Job Discussion Forums

[Jeembo007]

I'll start with some background information about me:

I'm 25 years old and British (white male, if that's important) currently living in Shanghai. I've been in China for 3 and a half years, I taught English for 2 and a half years (both children and adults). I speak fluent Chinese. I eventually managed to get myself a "proper" job not teaching English, I work for a multi-national company as a training support manager, my responsibilities are to arrange training courses in South East Asia (which gives me lots of nice business trips to Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau and allows me to stay in 5 star hotels ) and to set up a training evaluation system. I am also currently studying an online Masters Degree in Human Resources Management through the University of Liverpool.

So that's what my current status is. I figure this job, combined with my Chinese speaking ability and my Masters degree (when I complete it) will set me up on a really good career path. I don't want to start a debate about how English teaching will destroy your career, I don't believe that, it's just not the career path I wanted to go down.

Now, I am quite sick of China. In fact, I have always been sick of China, I just persisted because one day all this experience will hopefully help me get a good career. And over the last few years, every so often I have heard Japan calling me, I've just had an urge to go there. Hell, even my favourite part of Shanghai is the Japanese district. I've never been to Japan and don't really know a hell of a lot about the place, but it just appeals to me for some reason. I feel like I should have gone to Japan instead of China all those years ago, but at the same time I am greatful for my experience in China.

So yeah, now I am considering moving to Japan. I am thinking either way, one more year of this current job then I want to move on to somewhere else (not within mainland China). I figure the most practical way of me getting to Japan would be to go back to teaching English again. I don't think I'd have a problem getting a job (although please do correct me if I am wrong), I have 2 and a half years teaching experience, a TEFL certificate (although it is only one of those weekend ones), a Bachelors degree and half a Masters degree. I would ideally like to get a Business English teaching job teaching corporate clients as that is more my sorta thing (not a huge fan of kids to be honest).

I would use my spare time to study Japanese. This is one of the main reasons I'd love to go to Japan I guess, I really want to learn Japanese. And then after a while, when my Japanese is good enough (1-2 years if I study my arse off) I would hope to be able to find a non-teaching job, a bit like the one I have now, where I could put the expertise from my Masters degree to use. In fact, I'd even be happy if I could get a management role in an English school.

So...What are your thoughts? Would love to hear from those more experienced with Japan what you think. Do you know anyone who has managed to work their way into a different sort of job in Japan? Would it destroy the path I've managed to get myself on, if I went back to teaching English again?

Note: I really hope I don't come across as one of those people who is out to diss English teachers because they are not an English teacher themselves. I had a good time teaching English, and I met a lot of cool people, and if you are happy being a teacher then it's a good job. But I want to work my way into something more business related, which is why I wish to get away from teaching English eventually.

[pnksweater]

Entry level English teaching isn�t much fun these days- less than ideal hours for low pay, plus high levels of competition for jobs. Japan seems to be calling to a lot of people these days. If you finish up your masters you might have a shot at a contracted position at a university. However, if your real goal is to study Japanese and get your foot in the door with a Japanese company, you might consider finding a good intensive language course at a school or university that can sponsor your visa. If you need money, you can get permission to work part time as a student. Personally, I always found it difficult to study the language when I was getting paid to speak English in an all English work environment.

[flyer]

well only you know how badly you want to come to Japan and how badly you don't like living China, so its your call. But, you asked for our opinion.
I would say, it depends on the time frame you are talking about. If you are thinking about real long term then I suppose it would be worth it (since you speak good Chinese, have a good job in China) but if its only for a few years? Then I would stay in China
Remember
The grass is always greener! There are so many variables here, no one can say what you should do with any degree of clarity. There are not many good jobs here in Japan now, but there are some

good luck

[robertokun]

You've already worked your a$$ off and paid your dues, why go back to square one in Japan? Take a vacation there, see some temples, go to an onsen, even take some Japanese lessons, and leave with your career still on track . . . Read the "Quitting Seiha" thread on here (and the countless others) if you want to get a glimpse of what it's like to get pimped in the entry level EFL game over there. If you can go straight into your career field somehow, maybe getting transferred with your current company if they have any operations over there, more power to you, but I'm assuming that option has already been thought of and is not in the cards.

[fluffyhamster]

I've worked in both countries, and although Japan is IMHO indeed the more generally appealing of the two places to find yourself, China seemed to me to present more opportunities, certainly for business ventures even if not for actual proper jobs (though who can say how long-term anything will ever ultimately be, especially nowadays!), and (relatedly) seemed the easier place in which to make friends and socialize (i.e. I found the Japanese to be more guarded, private etc than the Chinese; certainly, "the language itself" is "harder work" in Japan than it is in China!).

As for whether the move would entirely destroy your (current) career, I wouldn't think so (though much depends on how exactly you've come to be "where you are" at the moment, which doesn't sound exactly bad! And who you might potentially "disappoint" or even "upset" by leaving), but it could obviously set you back "a few years" (in China at least) to leave for Japan for however long!

On a more general note, I've rather gotten the impression that most people who manage the transition into long-term non-ELT work in Asia mainly do so by virtue of simply marrying a local ("hope" you haven't got a Chinese wife in tow, who may not enjoy the proposed move) and/or gaining permanent residency than from any particularly hard graft on their part (though not all who marry and/or get PR move out of ELT), so genuine good luck to you (because from the sounds of it, you deserve it) in competing for the better sorts of jobs (by which I mean, those jobs that often seem to get filled by a high-powered "expert" suit especially flown in from an already "glittering" career in the West) wherever you may roam!

[Glenski]

[flyer]

Yes, it seems a huge risk if you haven't even been here (Japan)
Common sense = at least come for a visit

[mhard1]

The short answer is that yes, coming to Japan would kill your career.

However it is the sacrifice you will have to make to be in an environment you prefer.

As has been said before, you can`t have your cake and eat it too.

That being said, study up on Japanese. If you are already fluent in Chinese it should be easy for you to pick up.

Continue to get your education in line, and your experience in business in line in China.

Someone who is fluent in English and Chinese is in a good position to do more than teach English in Japan.

Couple that with your business background, masters, and you are talking a strong candidate.

Add in some JLPT qualifications and you will be well on your way to having many more opportunities open up to you. Don`t sell yourself short. Be patient and develop yourself into where you want to be.

[therock]

If you decide to go to Japan, can I have your job in China?

[mitsui]

There is Hong Kong and Singapore, and Taiwan to consider, if you do not care for China.
Things have gotten harder in Japan.
My pay went down by 20,000 dollars last year, after I was let go from a private high school.

I think pay will go up in China. Pay has gone down in Japan.

[steki47]

[Karl Sal]

Seriously, if I had $20,000 in my salary to lose I'd be in good shape. Or in my life period for that matter.