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martyrochon
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: teaching in Sapporo |
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Hello,
I am hoping to head to Asia next fall for my first ESL teaching experience. A friend of mine taught for many years in Sapporo and said it was the best place in Japan to live, for a Canadian (such as me). Can anyone confirm or deny this? Also, as he has not been there in many years, can anyone give an overview of the current teaching scene there? Would it be a good place for a first job?
Thanks in advance,
Marty |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: teaching in Sapporo |
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| martyrochon wrote: |
| I am hoping to head to Asia next fall for my first ESL teaching experience. A friend of mine taught for many years in Sapporo and said it was the best place in Japan to live, for a Canadian (such as me). Can anyone confirm or deny this? |
That's a strange way to put it. Confirm or deny? How are we to know what most Canadians are like? I lived in Sapporo for 7 years. Had 4 Canadian coworkers (oddly enough, almost all from the same area of Ontario).
Expect about 6 meters of snow per winter, and temps about -15C at the lowest. Is that what your friend meant to be so compatible for you? Everyone "knows" Canadians live in igloos, right? 
| Quote: |
| Also, as he has not been there in many years, can anyone give an overview of the current teaching scene there? Would it be a good place for a first job? |
It's pretty full of teachers, just like everywhere else. And, although you will find ads scattered around the internet, you should consider paying 5000 yen/year for a subscription to the Hokkaido Insider, which consolidates them for convenience. For free you can get the HI's other materials about events and such.
What else do you want to know? What do you expect? |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:18 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I pretty much agree with Glenski. I lived in Sapporo for 3 years and now live a few hours away (in Hokkaido)
Your post was pretty vague, but I have heard that Sapporo is a city that a lot of foreigners like. For me, I really like it (except for the long cold winters but then you don't get the humidity in summer and miss the rainy season ... so ....)
Yes, Sapporo has a lot less opportunities compared to the other main cities, but having said that, there are jobs but its very hard to be general about such things. You might walk into a good job straight away?, you might look around for months? who can really say!
If you don't have any experience (as it sounds like) it will make it a little harder.
I agree with Glenski, Hokkaido insider is worth it (IMO) |
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martyrochon
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Thanks guys.
To specify, my friend mentioned that in Hokkaido the people are laid back and very friendly and there are many options for outdoor/nature activities, in contrast to the fast paced frenzy of say Tokyo.
He also mentioned that my best bet would be to head to the International Meeting Place in Sapporo (?, he couldn't remember the exact name of it) where I could meet other foreigners and post for jobs. Any further info on this?
What kind of work can a first timer like me expect to find there? I do have some teaching experience but not specifically in TEFL. I was told there is lots of opportunities for private lessons, if you are able to network in the right circles.
My expectations: Basically I would like to spend some time as an english teacher abroad, garnering experience and visiting a new country. I would like to have some vacation time to travel around and enjoy the outdoors. I am used to living modestly but I would like to earn enough to enjoy myself on holidays and possibly save a chunk for my future education degree.
Based on this would you recommend Sapporo? I've been looking at many places and I can't seem to nail down the best option for me...
ps. Snow and cold temperatures are not a problem for me, as I am indeed used to walking to school in snowshoes!  [/quote] |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| martyrochon wrote: |
Thanks guys.
He also mentioned that my best bet would be to head to the International Meeting Place in Sapporo (?, he couldn't remember the exact name of it) where I could meet other foreigners and post for jobs. Any further info on this?
What kind of work can a first timer like me expect to find there? I do have some teaching experience but not specifically in TEFL. I was told there is lots of opportunities for private lessons, if you are able to network in the right circles.
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[/quote]
you must mean the International Communication Plaza (or something similar?) its opposite the Tokedai. Yes, some smaller schools advertize there and personal one to one stuff. Yes you can post there for being available for lessons if you want to. (Private lessons)
IMO Hokkaido Insider is much better (as mentioned) but it always pays to keep your eye open.
I can't really say how it will be for you, you might land a job in the 1st week in Sapporo, you might not? But you could live on private lessons for a while and make some contacts, but with no experience ..... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| martyrochon wrote: |
Thanks guys.
To specify, my friend mentioned that in Hokkaido the people are laid back and very friendly and there are many options for outdoor/nature activities, in contrast to the fast paced frenzy of say Tokyo. |
Comparatively speaking, yes. But Sapporo is still not Mayberry, USA. Two million residents, a subway and train system, pretty spread out cityscape.
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| He also mentioned that my best bet would be to head to the International Meeting Place in Sapporo (?, he couldn't remember the exact name of it) where I could meet other foreigners and post for jobs. Any further info on this? |
International Communication Plaza, as flyer wrote. http://www.hokkaidoguide.net/2008/07/sapporo_international_communic.html
Third floor across from the Tokedai clock tower, just a couple of blocks north of the 12-block-long Odori Park.
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| What kind of work can a first timer like me expect to find there? I do have some teaching experience but not specifically in TEFL. I was told there is lots of opportunities for private lessons, if you are able to network in the right circles. |
Look, private lessons are everyone's dream, but the reality is this:
Private lessons are illegal unless you have a proper visa.
Private lessons are fickle and will drop you at a moment's notice.
Private lesson students are cheap. Don't fall into this trap and make the market worse for the rest of us.
Private lessons are still a teaching gig, so don't just sit there and talk about your own experiences for 57 minutes. It's a business, so make it a professional lesson and actually teach something.
Private lessons are not always that easy to find. There aren't that many Japanese who frequent the Plaza, for example, and you will have a lot of competition, especially if you are new to the area.
You are suited for ALT and eikaiwa work if you are a newcomer with no experience and with a BA degree. If you have some non-teaching work experience, you might also land some business English work.
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| My expectations: Basically I would like to spend some time as an english teacher abroad, garnering experience and visiting a new country. I would like to have some vacation time to travel around and enjoy the outdoors. I am used to living modestly but I would like to earn enough to enjoy myself on holidays and possibly save a chunk for my future education degree. |
Sounds pretty much like every newbie who writes on these boards. Can we expect that you are "garnering experience" for teaching and that you will act accordingly when you are here? If hired, you get paid to work, not study Japanese or go sightseeing.
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| Based on this would you recommend Sapporo? |
Yes.
| flyer wrote: |
| But you could live on private lessons for a while |
I disagree. You cannot live on private lessons, especially when you just set foot in the city. No way. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| flyer wrote: |
| But you could live on private lessons for a while |
I disagree. You cannot live on private lessons, especially when you just set foot in the city. No way. |
Glenski is right- it takes quite a long time to build-up to enough private lessons to even be able to make enough cover your rent, let alone live off completely. It took me a good 6-9 months of effort to reach a point where private students covered my rent, and private studens almost all want lessons in the evening or on the weekend, which means you are limited to how many you can take. Also that was in Tokyo where there is obviously a much bigger population to draw from- in Sapporo I'd say it would be a lot harder to get that many private students at one time. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:06 am Post subject: |
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Friend and former coworker in an eikaiwa was laid off, so he opted to work out the remaining months of his work visa by getting private lessons. He started by tapping his old eikaiwa classes, and then networked from there. He had lived in Sapporo for 4-5 years at that time.
Took him 3-4 months to get 300,000 yen/month income.
Most of his classes were during the day. Housewives usually have that time. So do retirees. |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:04 am Post subject: |
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when I said "live on private lessons for a while", I was assuming he had enough to live on for a while. I meant make a bit of money to start off, I don't want to give the impression that you can just jump into a lifestyle of doing private lessons easily.
Yes, it is not easy to start and does take a while to build enough to live on (private lessons) |
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martyrochon
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:24 am Post subject: |
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Great info, thanks. To clarify I am not planning on trying to support myself on private lessons. I assume I will have to get a proper job, and maybe somewhere down the road make the proper contacts for private work.
Can someone clarify the differences between ALT and eikawa jobs, and possibly some opinions and which one is best?
thanks again. |
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Ryu Hayabusa
Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 182
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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Which is "best"?
Depends entirely on you and your situation. |
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martyrochon
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Can anyone recommend some eikawas in Sapporo? Where can I apply for eikawa work overseas? Or is it better to go and apply in person?
thanks. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| martyrochon wrote: |
Can anyone recommend some eikawas in Sapporo? Where can I apply for eikawa work overseas? Or is it better to go and apply in person?
thanks. |
Sapporo has the reborn NOVA, GEOS, ECC, AEON, IAY, Berlitz, and a bunch of other small eikaiwa. Look in iTOWNPAGE for more.
If you can't support yourself for 3-4 months while here job hunting, I suggest you apply to the places above that recruit from abroad.
Also get a subscription to Hokkaido Insider.
When did you plan to start work? That is an important fact to know before deciding to come here. |
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martyrochon
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I will definitely look into the Hokkaido Insider. I was planning on heading overseas in September. Browsing this forum, I have read a lot of good things and bad things for pretty much all of the major Japanese eikawas. Out of curiosity, Glenski, do you have a personal opinion on which eikawas treat their teachers best? |
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