Job Discussion Forums

masakidotcom · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 10

Thanks Calico! Good to know!

bluesnarf · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 7

masakidotcom · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 10

assandri · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 2

I'm also going over for the August 22nd training. Smile

deadzenpoet · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 71

Calico that sounds like a good plan then good luck on your Novel! I made the mistake applying to PKC when I wanted to teach. It cost me some money but it was a good wake up call to take my applying for teaching jobs in the future more seriously. If I went with PKC, I probably would have done a visa run and that is not my ideal situation in returning to Japan.

bluesnarf · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 7

masakidotcom · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 10

bluesnarf · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 7

dynastar · Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Posts: 26

Hey guys I started this thread a few months ago when I was getting ready to come to Japan. I've with them since May now. I live in Hikone...which is 30 minutes from Nagoya and Kyoto by Shinkansen train. Don't worry about where you're placed too much. Japan is so small, at least compared to America...People are saying oh you're going to Osaka for your days off this weekend :O That's so farrrrr...a one and a half hour train ride is not that far...especially when you're just sitting on a train with an ipod or book or friend, considering it takes that long just to drive through Washington D.C XD

Anyway, the training is not that bad haha. People complain about it a lot, it seems, but maybe they just had bad training groups. I trained in Nagoya. Some people train in Osaka. We had about 12-14 people in Nagoya. We went out together as one big group all the time despite having training the next day and we would still have plenty of energy to make it through the day. You get to bond and have a lot of fun if you're willing to keep an open mind about the people your with.

In regards to the actual training, yes it is a lot of material...but how else would they teach you? You have to learn how to teach various different types of curriculum ... think of them as grades (1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...so on). If you want to get paid you have to work, and to actually move in to your OWN apartment, you have to finish the training :> so wouldn't you want to start asap! I'm glad it's not dragged out longer than the 2 weeks provided. So yeah in the two weeks they cover how to teach the several different types of curriculum and the various administrative aspects of the job, filling out forms for salaries, incidents, vacation, visas, taxes, special events blah blah blah, what to do in case of injury, emergency, many specific situations, how to live, commute, open/close schools, get to schools.

So yeah...it's too much material to retain for only two weeks, but as you leave training and start actually doing it, it commits to memory quicker than you'd expect with all the repetition, so don't freak out. MOST of training you're just sitting and listening or sitting and observing so it's honestly not that bad. And the actual job is SO much easier than training, they'll tel you this too.

Anyway if you have any specific questions feel free to ask, just wanted to throw my 2 cents in, since I can relate, being fairly new here and all. Take it easy.

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

Thanks for the info and update.........I'm heading over for training in 6 weeks

assandri · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 2

Dynastar- I have a few questions. I'm getting nervous about the whole money situation, since I'm starting training at the end of the month and won't receive a full paycheck until late October. When do they start taking out rent/training accommodation fees and such? Or do you actually have to pay out of pocket for any of those at the beginning?

Also- was there internet at the training accommodations? I know it says when you first move to your location someone will help you at the ward office and bank and maybe get a phone, did you get help with trying to set up internet? They give the bbapply link in the info booklet but without an address beforehand it would be hard to apply to see what internet options there are and such.

Thanks!

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

dynastar · Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Posts: 26

Hey dudessss I can be of some assistance here:

First off, don't worry about the money you'll be charged for rent, apartment, or training accommodations. It won't affect any of the spending money you bring to Japan for the first couple months; those charges are deducted from your pay/rent for the first month or two of your salary and it's not too crippling, either.

Second, to be honest, it'll be hit or miss on whether you get instant internet or not. I was told it would already be at MY apartment but the person living in it before me had some arrangements made which ended up having it cancelled so I had to set up or buy my own. It also just depends on the apartment complex you're placed in. I ended up getting a portable wifi device anyway. Yes, you PS or performance supervisor will help you with all of those technical issues, getting a phone would have been impossible without him, at least when I arrived knowing nill Japanese. The DAY i moved in to my apartment, my PS helped me move, unpack a little, get a phone, set up my alien registration card at city hall, and get a bank account. So no worries with all of that they can guide you.

Next, training related, yes you can get a training loan. I actually recommend it, it can't hurt and they only take a little of it back per salary. The loan is only for 30,000 yen...a little over 300 dollars (I'm from American so that's my comparison Razz

). The training accommodations in Nagoya did NOT have internet for FREE, but you could pay a cheap amount to hook up to a certain wireless company at one of the apartments, OR you can go to the internet cafe that's near by. The prices were pretty decent. If you're training in Osaka, I hear there IS internet provided at some of the training quarters.

Finally, to be honest, yes money was a big stretch for me! :X BUT I splurged and spent a lot with the whole Japan euphoria. I ate out every single meal, I went out sightseeing, and went to bars/karaoke with other trainees multiple times a week during training and built up a hefty bill. If you live an even remotely conservative lifestyle you should be fine. I just went all out and I was running pretty dry by the time payday came around, but considering you won't have any bills to pay or rent to worry about for the first month...(since that'll simply be deducted from the deposited salary) you should be ok as long as you try to keep some sort of budget...I, personally took 3000 dollars and spent a lot on the portable internet wifi device, phone, bicycles, blah blah, so as long as you don't go nuts like I did, you should be just fine! Hope this helps! Feel free to leave any more questions...I'll check it when I can...

you guys are lucky you're coming in right as summer school is ending...the curriculum and class quantity doubles during this time of Summer School X_x

torkonftw · Joined: 04 Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Colorado

Hey dynastar thanks for all of the valuable information! The only question I'd have right now is how to bring the money over. The PCK guide suggests some yen and then the rest in traveler's checks, but from what I've read on these and other forums, those things are a pain to cash in. And then the guide also says that few ATMS work - so I'm not sure what to do.

Can anyone shed some light on their experiences with this? I hate to walk around with $3000+ worth of cash, but it seems like most people do that? Thanks.

Edit: I just had another thought too - did you take your cellphone from America over there? I know they set you up with a phone after training, and I'm fine with that, but I'm kind of nervous if I have to make emergency calls to my family or something back home before then. Thanks again for any response!