Job Discussion Forums

[ebond007]

I'm moving to Japan in a couple of weeks. I want to try to get some fairly consistent private/freelance teaching work in my free time. I have ESL experience here in the U.S., and I worked for a couple of years as a personal trainer and martial arts teacher, so I'm used to the idea of appointment-based, one-on-one work, but I've got no experience with the situation in Japan. What are the best ways to drum up some fairly consistent work? (I'll be in Chiba, btw, about an hour east/south of Tokyo).

Thanks!

[Glenski]

It's not clear to me which kind of private practice you want to setup...

for teaching English?
for martials arts training?
for personal fitness training?

I would say that for the latter 2, you're probably going to need a fair amount of Japanese to get by. As for teaching English, just advertise.

In ANY of the above situations, you should probably wait 4-6 months to get yourself situated and used to your new life before leaping into a second one.

[ebond007]

Sorry about the lack of clarity; I was referring to teaching English. Anyway, I was wondering about the best *ways* to advertise and tips on drumming up business. I do plan to wait a little while, but 4 to 6 months might be a bit long. The situation is that my wife has been offered a job (she's a certified teacher) and I've not yet found full-time work over there, so I want to do whatever I can to bring home my share of the bacon.

[stevenbhow]

This is a fairly good list of teacher/student matching services. I'd start there.

http://www.jobsinjapan.com/?loc=JJA_Teacher_Intro_Services

[Glenski]

Ways to advertise.

Go to any number of online sites (like findateacher.com) and register, but keep in mind that you should really update your profiles there often to avoid falling to the bottom of the active list.

Make your own business cards and hand them out whenever.

Post in information centers, supermarkets, churches, community centers, apartment complex boards, etc. (with permission, of course).

Hand out flyers personally or stuff mailboxes in your neighborhood.

Publish in free or paid magazines. Create your own web page.

[ebond007]

I can't work on a Dependent visa? I was told by my wife's employer (for whom I will be working part time) that I would be permitted 28 hours of work per week. Is this incorrect? Either way I will obviously be seeking full-time work and thus a working visa, but there's no telling how long that might take.

[stevenbhow]

If you don't mind working at an ALT you can probably find something if you are close to Tokyo. Sometimes teachers decide not to come back after the summer holiday, so there are usually positions open in September and sometimes as late as October. If you don't find anything then you December/January would be your best shot.

[Apsara]

[Glenski]