Job Discussion Forums

[saint57]

[sidjameson]

Look on another thread about holidays. JAPAN is the place to teach. Don't let the nay sayers tell you otherwise. You want to know of a success story? how's this?

I teach at a gov university. National pay scale. Even at todays highly disadvantaged exchange rate I earn US$65,000 a year. Take home is a good $50,000.
University teachers here work 3 days a week on average. I work two. We get more than 5 months holiday a year.
Many of us have no office hours or meetings at all. That equates to working only your teaching hours. In my case NINE hours a week.
Japan is now no more expensive than the UK in my opinion. In fact definitly cheaper than London.
I save about US$30,000 a year and travel in Asia 4 months annually.
If I were to work on my other 5 days a week I could save a whole lot more, but honestly why bother?

My only regret is not discovering Japan 5 years earlier than I did.

[Gordon]

[sidjameson]

Yes Gordon that is a really good question. The truth is I daydream of leaving because I never entered TEFL to stay in one country for as long as I have done. (8 years). I really do think Japan is a great country to live in, it's just that I was born with wheels instead of feet. I dunno, I keep asking myself the same question; How much money do I need to have saved to no longer care about saving money? and following that; once that money has been saved do I really want to limit myself to living in only one country for the rest of my days? Yet having found possibly the best place to teach and even more possibly the very best job that one could hope for, is it only a fool that would leave it just because the grass looks a little newer on the other side?
Actually I do like to check on your posts from time to time as I get the feeling that your in a not too disimilar boat to me. Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico. Wouldnt it be such a shame to go through life never having taught in these countries?
But ignoring all that I really do wake up everyday thinking how good my life is. Bugger...........it seems that there is no pleasing some people.

[agentdirk]

hey guys,

i am planning to head to japan in the next 6 to 12 months. i have teaching experience (non-telf) and a masters, so it seems i would qualify for a university position.

My question is how do i go about finding them? Can I apply somehow from the states, or do I have to go to Japan through Westgate for a year and then apply from within?

[taikibansei]

[Matthew Wright]

I have done a small amount of thinking and speak purely on my own experiences when I say this, but it seems the world of teachers is more full of those in search on the side achievement rather than the side of accomplishment.

To this degree I have met many educators in search of a better title and resume boosting skills on the surface, and only a few who actually cared whether or not the students were studying or cared to take things into their own hands.

I can almost guarantee this posting will not be agreed with, and I don't pretend to fully comprehend why, other than to say people are different and everyone believes a different path for themselves. As I said before, this is through my experiences only, but I feel I must put in my piece if nothing more, so here goes..

When I first came to Korea, I had no concept of teaching, not ethics of work and no ideas for changing peoples minds other than that to suit my own affairs. I also had no money and no understanding of the work system here, as so no job lined up before arrival. However I had faith in faith itself and believed hard work combined with a dash of realism and respect for that of which I didn't know, would take me where I needed.

The adventure and risk of it all not withstanding, it was a very educational process. Within 1 month I had already been denied and reapplied for and then hired at a private academy, working entirely too much for a small amount of money. This was not the best situation as I was making half of what I made in America. At this academy I was treated appropriately; Like an idiot. That is, I was an unpredictable, unmanageable teacher who reacted to things like a person, not a teacher, and only worked for money. However over the course of a 4 months, in my search for more income, I came across other insistance (not offers) by the director of the school to teach a private kindergarten. This doubled my income almost instantly. However, the business aspects were unmanageable to the average person (almost 30% was taken for my director without me ever being told).

After TEFL certification and in general the better at teaching I got, the more I promised myself that I would never let it be a waste of time and learn the business of teaching more than the process itself. After already having left that academy at the end of my contracted term, I stuck with that kindergarten out of my own free will, which caused a very big uproar by that same director (I would be angry too if I lost 30% of a lot of money). However, in my issuance, I was made manager in many ways which caused the absense of most of the staff. Having now become a director in training, I had to make an infinate amount of mistakes in order to accomplish this program. I started out simply shopping for books and bossing teachers around, but that didnt' last long as my inexperience shown through very brightly. However, as time went by my ideas were given flight by my new acting director who believes in the power of doing versus fear of such, so I was able to create many innovative plans. After completely changing a kindergarten of over 2000 students to my particular style of educational system, as well as writing the very english books we use faily and publishing them for other schools, recording my own music for the classes, as well as doing the interviews and meetings with potential kindergarten parents, spewing what we can do for their children, on top of this having students houses I regularly attend for private classes, my educational abilities were now growing, but not as much as my business capabilities.

As of today, I am in control of the program at that kindergarten, other kindergartens, manage a church english program, publish english books, and work entirely too much.

The reason I posted this in the first place is not to brag about my good fortunes, it's firstly to make a statement about how much it takes to make something good, and that that follows suit in any country you visit and it differs only in character of proformance. Sacrifice is always the key. Also to say that if money is all you want, I have made $5000 a month in Korea, $4000 of which I saved easily, have purchased 2 cars, a motorcycle, bought new clothes every month, eaten out every day, helped my family struggling back home with gifts of $1000 every once in a while, as well as hired staff and started company projects for the future. All of this for a 21 year old who's only been in korea for 1 year. I think that speaks enough for itself for those of you who think having a degree is supposed to pave your way.

Also, speaking more about money making, it is not teaching in these countries that makes the money, it's the business of teaching. Don't aim high, aim slanted. Never stick to one path and allow everything to get in the way and you will never be stranded.

And lastly, just to get a few of you from replying to this whom I really don't believe are experienced enough to say so, I have never been to college, and I was homeschooled. You make up your own mind about my situation.

I simply say good luck to those of you who need luck.
And for those of you who actually want to make it, I don't wish you luck. I suggest you sacrifice.

[agentdirk]

taki: thanks for the info. i realize these university positions are a long shot, but they are closest to my experience, my teaching experience being in math at the university level. with kids or something, dunno. maybe everthing would be peachy, maybe i would end up going postal.

do you have a feeling for the demand for GMAT instruction in japan? say tokyo osaka? thanks again for the tips.

matthew: i don't know if your degree aggrandizement point was directed at me, but i just want to say two things:
1) i completey respect people with 'non-conformist' educations like home schooling, school of life, etc. in my experience, these people are some of the most outside the box types.
2) in some fields (like math) formal training is a practical necessity. hence degrees and the value associated with them.

[taikibansei]

[tannhauser]

Sounds like a great deal. I'd like a piece of that. A nice pad and pay packet is the way to go.