Job Discussion Forums

[alicat_blue]

Cheers for the input, markle. I just gotta get my job search on. And you know, I'm not the runnin' type, as good as I think it would feel, it would do damage to my integrity in the long run. Not to hate on any runners because by all means, some situations do call for that. I'm just gonna stick out my chin and go get a better job or at least a better situation.

[bearcat]

Here's my advice:

1. Get out. The woman runs a business that just happens to be remotely related to education. Her management skills (or lack there of) reflect she sees you as a product rather than a person.

2. Always easier to look for a job when you have a job. Its a shame you've waited until now to think about getting out. You should've been job hunting in January-March when the bulk of good positions are looking for people. If you can, start ASAP for jobs as there are at least some sloppy seconds season jobs still available. Come August its going to be much less and much more along the lines of jobs others haven't taken. Sure, you might be fortunate and find something that isn't along those lines, but with that woman having hired you via last August and you've seen the issues....

Also, don't go lamenting your bad situation now to a new potential employer either when you start interviewing.

3. While job hunting, really research the school/company you're going to possible work for. You've had a year under your belt or so with the conditions you've experienced, so you now know some of the questions to ask.

But just be aware that some of the conditions you want changed may very well be improved, but you also may encounter that other conditions that you took for granted with this job/living conditions may get worse. That is sometimes the trade off.

4. When you do find another job and well before your ending contract of August, give that woman a minimum 2 weeks notice. Don't let her threaten you or brow beat you over it either. Don't give her any information about what you will be doing work wise future wise or any other things either. She seems the type to be vindictive and revenge oriented or at the least will make your last few weeks a living hell as best she can and try to take money from you at the end with some arbitrary excuses. Don't let her.

5. Make sure you have savings for a move/transition to a new job.

PM me if you wish more advice or other information.

[Apsara]

I agree with the others, don't wait until August, that is a long time off and you will just be miserable at work the whole time. In a situation like that it's much better to leave, and there are still jobs around even at this time of the year. Give the minimum amount of notice and get out of there.

Just about anything else you find will probably be better, so it can only be a positive step!

[Glenski]

alicat,
I never patronized you. Don't really understand where you got that. Please understand that you initially provided very little information about your situation (pretty much one-sided, too), so I and others have a right to criticize (not patronize) what you wrote. Thanks for adding more information, although I for one could have used substantially more. Here is my current assessment (and advice).

You have 23 classes, 10 with kids.
The other teacher has 19 classes, 2 with kids.

I don't see how prep time should be so vastly different, but you haven't given us a clear indication of what the teaching format is there.
For example:
How much of the non-kid lessons are pre-formatted for teachers?
Are the classes (kids and non-kids) so vastly different in nature that you need to make different materials for each class, or do the lessons overlap enough?
Has the other teacher been there longer and therefore has a bag of tricks already prepared, so prep time is minimum?
You've been there a year, but have you even tried negotiating about the time needed? Thirty-three classes per week leaves 7 hours for prep time and anything else (assuming 60-minute classes, but with kids, I will guess the lessons are shorter; let us know otherwise). If you are given only 2 hours for prep, what do you do the other 5 hours (or more, if your lessons are shorter than 1-hour)?

So, I hope you can see what I mean with the above questions. I used to work in eikaiwa with only adult students, and I had 17 classes per week using 11 textbooks, so I had to make 11 lesson plans per week. My lessons were 90 minutes long, too. I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted, as long as I stuck to the book we were given and hit the page target for each term. I was mostly free during the day and could come and go as I pleased, but there were student interviews to give at times to break up my routine. Thankfully, paperwork was a minimum.

The fact that you can proofread a paper is not a complete description of your work ethic. It merely shows how fast you proofread (and it doesn't even describe to what level, or what type of proofreading is needed, but I won't harp on that). Work ethic also means more than showing up for work in the proper attire (as you say you do). It involves answers to some of the questions I posed and you didn't fully answer.

The other employee communicates just fine with the boss in English. Fine. How long has he/she been there? Are they on good terms for that reason? I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here.

[Sweetsee]

Yeah, that's right. And what about me? I read your thread, logged in here and offered you encouragement. What's up with that, Cat?

[alicat_blue]

To Bearcat, you're right. I should have been looking for a job long before this but honestly, until I posted this thread, I was pretty much set on leaving Japan with a chip on my shoulder. And, as I said I was scared of the unknown, my fault entirely. Only now have I actually started to consider finding a different job instead of just bouncing at the end of my contract. I know that I'm going to have to sacrifice my sweet apartment in order to find something better, but at this point I'm sure it's worth it. I'd rather be happy and paying rent than miserable and rent-free. I'll definitely hit you up for some advice, thanks for the offer. Apsara, I think that August is too far away as well, I need to get out now. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time brooding about my situation and feeling extremely resentful and angry. It's just not healthy for me. To Glenski, we're given the books for all of our lessons and that's it, beyond that it's up to us to format the lessons however we see fit. The adult classes are much easier for me to prepare for. We have to plan games, allocate time for each activity and photocopy things like flashcards that are in the teacher's books. Oh that's another thing, we're not allowed to use the photocopier, we have to write down what we need for the day and then give it to the secretary. The classes are forty minutes long for everyone, adults and children. Most of the kids classes use different books so there is not much overlap of materials. The other teacher has been there the same amount of time as me and has no bag of tricks if anything, she uses a lot of the flashcards that I get lambasted for taking the time to make. When I tried negotiating about the time I needed for prep, my boss told me that she guessed I wasn't as experienced or capable teacher as she thought and she simply couldn't allow more prep time. When we're not teaching we have to do proofreading work or make supplemental books for the adult classes. We work nine hours a day with an hour lunch and during the time we are at work we have to either be teaching or sitting at the table and doing exactly what she tells us to. It's just one little office and our work stations are right next to her desk so she is basically like the eye of Sauron on us hobbitses. If we do something without asking her beforehand like preparing for a class, she gets angry. The other employee does have a basic understanding of Japanese but all of us communicate only in English. As I said before, their relationship is not great either, but in no way compares to her abusive and unprofessional attitude towards me. She treats the other teacher with at least a modicum of respect. As far as the negative side of culture shock goes, I have yet to experience the positive side and I know that it's because of my terrible work experience. Sorry about the snippy response but your "Aw, shucks" comment rubbed me the wrong way. Sweetsee, sorry I didn't respond, your post got lost in the shuffle. Cheers for the ups, I will use my power or the force or whatever it takes to turn things around.

[Sweetsee]

More power to you, Cat!
Enjoy,
s

[Glenski]

alicat,
Thanks for the update. Sounds like you have a real crappy but not standard situation here. Micromanager boss and no time to really use a photocopier. Insane office rules.

You can't do lesson prep while you are out of class? I don't get it. Do the lesson prep first, then squeeze in the time for proofreading and lastly do the adult lesson books. Priorities. If the boss can't see that (and if the situation is as simple as you describe), then I'm surprised you stayed that long.

Find something else and give notice.

[gaijin4life]

[alicat_blue]

Gaijin4life, thanks for the words of encouragement. I honestly can't believe I've put up this treatment for so long. I feel like this job has done a real number on my pride and self-esteem. Maybe that's the lesson. Just goes to show you how much a person is will to put up with in the face of fear of the unknown. Glenski, you're absolutely right about my boss being a micro-manager. If she could somehow install little microchips in our brains so that we were under her total control, I'm sure she would. As I was just saying to G4L, the main reason I've stayed so long is because I was scared to leave such a cozy set-up with the free apartment, convenient location and everything else, to jump into the unknown. That's all on me. Anyways, I'm going to surf the web with a vengeance in search of a new job.

[Apsara]

Good luck with the search!

[dove]

I don't blame you for staying at your job--the free apartment and convenient location sound like really good benefits. I also know how hard it is to start over and look for a new job, to move, to get re-established. That's why it is so important to have an exit plan. You are being paid on time, right? Try to save as much money as possible to make your transition as easy as possible.
Your boss truly does sound evil, but I would stick with it until I had enough money saved to look elsewhere (if you do have money saved, what are you waiting for?). I would also just realize that yes, my work life sucks, but my private life can be awesome. She doesn't control that, does she? Try to get out and see Japan, even if it is just your local area. Try to make friends who have nothing to do with your job. Isn't there a community center near you? Japan is a wonderful place with SO MUCH to do. I would hazard to say that most of us here are not thrilled with our jobs (and that is probably true for most of the world). It's what you do outside your work-life that counts, that makes your memories.
Oh, and just to touch on what other people have alluded to: when you teach English in Japan, you are playing a part. And most employers would like to have you be Sunday-school-best. That means conservative. Cheerful. Genki. And dare I say, for many of us here, fake. But that's just the way it is for a lot of teaching jobs in Japan. Again, the key is dealing with it for your 8 hours and then having the best time of your once the door hits you on the a**.

[alicat_blue]

Hey Dove, the benefits to my job are pretty sweet which is why I haven't left yet. I mean, not only would I be giving up my job but I would also be giving up where I live. It's pretty scary and I'm really intimidated about the process of finding an apartment. But, I've realized that it has got to be done.

[Glenski]

alicat,
Don't fret over housing. Most eikaiwa employers have recycled housing from the previous teachers, already furnished with secondhand goods, and with the key money paid for.

Concern yourself more over better working conditions.

[alicat_blue]

Glenski, I'm just freaked out about losing my job and apartment at the same time. But it's time for me to grow a set and just do it, as the commercial says. Thanks for the support though, I appreciate it.