Job Discussion Forums

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

You're still lost, but that's ok. It's also partly what is called reverse culture shock. You miss the nice differences over here, and perhaps people back home don't understand them. Go with the flow and understand that few people have had your experiences.

As for the future, it's anyone's guess. I'm twice as old as you and still have questions sometimes.

Think of looking into the book What Color Is Your Parachute? to see how much guidance it can give. Otherwise, with a year of eikaiwa under your belt, you can look for other work here-- ALT or even direct hire (mostly in private HS). And, if you get on with those and make it through another year, you can consider self-sponsoring with PT jobs, even at junior colleges (despite the rare openings) or business English agencies (depending on how much other experience they want).

Set a goal of sorts. You're still young.

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

OP,

Thanks for coming back with the courage.

People are always in search of something, it is our intrinsic nature.

I bet a lot of teachers here never thought, when they were in high school say, that they would end up in Japan, and some are still here after years.

It is not how you approach life that makes you successful, it is how much of life that you get out of it that makes you satisfied.

I don't mind people taking jobs in eikaiwas, or as ALTs or in any other work posts. Each have their own merit and to debunk any of them is to look down on others, which means looking down on oneself, i,.e giving others the respect means you also get the same respect to yourself. When you begin to make comparisons, you are never satisfied as you are always out to prove better, and someone is also better (because you have decided that to be the case on the outset). So don't let others make those comparisons for you.

Look what is inside your own heart, go with your conscience, and enjoy the beauty and treasures that are with you. We all have this within us, look inside yourself, we are all unique and special in our own ways. Find that speciality inside yourself. It is your own treasure and no-one can take that away.

I know of a teacher who is making very little but has a huge bunch of friends (a lot of Japanese apparently) and he does not speak J very well. But his character is so good, it is very easy to like such a person. Because he does not have much, so many people help him as it is also returned back. The important thing is that he is happy and fulfilled. Such a characteristic is not only applicable in one country, but at home, or in any other country. But to compare such a person to oneself is unfair, you need to find what makes you satisfied, not what looks to be satisfied from the outside.

Some occupations, such as nursing, is hard work and rather low pay with long hours. But many of these people are compassionate, caring, and are willing to help others. You learn a lot by giving rather than taking. Those who do a lot of taking are never satisfied. There is no need to prove that you are better than someone else, as the only person who has such a problem doing that is oneself.

The above applies not only when you are in your 20s, but I guess all the way until you drop dead. You will have to keep reinventing yourself to adjust to the changes that will face you. Change is natural and nothing is fixed.

Good luck.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

I think the previous 2 posts by Shiori and starteacher are excellent ones. Very insightful. Thanks for the contributions!

Cool

Regards,
fat_chris

taffer · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan

So much wisdom bubbling up from a range of experience. A whole lot of inspirational thoughtfulness coming through on this thread.

Let's face it, we have all been where this OP is.

I started a while back to put a camera on myself, looking back on so many missed moments, bloopers, impatience and frustration in the MyTube of my mind. A year ago I realized, after watching The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, that I had missed the boat, missed the point. Here I am, a TEACHER. But what exactly was I teaching on my commute, my day at the golf range, my sit down at the snooker joint? Was I a teacher at all times, not just when I was on the clock? Am I doing this for money/ experience- thrill...or for the benefit of benefiting others? Can I take it to a higher level, giving so much of myself that I actually get high on it?

A teacher sets the example. Did I WANT to be an example? Take the whole teacher thing to it's inclusive limits? The answer is yes. Own the money? Own the people around me? No. Own the task at hand. To chill people out, especially in the ShinPai Soul Suck that can be reality here.

When I walk down the street, when I interact with people I meet, under any circumstances, I want to be the most helpful, creative, joyful, (NOT necessarily GENKI btw) person I can be. I am aiming at changing the Universe.

Prescription? Here's mine. Some posters use the terms, Scary...Change your language. That tends to change your mind/ approach to what occurs day to day. Change your mind and it changes your perception of people around you, albeit a slow process. It can change your work environment, and who knows? The Universe...

What I am taking a long time saying is, there have been posts here suggesting it is the job. I say, you are in a play but you are not reacting to the people you are onstage with. Go in there tomorrow and meet each student where they are. Your goal is, let each person leave my lesson with a smile on their face. Let me get out of myself and into the job I signed up for. Let me be of service. Let me make the world a place of funky, improvised, slightly crazy nowness.

Clay_C. · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

Can totally relate to the OP. I had an existential crisis after 4+ years working in Germany, took a career left turn to return to the US...and have been missing Germany ever since. Now I am trying to get a good job in Japan!

mrbbkk · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 70 Location: Tokyo

I think its stupid to work in Japan from 1pm to 10pm for less than 500K

It means you don't have a life 5 days a week

Teach college or semmon gakko in the morning between 9am and 12:30pm

Take the afternoon off or teach a cute girl or two in the afternoon

Teach corporate classes from 6 to 8pm and enjoy yourself from 8 to 11 then head home

I did this for at least 6 or 7 years before I got my full time university job.

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

mrbbkk · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 70 Location: Tokyo

If you teach a few hours in the morning and teach a two hour corporate class in the evening, you will make the same money and have a lot more free time for as much or more money

for me its a no brainer

I would never lock myself into 1 to 10pm for 250 to 300K

If you think, you have no choice then that is your mindset
It has never been mine

I don't volunteer for something I don't like and then say I am a victim of circumstance

If you don't like it, you can make a change after one year if you make the right connections and do the leg work. We all have to do it to get the right job.

I can tell you a better way and if you reject it when hundreds, maybe even thousands of others have done it, then that is your choice.

I am just trying to be helpful and tell you a way to make more money and have a better schedule

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

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seklarwia · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject:

Believe it or not mrbbkk, some people like working in the eikawa 1-9pm. Others like working in public schools 9-5. There are many people who do a job because they enjoy it, rather than because it pays well.

It's good that you want to share different options (although they are technically not options for most in the current economic climate - you said it yourself: you left before the slowdown 6 years ago and many of your experiences are dating back to the late 1980s early 1990s), but I agree with Shiori about you "stupid" comment.

It's rude and disrepectful to call somebodies job choice stupid just because they don't earn enough to suit you taste.

mushroomyakuza · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 140

this is quite the insightful thread, particularly as at the moment, i have a job offer from Saxoncourt, who offer me the 12-9 or 1-10 rota that some of you are complaining about.

i will admit, though, that i would be much happier working a 9-5 job. however, as i understand it, Saxoncourt are centered in Tokyo, where is precisely where i want to go. the impression i've got is that it's rather hard to find a job teaching 9-5, in Tokyo, when you have less than a year's experience teaching ESL like I do (only 6 weeks).

if this is incorrect, and it IS entirely possible to work within tokyo during daylight hours, please, someone point me in the right direction. i'm trying to learn as much as i can about Saxoncourt before commiting, but a lot of it seems to be quite negative. it's a bummer, cos Tokyo is my dream, but like many of you say, i'd have very little social life working such hours...

so, if any wise elders are out there, shaking their heads, do please advise. finally, i have an interview with Interac tomorrow...they say that they can't tell me where i will be placed until 10 days before departure (seems mental) but that my chances of being put in Tokyo are very slim. can anyone comment on this?

thanks

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Unless you have JLPT 2 or above and teaching experience (preferably in Japan), you have almost no chance of being placed in Tokyo with Interac. Because of the different requirements for Tokyo ALTs, these placements nearly always go to currently employed ALTs or people hired in Japan.

mushroomyakuza · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 140

As I thought, which leaves me with an interesting predicament...do I go to Tokyo, which is the dream, and work for Saxoncourt, or live in some random place in Japan (not really big on the surburban lifestyle as for me the city is the attraction) and work as an ALT in probably more reasonable hours (correct me if they aren't reasonable)?

Tough.