Job Discussion Forums

backbayboi · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2003 8:06 pm Post subject: Lookin 4 future friends / advice

OK, Heres my thing: I've been reading/researching this site and others for a few months now and I'm hoping that this post will get me off my duff and off to Japan. I'm an American, single, 40 yr old guy, who has a degree in Music. ed , teaching certification and 17 years in the classroom. I am plannin next year as a gap year in my career and would like to spend it teaching in Tokyo. I've decided to concentrate on the language schools instead of the JET program in hoped that I can spend more of my day with adults or older teenagers. ( 95% of your time with 7th graders does that!). If anyone will take the time to give me some advice, it would be much appreciated:

1. I would like to leave at the end of July 2004, I have narrowed my choices down to two of the larger schools and a few smaller ones that recruit overseas. Should I just start applying now???

2. At my age, should I just take the first job offer and hope for the best, I will not come to Japan without some sort of contract. Or should I??

3. I would like to spend some time observing/researching music education in the schools in Japan. does anyone know if I would have to be affilliated with a University to get an invite? What about the All-Japan band association? Who should I contact about volunteering in this field??

4. I am planning to come with NO support system in place? What has been the experience of you singles with your co-workers? Do you find it better to room alone? share? or start at a gaijin house? speaking of that what are the accomodations like? any culture shock.

I know thats a lot but any help would be appreciated? thanks R Twisted Evil

backbayboi · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2003 8:22 pm Post subject:

Oh! one more thing! I have found a language school that offers tefl certification in Boston. I could possibly take this course and be certified before departure. Is this absolutely nessesary? will it help increase my earning potential? has anyone taken this and is it worth the extra time??

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

backbayboi,

With 17 years teaching 7th graders, you are in for a big change in a language conversation class!! I hope you are prepared for it.

* 1-6 students per class
* no homework or tests
* following a set lesson plan and teaching format (often but not always)
* working from noon to 9pm
* very low level of English, even in the more advanced students (often, but not always)
* a unique perspective on learning English, whether for improving skills in business English (to get a promotion or overseas transfer), travel (the housewives, usually, and they are not all that serious about getting the grammar perfect), or just to supplement other classes (the college set)
* a mindset that stems from teacher-focused learning, which you should really learn to break so that students get practice talking & asking Q's

1. Getting a work visa requires about 2-4 months, so I'd say look this far in advance, plus a month or so more.

2. I came to Japan at the same age. I was lucky to get sponsored before I left the US, but you'll find there are plenty of people your age here. Don't be discouraged by the places that prefer to cater to the younger teachers. Your qualifications/experience may pose an equally daunting barrier to some eikaiwas because they may think you are overqualified. Just a heads-up, not an insurmountable barrier.

3. Can't help you here.

4. At 40, you should be relatively secure in being on your own, but I understand how it might feel to be separated from friends and family with such a large distance and time difference. Simple advice: prepare. That lifeline back home is pretty important, but after you're here a month or 2, your homeland connections will have forgotten where you are, and they may not always respond as quickly as you'd like. (Regular mail takes 5 days one way, and if you look in your mailbox on day 9 or 10 for a reply letter, you'll be kidding yourself a lot. Learn to be patient.)

At 40, I would suspect that you'd not enjoy bunking with strangers like college. That's the position you'll be in, and you'll very likely have roomies 15 years younger than you if you go with places like NOVA. Setting yourself up in an apartment requires sponsorship (usually from your company), so you can't easily do this on your own. (LeoPalace21 does not require a guarantor, but you have to pay for the entire length of your stay in advance!) For pictures of the typical housing arrangements you can expect, look at these web sites.
www.markinjapan.ca/features/apartment/index.htm
http://vocaro.com/trevor/japan/home/index.html
http://ekhardt.com/tokyo/myapartment/Iapartment.html
http://www.tiger-marmalade.com/gallery/apartment
http://www.collin.org/travel/japan/apartment/apartment.html
http://www.globalcompassion.com/home.htm
http://www.greggman.com/japan/apts/tokyo%20apts.htm
http://daveahlman.com/arch/arch_apt.htm
http://chaninjapan.utopiades.com/Information/Apartment.htm

Take note of several things.
* Baths are deep but not long and meant for total immersion. They are in a very tiny room, sometimes with the washing machine!
* Washing machines usually don't have a dryer, so you have to hang clothes to dry. You may even have to refill the washing machine manually for rinse cycles.
* Toilets may not be western style.
* Low ceilings and low doorways.
* Lack of central heating in most places. You will have to use a kerosene heater in these situations, but you shouldn't run them when you are gone because of the danger during earthquakes.
* Lack of elevators in buildings with less than 5-6 floors. This is kind of tough after a long day, but more so if you lug your 18-liter kerosene cans up to the top floor.
* Stoves are tiny and resemble camping stoves. You can pretty much forget about baking unless you are creative or have a good knack for using a microwave.
* Local telephone calls cost money, too.
* Kitchen space is quite limited. And, you won't get more than a few utensils recycled from previous teachers.
* Furniture is going to be secondhand and sparse, because it's recycled from previous teachers.
* Refrigerators will be small (usually).

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

canuck wrote:

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

backbayboi,

I know you said you wanted to work in Tokyo and I'm not speaking from expeience working there but .....

I can never undestand why people say that few companies recruit overseas. The first company I worked for when I came to Japan was a small conversation school who recruited me from Australia based just on my resume, a telephone interview and recommendation. They loved the fact that I was a qualified teacher. They did everything to organise my visa before I got here, provided accomodation and provided a car which I was allowed to use outside of work hours as well as travelling between work sites. I had plenty of time to do things outside of work because I only worked Mon-Fri and only had to be in the office when I was teaching so had every morning free, some blocks of time in the afternoons and could be well and truly home by 8:30 or 9:00 every night. If I had wanted to observe a high school class in the mornings I would have had plenty of time.

After them I worked for another smallish company who sometimes recruited from overseas and they provided accomodation too and re-sponsored my visa when I went to work for them. In second city I lived there were two other conversation schools which provided visas, accomodation and cars for employees so it wasn't just the places I worked which had that nice system.

Sure if you only want to live in Tokyo you might not get that kind of opportunity (about that I'm not sure) but if you are flexible in where you live I think the chance is out there.

backbayboi · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 3:50 pm Post subject:

Hey guys! ( and ladies) thanks for weighing in on my post! As far as the difference in class structure, Glenski, What about that sounds bad?? It sounds like a terrific change of pace and a challenge. The links are great and I needed them. As far as the JET program is concerned, I believe I AM a bit too old and and I think a bit too late for the app. One of my goals for next year is to be able to interact with adults and older students. thanks y'all. later R

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

backbayboi,

No, you are not too old for the JET Program. They just raised their "maximum" age limit last year to 40. And, this is still flexible.

easyasabc,

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Also recruiting overseas:
American Language School (ALS), GABA, and Global Village (Nagano).

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

homer,

Can't seem to find a web site to Global Village. Got one?

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

Glenski,

You can add MIL Language institute to the list of schools that recruit from overseas. See current job ads. I can personally vouch for them, as I worked there myself. PM me if you have questions.

Chinagirl

cheryl · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Japan

don't go on JET if you want to work in Tokyo. That city no longer supports the programme. Good luck to you backbayboi!

sutekigaijin · Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 24

Hey BBB, yes go to Tokyo -- or atleast nearby -- if you want to make some real money. Granted the countryside has tremendous beauty and can be so peaceful too. However, you'll end up making lousy money and it's possible you'll get bored after a while. Old Gordon knows that as he lives out in the boonies of Shikoku. Gorgeous place and compfortable but the money is lousy and you'll end up a bum like him.

You can make the BIG bucks in Tokyo, just like me BBB. Hey Gordo, how's life in the sticks anyway?

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

How does big bucks compare to living your life??

backbayboi, also if you are open to more than Tokyo, keep watching job ads on sites like jobsinjapan etc as there are many many jobs opening up all the time where the school pretty much takes care of everything for you. I would have to second easyasabc in that when I was looking for a job for two people, we found tens of little schools answering our probing emails from overseas. I would use the big schools as a backup, although they would certainly be a safer bet than some of the smallest schools.

As for the living in Tokyo or living in the sticks comment - there are more cities out there than Tokyo and they aren't anywhere near as claustrophobic, even in my limited experience.