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js3587
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: Can anyone help a complete Newbie? |
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Hi everyone, new to this board and have a few questions about teaching English abroad.
I'm hopefully graduating in May with undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from Purdue university. I was looking to teach English in Japan for a year or two to see if I will like living abroad before I apply to the U.S. State Department and make a commitment to living abroad for a longer period of time.
I have a little bit of international experience, I did an internship in London for 7 weeks, but other than that I've never really lived abroad for any substantial period of time.
All I'm really armed with to get employed in Japan is enthusiasm and moxie at this point. I am not certified in any way and I only have limited teaching experience. I used to help teach people how to ride motorcycles in the summers.
I was thinking about applying at Aeon as they hire in the U.S. and have a recruiting center near my house. I really don't feel comfortable going to Japan without a job lined up before hand. Especially since I have no knowledge of the Japanese language at all, though I am not adverse to learning quickly.
I've heard that companies like Aeon will hire anyone who is an native English speaker and has a pulse. This seems a bit ... optimistic? It must be harder than that right? Especially with the economy in the tank and the Yen appreciating against the dollar.
Also I've read that the hiring season has people starting their contracts in March and April. Is graduating in May going to make it impossible to get to Japan until the 2010 hiring season? Aeon says they hire year round.
I guess in the end I really just need some advice about how to proceed and what to expect. I have a million more questions but I think these are the most critical right now. I've been reading a lot of the other online information and have been lurking on this board for a bit but it is all a little overwhelming, any help and advice you can offer would be extremely appreciated. |
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Nabby Adams
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 215
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:44 am Post subject: |
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Hi, your post is basically saying, "hey, I'm nervous, somebody make me feel less anxious" which is fine as we all felt like that before coming here.
Basically, don't worry. This week there were a dozen jobs posted on Daves and big schools like EON still recruit from abroad. The choice is yours; get hired from abroad, or come over. Both ways you'll end up in a job.
As this is just a stepping stone for you there really isn't much else to add. Thousands have trod this path and they all end up with work. Things are not as bad here as you may think. Again look at the jobs board to see how many schools ARE hiring.
Basically you just need to jump. Apply to schools and see what you get. The few schools that should be avoided are well documented and apart from that then it's just a question of trying to get the best deal you can.
Good luck. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Can anyone help a complete Newbie? |
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| js3587 wrote: |
| I'm hopefully graduating in May with undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from Purdue university. I was looking to teach English in Japan for a year or two to see if I will like living abroad before I apply to the U.S. State Department and make a commitment to living abroad for a longer period of time. |
Sounds reasonable.
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| I was thinking about applying at Aeon as they hire in the U.S. and have a recruiting center near my house. I really don't feel comfortable going to Japan without a job lined up before hand. |
Also reasonable, but you must realize such job hunting strategy limits you to the number of employers who recruit overseas.
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| Especially since I have no knowledge of the Japanese language at all, though I am not adverse to learning quickly. |
Start now. You won't usually be allowed to use it in the classroom, but it helps immensely in daily life and in communicating with the J staff. With the market flooded as it is, any edge will only serve to improve your chances.
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| I've heard that companies like Aeon will hire anyone who is an native English speaker and has a pulse. This seems a bit ... optimistic? |
It is. Pepole get rejected from any and all of the eikaiwa employers and JET programme all the time. That remark just means it doesn't take any real teaching qualifications to get entry level work, even before the recession!
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| Also I've read that the hiring season has people starting their contracts in March and April. Is graduating in May going to make it impossible to get to Japan until the 2010 hiring season? Aeon says they hire year round. |
Because the fiscal year begins in April, you will see the largest number of ads for teaching jobs come up during March. Some schools and eikaiwas hire year round; some have set recruiting schedules; and some have done their recruiting for April about 3-6 months ago.
You want in for the 2010 season? I'd strongly recommend looking into the JET Programme. Applications for Aug 2010 start dates are due at the end of 2009. Check to see what your country's deadline is.
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| I guess in the end I really just need some advice about how to proceed and what to expect. |
How to proceed:
1) stay home and limit yourself, but save money in the process (it's expensive to come here and job hunt).
2) come here and spend 2-4 months before you get your first paycheck, supporting yourself with US$4000-5000 when you arrive. More opportunities available, and some require applicants to be in Japan (it shows commitment).
3) Plan ahead. Scour the ads, paper and online. Make a decent resume and customize your cover letters. Have someone check each. If you come here jobless, contact employers beforehand and let them know so they can consider setting up interviews and you minimize down time.
4) Learn about the market, and what to expect in the way of general business and contracts. Don't assume J employers operate like western ones. Don't bring western moral baggage with you.
5) Decide geographically where you might want to live. Rural vs. urban. Or just climate-wise.
6) Network network network.
7) Learn as much Japanese as you can.
What to expect.
Anything and everything. Mostly good employers, but watch out for the shady ones. Come here and ask questions about contracts. Meanwhile, read as much as you can online. Entry level hours for eikaiwa are usually noon to 9pm and your weekends may not be 2 consecutive days. |
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js3587
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| I was actually looking to start in 2009. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:50 am Post subject: |
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After April, pickings are not the best. Lots of "sloppy seconds", which could mean people bailed out when they saw the writing on the wall, or they just never showed up despite promises, or they found what they thought was better elsewhere.
There are jobs then, but most of the hiring has been done. So, you just have to settle for whoever is hiring. ALT dispatcher? yuk. Eikaiwa? Ask here about them for reasons above. Not much else in the way of choices. |
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AgentMulderUK
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Location: Concrete jungle (Tokyo)
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Just avoid RCS whatever you do. Recent experiences with them have revealed to us their true colours.
What have you found so far js? |
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js3587
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:16 am Post subject: |
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Currently I'm trying to find out if I can take the FSO test in Japan, and trying to get a rough estimate of how long my background check would take if I was accepted into the State Department. Apparently it will take a little bit longer for me because of some family issues were I to pass the test.
If I end up going to Japan I won't want to break my contract so I'll need to make things line up properly. I'm going to call Aeon tomorrow and see if they can answer a few of my questions. |
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Toon Army
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| AgentMulderUK wrote: |
Just avoid RCS whatever you do. Recent experiences with them have revealed to us their true colours.
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I`ve heard some mixed things said about them......not so good things a few years back but apparently things are supposedly better now. I guess you might have had some recent bad experiences with them 
erm well anyway I thought about applying with them but might give them a miss.
I know of a couple other ALT companies but wondering if there`s any particular one(s) that have a half decent reputation that posters on here might recommend above others ?
(other than JET of course) |
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