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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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 Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: update |
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| stefanreynolds wrote: |
| Jus got Interac email number 9, with general information about visa, placements etc.. hows everyone else doing? |
same here. Everytime I get an email from interac I hope it's about placement info even though i know that probably won't be for a while yet. Can't stop hoping though 
I'm going to enquire about the Japanese language phone call test thingy tomorrow, I'll post what they reply here just incase someone finds it useful.
I also found out that the likely departure date will be aug 24/25, give or take a few days. |
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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: update |
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| I hear some people have been given placement info already. |
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stefanreynolds
Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject: coe |
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| ive got an email saying they applied for my coe 10 days ago, so i guess this is good news! maybe i am really going to japan! |
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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: coe |
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| stefanreynolds wrote: |
| ive got an email saying they applied for my coe 10 days ago, so i guess this is good news! maybe i am really going to japan! |
Yes, I got that email too. I'm getting into the pattern that Interac email every Friday...
Any news about placements yet? Some people have heard, though I don't think prefectures in the Kansai area have released any placement info yet (where I'm told I'll be heading)
Good luck! |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: coe |
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| Akatsuka123 wrote: |
Yes, I got that email too. I'm getting into the pattern that Interac email every Friday...
Any news about placements yet? Some people have heard, though I don't think prefectures in the Kansai area have released any placement info yet (where I'm told I'll be heading)
Good luck! |
It is quite unusual for BOEs to be finalising things this far in advance. They tend to allow the bidding war between companies to go to the last minute in order to get the best deal.
What info exactly have people been receiving? A city/BOE name? Or are they just being told which branch they are in?
Last year, some people were told what branch they were going to quite early and some BOEs a little later. And that can give you a good idea about which region you are being placed in... that is unless you get told you are going to be working under the Tokyo branch  |
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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: coe |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
It is quite unusual for BOEs to be finalising things this far in advance. They tend to allow the bidding war between companies to go to the last minute in order to get the best deal.
What info exactly have people been receiving? A city/BOE name? Or are they just being told which branch they are in?
Last year, some people were told what branch they were going to quite early and some BOEs a little later. And that can give you a good idea about which region you are being placed in... that is unless you get told you are going to be working under the Tokyo branch |
I've heard some people know location, whether or not they have to drive and whether or not the schools are elementary, middle or high school. Other people have only been told prefecture or approximate location.
I got an email today stating a number of things including that it is Interac policy to own a landline.  How strict are they on this? I hardly ever use a landline in the UK, and I know Japan might be different, but I never missed not having a landline for the 1.5 years I lived there. Its an extra expense I couldve done without... Why does Interac require this? Any ideas? |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:19 am Post subject: Re: coe |
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| Akatsuka123 wrote: |
| I've heard some people know location, whether or not they have to drive and whether or not the schools are elementary, middle or high school. Other people have only been told prefecture or approximate location. |
Probably the people who know about their actual placement are replacing old Interac employees which would explain why they have all that info to give already. And of course some areas start school in August so those BOEs finalise things a little sooner (although it is still a little early even for these BOEs).
Prefecture, general area, branch or BOE are commonly the bits of info that come out this early for a lucky few. Remember many people won't receive any placement info until the last minute and a few will not find out until after their arrival in Japan.
So don't freak out if some people are hearing things but you haven't yet. Interac won't bring you over and abandon you. Sure some people don't get a placement on arrival but they will simply "work" in Tokyo until something comes up, so you won't be out on the street if you end up here as an alternate with no placement.
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| I got an email today stating a number of things including that it is Interac policy to own a landline. How strict are they on this? I hardly ever use a landline in the UK, and I know Japan might be different, but I never missed not having a landline for the 1.5 years I lived there. Its an extra expense I couldve done without... Why does Interac require this? Any ideas? |
I think somebody made a mistake there.
It is Interac's policy that all employees must be reachable by phone.
That doesn't mean you need a landline. I don't even have a landline. A working mobile phone number is fine and makes far more sense than a landline since it means it is easier to get hold of you or they can simply send an email to your mobile. They do prefer you get to get a contract phone since there have been instances when people have forgotten to top up their prepaid phones and therefore been unreachable. But they can't force you to get a contract phone if you don't want to. |
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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: coe |
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Regarding the landline - Maybe thats my mistake. I was reading the booklet on the train to work. I'll read again to make sure. I hope I misread!!
I've heard about my placement too - teaching at kindergarten & ES in Harima-cho, Hyogo prefecture. Hopefully things won't change too much from here as I'm quite chuffed with that placement |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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You are pretty close to Osaka; possibly even as little as about an hour away by via local trains.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't have your placement changed.
Do you know how many schools? Will you be driving? |
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Akatsuka123
Joined: 09 May 2010
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
You are pretty close to Osaka; possibly even as little as about an hour away by via local trains.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't have your placement changed.
Do you know how many schools? Will you be driving? |
I'll be teaching at 5 schools, 3 ES and 2 kindergartens. I've never taught children so young before (at kindergarten) so I'm busy doing a ton of research now! It looks like great fun though, i'm looking forward to it.
They say that I dont need to drive, and after looking on googlemap at the locations of all the schools, it looks like I can pretty much walk between all of them. However, whether I can do that in the midst of summer is another thing...!
May I ask where you are based? If you'd rather not say here, PM me.
Do you think it will be beneficial for me to bring large (A2+) flags/maps of the UK/maps of london/posters of London etc with me? I'm not sure I'll be allowed to put them up on the walls in the school. If not, I'll bring a stack of A3 pictures.
Thanks |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: |
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I'm far from you. I really am near the monkey onsen in Nagano prefecture and open my front door every morning on to Japan's most active volcano.
If you have posters, pictures and postcards (postcards can make nice small gifts or omiyage) it is always good to bring them along if you have the space. They will probably be slightly more of interest to the older ES students than the younger and kindergarteners. You have no idea how often you will visit each school (everyone has a main school but many have a or two school that they only visit once or twice per month) so it will be better if you just bring a single set of posters and pics and just carry them around with you instead of attempting to decorate all 5 schools with them. |
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prlester
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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Reading about the competitiveness of Interac is sad. I applied there five years ago and almost everybody got in.
What are placements like these days? Can one get Tokyo or Osaka for first hires? |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 1:55 am Post subject: |
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Unless somebody has previous ALT experience in Japan and a high level of Japanese, it's not that common to get a Tokyo placement for their first placement.
I don't know if Interac has much in Osaka anymore. I thought the prefectural BOE was no longer allowed to do business with Interac. But I don't understand whether that means the city BOE and any private schools are also not allowed. |
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fujisan
Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| prlester wrote: |
| What are placements like these days? Can one get Tokyo or Osaka for first hires? |
What do you mean? Any placements that are made around now are at picky BOEs where previous ALTs were just fired. It could be Tokyo, Osaka or anywhere. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| fujisan wrote: |
| prlester wrote: |
| What are placements like these days? Can one get Tokyo or Osaka for first hires? |
What do you mean? Any placements that are made around now are at picky BOEs where previous ALTs were just fired. It could be Tokyo, Osaka or anywhere. |
Or that the ALT left for any number of reasons which may have had little to nothing to do with the schools/BOE. Or the employing school/BOE screwed up trying to hire last minute, then turned to a dispatch company to try and get somebody quickly... believe it or not, not every placement that becomes avaliable outside of the major hiring periods are due to ALTs being fired due to picky BOEs.
Besides, the question did seems more of a general query rather than a question about the avaliablity of placements at the time that the post was made. |
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