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weigookin74
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 265
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 Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| Is JET competitive if you're really willing to live in a rural area? I'm still paying debts in Korea but would like to maybe consider teaching there in the future. But worry that JET will discriminate on age. I'm hoping though if I say I'll go rural, they'll let me in. I'm sure my few years of public school, along with friendly personality, ought to count for something. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:46 am Post subject: |
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| weigookin74 wrote: |
| But worry that JET will discriminate on age. |
How old are you? The technical upper age limit is 40, but they've been known to bend that on occasion. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| What "sleight of hand"? Didn't you read the original post? |
Yes, I did, which is why I'm not going to get off-topic by responding to your urge to have a go at someone: the OP asked about getting an eikaiwa job in Tokyo or other major cities. You offered questionable advice. I'm not about to do the same.
Last edited by Mr_Monkey on Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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The problem with Tokyo is that on an eikaiwa teacher's salary, you very likely won't be able to live anywhere central and exciting, and the bedtowny places you'll probably end up having to spend most of your time in and commuting to and fro from will be REALLY boring compared to regional cities with often more character and attractions. That being said, Osaka (apparently the top of many people's alternative list) left me quite cold - the only "colourful" bit seemed to be that area around the little bridge over the murky canal that Michael Douglas mopes on in Black Rain.   |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| For example, where does the assertion that Japanese employers regard foreign experience in Asia - Korea or Taiwan, for example - as irrelevant come from? I've only ever heard the claim made here, so perhaps it's not common knowledge. If there is no data available to support it, and there are conterexamples to the claim, should it not be at least hedged? |
I ran into this when I first came to Japan. 3 years in HK, 2 years in Taiwan. If I had a PhD at that time and had taught at the national universities in both places, maybe my experience would have made a difference. Certainly they felt I could deal with culture shock, but beyond that I was considered a newbie.
It still comes up; many Japanese (the people usually you will ultimately be working for) will think that the experience of teaching Japanese students is very different than the experience of teaching other non-Japanese students.
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| The problem with Tokyo is that on an eikaiwa teacher's salary, you very likely won't be able to live anywhere central and exciting, and the bedtowny places you'll probably end up having to spend most of your time in and commuting to and fro from will be REALLY boring compared to regional cities with often more character and attractions. |
It really depends on what you like to do. Where I live now, I truly miss being able to take day hikes (takes a long time to get to worthwhile areas outside of Tokyo) and canoe (my canoe is still in NA and anyway, the rivers near my house are more like metro canals).
The perks of living downtown; I can pop down to a live house near my house, and my distance to work is shorter than some of my colleagues. Also, if I decide to go out later, past the last train time (which is rare at my age and for my lifestyle), I can walk home or afford a taxi, something you usually can't do if you live in the burbs.
Mr_Monkey posted
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| You offered questionable advice. |
Did he really? Perhaps you two can settle that by PMs (or not).  |
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metropolis
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: dd |
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Pardon me for chiming in here. I am kinda in a similar situation, but my expectations are a bit different. I do NOT want to live in Tokyo. My wife is Korean and her family are living in Japan. I would prefer to live in Osaka rather than Tokyo because I prefer peace and quiet. Someone on here said that they would never live outside of Seoul. Wow. I've been living in Seoul for three years and enjoy the times when I am not here. People outside Seoul are much more friendly and easy to deal with than here. I even speak Korean, but it doesn't help much when you deal with people who only care about money, appearance, plastic surgery, and G-Dragon.
I also see that someone mentioned that experience in other Asian countries doesn't count. I taught in China for three years (uni and elementary) and three years in Korea. I also have my CELTA. So, does that mean that I will still be considered a newbie and will have a tough time finding a job in Osaka or some other city? My wife speaks Japanese, so I'm not worried about having to deal with the initial language barrier.
So, will I have a hard time finding a job because I'm also a 'newbie'?
One more thing: WOW! People teaching in Japan must be so much more happier than the people teaching in Korea. You guys are all so nice and apologetic on this forum! Go take a visit to the Korean forum and you will see a bunch of angry birds fighting and complaining. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: |
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| metropolis wrote: |
| Pardon me for chiming in here. I am kinda in a similar situation, but my expectations are a bit different. I do NOT want to live in Tokyo. My wife is Korean and her family are living in Japan. I would prefer to live in Osaka... |
Some of the posters on this thread have become so fixated on Tokyo that they have forgotten that the topic is actually 'Getting a position in Tokyo or other major city'. Wanting to live in Osaka (2nd largest city in Japan population-wise) fits you right in there with the OP and the majority of other newbies. 
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| I also see that someone mentioned that experience in other Asian countries doesn't count. I taught in China for three years (uni and elementary) and three years in Korea. I also have my CELTA. So, does that mean that I will still be considered a newbie and will have a tough time finding a job in Osaka or some other city? |
It may not count if the employer is insular enough to believe that Japan is special and different to every other country that teaching kids outside Japan could never prepare you for teaching in Japan; yes, there are some employers who will look at your experience as no more than evidence that you can cope living in a foreign country and are not so likely to succumb to culture shock or homesickness. But there are others who will look favourably on your teaching experience. My (rather limited in comparison to your) experience in China, the UK and whilst at uni (I was pretty much a tutor for credit for international/ERASMUS students at my UK and unis abroad) was well received.
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| One more thing: WOW! People teaching in Japan must be so much more happier than the people teaching in Korea. You guys are all so nice and apologetic on this forum! Go take a visit to the Korean forum and you will see a bunch of angry birds fighting and complaining. |
You caught us on a good day.  Sure peeps here are somewhat more civilised than on other forums. But if you stick around, you'll likely spot some good ol' avian behaviour. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| nimaime wrote: |
Right. I can't imagine experience in Korea counting as nothing like some suggest.
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I can. Bigotry (both explicit and unthinking) is everywhere and in every country. I've seen Japanese employers dismiss non-Japanese experience simply because it's not Japanese. After all, Japan is different.  By the same token, I've seen the same thing happen in the US, Russia, South Africa, etc. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| fluffyhamster wrote: |
| That being said, Osaka (apparently the top of many people's alternative list) left me quite cold |
I'm with you on that one. I've hated Osaka every time I've ever been there. It's like it can't get over the fact that Tokyo has more going for it and actually *does* something. Osaka simply seems to be a big city that exists because it's a big city. The only place I disliked more in Japan was Kobe, but that was because of the non-Japanese crowd: utter tools everywhere, busily telling you how great Kobe is because it's not Osaka.
This post has no point. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| nimaime wrote: |
Right. I can't imagine experience in Korea counting as nothing like some suggest.
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I can. Bigotry (both explicit and unthinking) is everywhere and in every country. I've seen Japanese employers dismiss non-Japanese experience simply because it's not Japanese. After all, Japan is different. By the same token, I've seen the same thing happen in the US, Russia, South Africa, etc. |
Yeah kinda funny how the 'Japan is different' deal is used in some absurd situations. So a Honda factory and a Hyundai factory are different, because one is in Japan? It's kinda 1800's pseudo-science odd. |
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stumptowny
Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 310
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Osaka would be the next best thing if the OP can't get himself into Tokyo.[/quote]
Tokyo is over rated, and outside of clubs lacks culture. Osaka is by far more interesting than Tokyo.[/quote]
yup, tokyo is over rated. it's where souls are sold for politeness and the crowds make for a blunted and emotionally sterile culture, on the surface anyway. great people everywhere but the overall veneer is anything but pretty. Osaka would be a better choice... |
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jar
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 39
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| weigookin74 wrote: |
| Is JET competitive if you're really willing to live in a rural area? |
I doubt it really matters what you stick down for your placement request, urban or rural, it won't really help or hinder your application. |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:00 am Post subject: Re: dd |
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| metropolis wrote: |
| Pardon me for chiming in here. I am kinda in a similar situation, but my expectations are a bit different. I do NOT want to live in Tokyo. My wife is Korean and her family are living in Japan. I would prefer to live in Osaka rather than Tokyo because I prefer peace and quiet. |
Osaka is pretty much the second noisiest city after Tokyo, so why not go even more remote?
I live in Mito (population around 250,000, an hour from Tokyo on the fast train), Ibaraki, and I've got to be honest, it's a bit boring now. It was also recently voted one of the three least beautiful cities in Japan, and Ibaraki the most boring prefecture. But the perks!
- I can cycle everywhere. If there's anywhere a little further afield and it's late, a cab won't be too expensive.
- You see people you know. This might not be a big deal, but in a strange new country I've found it's nice to bump into students/shopkeepers/bar owners etc that will give you a smile and say hello.
- I get to live a few minutes walk from my school.
- If you want to learn Japanese, it's a better environment as less people speak English and there are less foreigners.
- You are likely to have a more unique and 'Japanese' experience than the people that go straight to Tokyo.
I'm actually trying to get work in Tokyo for next year, as I'll have been here for 2 years. I just don't think that people should be so obsessed with settling straight into a major city, there's a lot to discover and appreciate about a smaller city that you can feel a part of rather than being just another face in the crowd. |
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teacheratlarge
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 192
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:29 am Post subject: |
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I have to wonder too. Now working in Tokyo, working in other areas of Japan can be an eye-opener. I still would pass on living in Mito, though I have visited it once (for a CALL conference), and can safely say it was okay to visit!
But seriously, when you're working, you often don't have chances to go out to eat, but it is nice to have some other choices besides the big 3 (Chinese, Korean, and of course, Japanese). |
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dove
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Posts: 271
Location: USA/Japan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| I lived 2 years in a country town in Yamanashi Prefecture. It had its moments, but I am MUCH happier living in Tokyo. I love all the neighborhoods of Tokyo--Kichijoji, Meguro, Kita Senju, Kagurazaka....it's so interesting just to wander around. I am never bored. I think people who are down on Tokyo never went beyond Shinjuku, Shibuya, or even Asakusa. I can't picture myself living anywhere else but here. |
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