just finished getting my TESOL/TESL certificate, and I have a master's in education as well as a teaching credential. i'm currently teaching in the US. Another teacher i work with and i are hoping to move to japan and teach english in the fall, but i heard that japanese schools do not like to hire people traveling together. Is this true?
also, what is the best way of going about finding jobs? is it easiest to just look at the random postings or is there a compiled list of language schools?
and finally, does anyone have suggestions for where the best place to work in japan would be? i heard that tokyo is a lot of fun but maybe a little intense. i would prefer a big city instead of a smaller community where life might be a little slower. any suggestions would be really helpful! |
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uberscheisse
Joined: 15 Nov 2004
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:22 am Post subject: Re: Teaching in Japan |
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| hgarrett wrote: |
So I just finished getting my TESOL/TESL certificate, and I have a master's in education as well as a teaching credential. i'm currently teaching in the US. Another teacher i work with and i are hoping to move to japan and teach english in the fall, but i heard that japanese schools do not like to hire people traveling together. Is this true?
also, what is the best way of going about finding jobs? is it easiest to just look at the random postings or is there a compiled list of language schools?
and finally, does anyone have suggestions for where the best place to work in japan would be? i heard that tokyo is a lot of fun but maybe a little intense. i would prefer a big city instead of a smaller community where life might be a little slower. any suggestions would be really helpful! |
1. the job-search FAQ shows the best resources for jobhunting in japan. gaijinpot.com, ohayosensei.com and eslcafe.com are by far the easiest and most commonly updated ones. i have also found that the kansai flea market http://www.kfm.to/modules/tinyd0/ has had job ads that were worth pursuing. as far as "compiled list of language schools" i doubt anyone would have the time to put that all together.
2. suggestions - you want a city, but not as intense as tokyo... kyoto, fukuoka, osaka are all nice choices. basically any city of over 1 million people will have something interesting to do in it, and will likely be located close to trains/buses that will take you to more interesting places. but when it comes to job hunting, you may have to take what you can get.
i'm living in a small town, but it's a 90 minute bus ride to tokyo. that suits me just fine. there's tons of "bedroom community" type places around tokyo, on the subway line, ie. saitama and other places that would probably suit your purposes... bustling just enough, yet still a getaway for when tokyo is too hectic.
hope that helps. |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| check out the FAQ threads above and good luck |
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AndyH
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:21 am Post subject: |
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I spent my last few years in Chiba Prefecture. It lacked the "Tokyo intensity" (for better or for worse) and had a very suburban feel, but was only an hour or less from the center of Tokyo.
The Fall is a good time to go to Japan, both weather-wise and for hiring. Now is probably a good time to apply, even if it's a littel early.
You might want to try MIL. It's where I worked, and they hired couples and friends when I was there. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching in Japan |
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| hgarrett wrote: |
| So I just finished getting my TESOL/TESL certificate, and I have a master's in education as well as a teaching credential. i'm currently teaching in the US. Another teacher i work with and i are hoping to move to japan and teach english in the fall, but i heard that japanese schools do not like to hire people traveling together. Is this true? |
First things first. I repeat what others have said. Read the FAQ stickies.
Next, peak hiring season in Japan is March for the beginning of the academic year, which is April. You just missed it. Fall will have openings for a few jobs here and there, and for international schools (because their academic year starts then).
If you have teaching licenses plus 1-2 years of experience back home, you will be eligible for international schools. Otherwise, you are going to have to accept that you can get only entry level work here (ALT or conversation school instructor).
Traveling together. No problem. Want to be hired together? Problem. Even if you are married, schools don't usually go for a pair of teachers because they feel it means 2 people gone at the same vacation time, or couples bringing their problems to work. Schools here are cutting back anyway, so I don't think there are a multitude of openings for more than 1 teacher at a time in the same office. Did you want to work in the same city or same office?
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| also, what is the best way of going about finding jobs? is it easiest to just look at the random postings or is there a compiled list of language schools? |
Read the stickies. Basically, if you are applying from home, you are very limited to who recruits. If you come here, more opportunities are open, but you will have to support yourselves for 2-4 months before you get hired and a first paycheck. Look at online ads for notices. There is no official compiled "list of schools".
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| and finally, does anyone have suggestions for where the best place to work in japan would be? i heard that tokyo is a lot of fun but maybe a little intense. i would prefer a big city instead of a smaller community where life might be a little slower. any suggestions would be really helpful! |
How are you on climate? Japan has varied climate from north to south. You aren't going to be able to pick and choose much anyway, though. The market here is very saturated, especially since the biggest conversation school just went bankrupt and put 5000 teachers on the street last fall. Learn what the market is like, what jobs here are like, and then start asking about specific employers. |
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uberscheisse
Joined: 15 Nov 2004
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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with all that said, i forgot to add one thing -
i have seen a few jobs that advertised that were suited for couples, not enough to give an estimate of some kind of percentage, but they do exist. i seem to remember them being in semi-rural areas. |
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