Job Discussion Forums

[Adam J]

Hello all,

I've been lurking here for almost a year - a quick thanks to all the regulars who make this site such a valuable resource. I'd really appreciate some feedback about my plans for the big move. Especially help narrowing down where to live (and if its realistic to find a job with JET near where I want to live). I don't want to bombard you all with to much information, but here is some relevant information:

I plan on moving to Japan summer 2005

My girlfriend of two years is Japanese. She earned a tourism degree studying in the U.S., and she wants to get a job at either Kansai International Airport south of Osaka, or Narita Airport near Chiba. She is open to other jobs, but this is her "dream".

I am 28 and have a Bachelor's Degree in English and a California Teaching Credential in English. This is my second year teaching at a public high school. I like teaching, and have a secure job in an unstable economy, but think its the right time of my life for a big change. Everyone I know is making babies and buying houses, and I know that is not for me.

Most likely I will enter Japan as a JET (or one of the other big schools, but JET seems the best to me). Ideally I would move to Japan employed by International School Services, but it seems improbable that the few schools they partner with would be located near one of Japan's two major airports. During my first year I'd like to teach and try my hand at private lessons. I think my girlfriend would be a real asset in helping set up appointments, as I speak no Japanese. During the second year I'd like to move to a smaller school and expand the private lessons. Currently I work 50 hours per week and spend another 10 hours each week commuting. I think JET would be simple (maybe too) compared to my current job, where I am a teacher, parent, psychologist, social worker, and baby sitter.

Questions:

In the proximity of Osaka and Chiba, where are good places to live? (Tokyo sounds nasty to me.)

Does JET let me choose a preference for where I work (I used to know the answer to this but lost the link)

Fukuoka sounds like where many of the old-timers here would prefer to live. Why? I just found out Fukuoka has an international airport, which would go over well with my girlfriend.

Thanks!

Adam

[Adam J]

Follow-up question:

I've read that many schools hire in April. When does the school year begin for the schools that hire in April? Any tips for how to transition from the American August to June school schedule to the Japanese schedule, and still make some money?

[Gordon]

Adam,
From what I've heard you get very little say in where you can live if you're a JET and I don't think they tell you until just before you leave. Celeste or other JETs could also give you more info. Nagoya and Fukuoka are also int'l airports too.
I doubt that you will be able to choose what kind of school you'll be placed in terms of size. You will take what they give you. If I was you, I would get your girlfriend to start teaching you some Japanese. It will be a big help for you and start to learn Hiragana and Katakana.
From the sounds of your schedule, I think the JET program will seem much easier to you and give you more free time.

The school year begins in April, but they hire about this time of year or Feb.

[Celeste]

Fukuoka also has an international school. You might PM Ava. She is working for them.

As for JET, you canspecify your top 3 places that you want to live, and you will have a fairly good chance of being pllaced in one of them, because with your credentials, you will probably be quite a desirable candidate.

JET tells you your placement sometime in May or June in most cases and you leave in August. If you do apply to JET, you will fill out the application in October,(if successful) have an interview in March, and (if successful)learn where you are placed in May or June. Then you will leave in August. It is a long process, but it is a good job.

[Sherri]

You should look more closely into working for an international school--check the listing below.

http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/international_schools.html

There are lots of schools in the Osaka/ Kobe area which would be reasonably close to Kansai airport. Most of the international schools in Tokyo are in the west side of Tokyo, the exact opposite location to Narita, so that might not work out for you as well.

The reason I say this is that the conditions of employment are usually much more attractive than the usual conversation school job and unlike JET, you would be able to control where you would live.

Have a look at the listing and write to some of the schools introducing yourself, it is not a job listing, it is intended for parents looking for schools, but it would still give you the right contacts.

Good luck

[april]

Something I'm curious about...why do so many Japanese girls want to work in international airports? When I worked at Nova I had heaps of college girls tell me that they were learning English so that they could work as a Grand Hostess (I think that was the term) at Narita airport. I'm not being a smart-arse, I just don't get it. Was there a popular movie in Japan a few years ago that depicted this type of job as glamorous? Is there a celebrity who used to have this job? What's the attraction?

[Gordon]

April,
The same thing applies for flight attendants. My wife was one for 5 years, and it sure wasn't a glamorous job even though she flew all over the world.

[PAULH]

[shmooj]

[PAULH]

Schmooj,

Im sure that new airport will keep Chubu government bureaucrats and construction companies in pork for a long, long, time.

[Glenski]

[easyasabc]

[Glenski]

[fat_chris]

Adam,

I agree with Glenski and Gordon to start learning Japanese now. I would even suggest enrolling in a course at a local college. That way you'll have two or three semesters completed and hopefully an intermediate level in Japanese by the time you leave in 2005. The formal class will force you to keep on top of your learning and keep your goal in sight. Your girlfriend can help you practice what you have learned.

I have a similar aspiration as you, although I would like to leave for Japan in the summer of 2006, also preferably with JET. I plan to begin Japanese classes in August.

Best wishes to ya!

fat_chris

[fat_chris]

Or you can just chuck it all and buy that house and start making babies!



I'm with you. That isn't for me either, hence the idea, let's go to Japan!