Job Discussion Forums

Minnesota · Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 5

Hello everyone!

I am really interested in teaching English in Japan, what with the U.S. economy and so forth. I'll graduate this spring from the Midwest with 4 majors, two of which are teaching lincenses. (History, Social Studies 5-12, TESOL K-12, TEFL)

What is my best bet in Japan? I am not overly excited about the JET program. With my limited experience could I get into a better paying position? Have many student loans, but looking to save. Don't drink, smoke, etc. Ill basically eat noodles and teach. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

A better paying position than JET on first arriving in Japan? Almost certainly no. You might have noticed that the Japanese economy isn't doing so fantastically either, and will get worse before it gets better.

Have you looked at the FAQs? If not, you might want to do that and then come back with some more specific questions. Hard to make any recommendations otherwise. ALT or private conversation schools are your only options really, and most pay quite a lot less than JET.

StephenAlexander · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 10

What about with experience?

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

Honestly, if you have a teaching licence why come to Japan and work as foreign migrant worker? Unless you have a particular interest in Japan of course. The economic situation at home is reciprocated here anyway, relatively.

They must be crying out for school teachers at home, no? Start up costs here are higher now thanks to the economy, which might be painful on top of existing loans.

You could get a few years experience at home, then move to International Schools abroad. Just a thought, nothing more.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Better than Jet:

With teaching licence, International school;
without, nothing,

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

GreenEyes · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Japan

Congratulations on almost finishing your schooling, and what a well rounded education you've obtained. I love that. About Japan, pretty much everyone starts at the same level / in the same situation. JET carries a certain amount of prestige, however, and the teachers seem to have better things to report about their experiences than teachers in contract ALT positions or who work for language schools. I would really recommend that you apply to the JET program. Talk to current teachers, read their blogs, find like-minded JET teachers in particular so that you're not getting a skewed perspective. If I could do things all over again, I would have cast aside my concerns and applied to the JET program.

Best wishes and Happy New Year!!!

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

sorry for my ignorance but what is the Jet program? And what would you need to do one?

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

JET Programme is a government sponsored program that started in the 1980s, where 6000 college graduates get selected from over 30 countries to serve (mostly) as ALTs in public schools.

www.jetprogramme.org