Job Discussion Forums

candykisk · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 29

Thank you guys for all of your insights. It seems like what a lot of you are saying is believable, but I have some classmates who only have an MA and less than 3 years teaching experience and they taught/are now teaching at Toyo University. Also, Kwansei Gakuin University is one that only requires 2yrs exp.

-Maitoshi, I have university teaching experience but not in Japan.
-Thanks rtm for the job listings websites, I will definitely check those out.
-Timothypfox, what do you mean "teach a wider range of students?" Also, could you help me figure out where I could find jobs in private junior/high schools in japan?
-GambateBingBangBOOM, what is DISPATCH?

kzjohn · Joined: 30 Apr 2014 Posts: 277

Dispatch is when there's an intermediary between you and the hiring school, a kind of outsourcing.

The school (school board) just wants warm bodies, and goes to an agency which 'provides' (dispatches) them to the school.

The dispatch agency pays the minimum possible wage to the teacher, while charging the school or school board more...

You are employed by the agency, not the school. If you quit or something, the agency plugs another person into your teaching slots.

Avoid this if at all possible.

timothypfox · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492

Candykisk,
what I mean by a wider range of students is that when you teach at a university (particularly in Japan), you will namely teach students from a particular program that need English. You may get lucky and teach English "Literature" students, but most of the time you will be teaching engineering, or pharmacy - students in a specialized field. Their range of interests, and hobbies etc. are much more limited than high schoolers who are trying to figure out their dreams and doing school clubs etc and still watching tv and movies and listening to music.

Students at universities may not be that motivated to learn English. But, students at a junior high or high school at least need to take an Eiken test.

Jobs you will have to take time - and by time visit all the popular boards regularly - and it make take a couple of years. You can also join local Facebook JET pages for the area of Japan you want to look for a job and get the word out.

candykisk · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 29

Thanks kzjohn for that, haha I will make sure to stay away from it. It sounds complicated and unnecessary!

Okay timothypfox I will inbox you for a list of those boards. But I see what you mean in having a wider range of students with teaching high schoolers. The thing is, I actually prefer those more specialized types of students and that's why I'm teaching adult ESL now. But perhaps I only get a taste of it in the U.S. because students don't have to know what they want to do as freshmen.... can Japanese freshmen spend their first two years of college figuring out their major and then specialize the last two years as is common in the U.S.?

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

No, they have to choose a major quickly.
It is possible to change but most don't and some end up disliking their majors.

candykisk · Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 29

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Yes, and have to do overtime, if they manage to get a job.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

And after all those year of J education, they are pretty pliable.

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

That is what education is, in general. All it is is social conditioning, in the west and in Japan. It only appears different, but if you did deep its is the same.

Maitoshi · Joined: 04 May 2014 Posts: 718 Location: 何処でも

In this way, certainly.

wonmi · Joined: 12 Feb 2015 Posts: 17

Hi all,

A little different from candykisk's situation, but i wanted to learn a little more about teaching adults in Japan if I only have a TEFL certificate. Candykisk mentioned aeon, westgate, etc. Someone also mentioned to me about GEOS or NOVA. Also, is BERLITZ still alive? Are they more for kids? or for older students? Are there other private english school companies where the students are either college age or older?

I'm sure I could just find postings for individual small schools, but I wanted to look at companies that have branches in bigger cities. Any tips? Thanks in advance!

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

I think Berlitz are generally thought of as one of the better large chains to work for, but they're far from perfect. I did a stint with them a few years ago and thought as much.

You'll mostly teach adults one on one and occasionally in small groups. They also sometimes send you to companies, these were my favourite lessons as they were also generous enough to pay for travel time. The materials are fairly well made and the students are paying a premium, so are usually serious about learning.

There were also some kids lessons on weekends and after school, but the majority of students were adults.

The only bad points I experienced myself were that although you're compensated for training time, nothing is given for prep time or breaks, nor to they pay health insurance and pension like they legally should. Also, a lot of pressure was often put on teachers to teach new or very specialised material without adequate/any training and I often felt like I was just going into class blagging it. At first this caused me a bit of stress, but once I realised that no one really cared and it was all just a show to trick students into thinking they were receiving training from highly trained professionals to keep the money flowing in, I was able to relax a but more and just go with the flow.

As a first job in Japan, you could do much worse. Personally though, if you want to learn some Japanese and a bit about the culture etc then I recommed working as an ALT at a dispatch company. In an eikaiwa you'll be surrounded by English speakers all day and your Japanese will suffer for it.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Berlitz is both good and bad,
The good: good pay, could get extra pay on the weekends or for substitute lessons.
Up to 400,000 per month, but that would mean Saturday work.

I think teachers had to wear a suit at work.

The bad: they are listed on general union's website, I think.
Plus, some foreign teachers there are back stabbers so one must be careful.
I remember a Canadian who said that there were "listening posts" which meant that you had to be careful with what you said at work.
He taught French and English there.

And I hear that that there were cameras in the classrooms at work so teachers could be observed.