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KnockoutNed
Joined: 03 Dec 2009
Posts: 87
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 Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 6:04 am Post subject: Am I just moaning? Should I quit? |
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I really want to find a new job... definitely not enjoying mine. I would like your advice.
I work for a very small school in northern Japan. I make 245,000 a month. Since beginning my position I've averaged 36 lessons a week (each lesson is 50 minutes). I get around 15 paid holidays for the year. This is a language school BTW so I'm teaching adults.
My boss is always on my a@@ and there is literally NO downtime. If I don't have a lesson I'm doing some other sort of busy work. Some days I have 9 lessons and my boss will jump on me if I wasn't able to finish making a new news article.
I've got 10 months left on my VISA. If my boss wasn't such a di**, I could manage. I've taught English for several years in three different countries and this is definitely my worst job.
I have no plans to leave Japan. It would be nice to find a position where I have a little more holiday, even if that means a big drop in my salary. I also prefer teaching kids. I'm even considering quitting and just doing privates.
When I interviewed for the position I was told that I would average 4-5 lessons a day.
Yes I signed the contract. Yes I realize I made an agreement. If I do leave I would give plenty of notice.
Will I be likely to find similar conditions if I switch jobs? Is this just the way it is in Japan?
Thoughts? |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Given that you're still relatively new to Japan, I wouldn't consider privates a reliable income stream.
36 lessons a week is a pretty unenviable timetable. You'll burn out unless you are some kind of superman.
I'm not sure, but 15 days is actually pretty good, if I recall correctly - I think I got 10 days in my first year. I would suggest that you would be expected to be doing something in your free lessons at pretty much any school that's paying you a full-time salary, be it making flyers or news articles or somesuch.
The only real issues I see are that you don't like your boss and you have too many contact hours. |
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midnightpariah
Joined: 26 May 2007
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 11:21 am Post subject: |
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That is a lot of contact hours! Are you getting insurance and pension paid? I'm pretty sure (though more seasoned vets could say for sure) that if you work more than 30 hours a week your employer has to pay into them.
I wish you luck! I know how difficult it is working for a terrible job in Japan. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Am I just moaning? Should I quit? |
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| KnockoutNed wrote: |
I make 245,000 a month. Since beginning my position I've averaged 36 lessons a week (each lesson is 50 minutes).
Will I be likely to find similar conditions if I switch jobs? Is this just the way it is in Japan? |
Those hours are really pushing it, both legally and in terms of your health. (The legal side is complicated but, basically, if you are working more than 30 hours a week, you are entitled to certain benefits.)
Many schools only recruit within Japan. Now that you're here, you stand a good chance of finding a job with similar wages and fewer hours. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Am I just moaning? Should I quit? |
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| KnockoutNed wrote: |
I work for a very small school in northern Japan. I make 245,000 a month. Since beginning my position I've averaged 36 lessons a week (each lesson is 50 minutes). I get around 15 paid holidays for the year. This is a language school BTW so I'm teaching adults.
...
Is this just the way it is in Japan?
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When I taught mostly adults at a small eikaiwa in northern Japan (2003-2007), I made 250,000-260,000/mo and had about 20-24 contact hours per week. However, I think I only had 12 paid holidays (besides national holidays).
Overall, I think 36 lessons a week is excessive, and much more than the average. However, it also depends on how much prep is required for the lessons. In my case, nothing was provided for my lessons, and there were none that I could repeat, so I needed a lot of planning time. On the other hand, if you are given all of the course content and you only need to execute it, then the 36 lessons isn't as bad (still would be exhausting though, I would imagine). |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Was what you were told and what is in the contract different?
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| Overall, I think 36 lessons a week is excessive, and much more than the average. |
I believe NOVA and GEOS have 8 lessons per day on average --> 40 per week. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| With GEOS in its old incarnation, it really depended on the size of the school. Saturdays were always insane, but Tuesedays and Wednesdays were often a little better for me - only 4 or 5 lessons. I averaged 23-26 contact hours/week. |
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midnightpariah
Joined: 26 May 2007
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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I would recommend keeping track of every hour you work. This way you have evidence in case he isn't providing benefits.
I think that if your contract states that you must work 40 hours a week then your boss has a right to make you work those 40 hours. If your contract states otherwise, then I would have a talk with him ASAP. He might think that because you haven't said anything, you don't mind working extra. |
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Tuan
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Is it just you or are there other co-workers in the same situation? If there are other co-workers that feel the same way that you do, then it is just how that particular language school operates.
I would try to see if I can reach out to someone at the school if you can't get pass your boss. If you are unhappy, then you are unhappy. |
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Tara2117
Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Gunma, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:35 am Post subject: |
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If you like teaching kids, apply with Peppy Kids Club. I changed jobs to work for them last September, and is has been one of the best decisions I've ever made, for my stress-level and sanity!
Easy hours, curriculum provided, and no one riding your ass in the classroom for the win.
They hire year-round. I recommend it to anyone who likes kids and feels confident teaching alone. |
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CarolinaBen
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 78
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Tara2117 wrote: |
If you like teaching kids, apply with Peppy Kids Club. I changed jobs to work for them last September, and is has been one of the best decisions I've ever made, for my stress-level and sanity!
Easy hours, curriculum provided, and no one riding your ass in the classroom for the win.
They hire year-round. I recommend it to anyone who likes kids and feels confident teaching alone. |
That is really good to hear! I start work for PKC this September. |
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Tara2117
Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Gunma, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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CarolinaBen, where are you from? I'm from SC... just wondering, cuz of your username. 
Sometimes trainees are sent to my schools to train, so who knows, we might meet during your training. Usually people train in Nagoya, but if there is a large group, they will send some to Gunma. Good luck! The job really is pretty sweet, as ESL jobs go. |
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CarolinaBen
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 78
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Tara2117 wrote: |
CarolinaBen, where are you from? I'm from SC... just wondering, cuz of your username.
Sometimes trainees are sent to my schools to train, so who knows, we might meet during your training. Usually people train in Nagoya, but if there is a large group, they will send some to Gunma. Good luck! The job really is pretty sweet, as ESL jobs go. |
I live in Chapel Hill, NC. Thanks for the positive info. I'm looking forward to heading that way. |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: |
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| I would quit, sounds pretty bad |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:19 am Post subject: Re: Am I just moaning? Should I quit? |
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| KnockoutNed wrote: |
1. I work for a very small school in northern Japan.
2. I've got 10 months left on my VISA. If my boss wasn't such a di**, I could manage.
3. I have no plans to leave Japan. |
If you want to continue in Japan, I would wait until after you got your visa at the very least (assuming that you have more than 10 months left on your existing contract). You have less than a year left. If you think there is ANY chance of not getting recontracted and your job would be ending between now and when your visa expires, then I would *VERY SERIOUSLY* look for another job if that's possible (northern Japan isn't exactly Tokyo in terms of options). |
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