Job Discussion Forums

fion · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 Location: tokyo

I agree with all of this. It's definitely getting worse. Part of it is the state of the economy, but some of it has to do with the easier visa situation - unqualified 'teachers' who come over on a WHV are glad to take anything they can get, and to an extent undercut the rest of us. I don't really blame them for it, I blame the employers who don't know the difference or don't care. I live in a gaijin house and see a lot of young backpackers who come to Japan on spec. They can't afford to be fussy and after a few weeks living in one of the most expensive cities in the world they get pretty desperate.
Personally I don't mind having a load of part-time jobs. It gives me more control over my schedule. I have an absolute minimum of 4000/hour and don't go below that under any circumstances; and I'm selective about times, locations, type of class etc. If it's not worth my while I just say so.
I do okay, but I've lost count of the jobs I've turned down.
Fion

GFunK · Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Posts: 9 Location: not Pohang

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I haven't lived in Fukuoka, but it would seem to me that the market is flooded with teachers who've come form Korea.

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

I would agree with the statements regarding Kyushu. I don't know specifically about Fukuoka, but Kyushu in general, is not the best place to be looking for a job. As pertains to salaries being offered by employers, the big 3 eikaiwas still offer 250,000 or slightly more, as a starting wage. However, as others have pointed out, there has been an alarming increase in the number of job advertisements with the magic figures of 230,000/month or 2,000/hour. There are many reasons for this, including the backlash of a still struggling economy. Even if you do a good job for your employer, it is hard to be in a position of bargaining (with most). The fact is, we are easily replaced with someone who will take less money and/or benefits. That's not to say there aren't some employers who value (and want to keep) good employees, but I think they are not the norm.

GFunK · Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Posts: 9 Location: not Pohang

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

GFunK,
How did you like Pohang? I taught there 8 years ago. Still as vibrant as ever? Wink

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

This is interesting, sadly not suprising.

My company, I've been there two years, seems to have an endless supply of coffin nails and somebody is giving there hammering arm a real workout.

The real question is what to do about this? Other than not calling companies offering useless jobs and politely refusing to volunteer our teaching services.

For those of who can't/don't want to leave I would suggest organising. As long as an employer can find a foriegner, any foriegner, to take those low pay/condition jobs they will exist. Only through collective organisation can teachers hope to redress the unequal power balance.

First step?
Put up a sign at you local `international center`, `gaijin bar`, whatever saying: `Attention foriegn teachers! Don't except less than 250,000 a month or 3000 an hour for PT, it brings the pay down for all of us. Stay strong in the struggle!`.

After that?
Over to you.

Will this kind of organisation solve everything? No, and it won't get you a free foot massage either, sorry.
Will this cause a split between the `real teachers` and `those backpackers`? Maybe, maybe such a split already exists, not heard or any body getting killed yet.
Will is be better than whining? Hell, yes. It won't happen over night, but it will happen

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GFunK · Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Posts: 9 Location: not Pohang

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

Hi,

I'm exercising the other gaijin option and voting with my feet so for me it is really little more than an academic exercise.

There are plenty of people who are willing, and do work for less than 250,000 a month.

We can ALWAYS leave. We have very little grounds for moaning, ever. I therefore have very little time for complaining about other teachers `stealing work`, `undercutting the market`, or anything of that sort. If you don't like it, leave or try to do something about it.

Now to the, `Is this the way it is now because the economy is depressed`? question. In a country like Japan that lives by consensus if those that matter (whoever `they` are) say `The ecomomy is depressed, therefore don't anybody expect a pay rise` one hundred percent of Japanese will accept this at face value.

BUT

It has been argued by me in the past that the current so-called recession should be advantagious for gaijin English teachers. The argument goes thus:
First, we are a small part of the economy and must of us are employed by companies that specialise in teaching English, not manufacturing, retail companies or the like that are really hit in times of recession.
Second, in time of recession all workers with a brain are looking to up-skill and/or muliti-skill. One obvious choice, regardless of what industry the worker is in is to learn English.
This should push up the demand for English teachers and when demand goes up... the price (our wages or salery) goes up.

I'm not saying my arguement is divine truth or that I am considering all the factors, truth be told I would like the next poster to tell me why I am wrong. But it is a bit better than just aggreeing with those who say `Depressed economy, no wage rise`, because the person saying that is usually your boss.

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markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

multi-skill??? Laughing

I have taught plenty of business students over the last five years. Not ONE single good speaker of English has been employed by their company in a post that employs their English. In fact, often, after studying with me because they were forced into a post that entailed English, and having made significant progress in ENglish, they are then moved to a section that requires no English at all. Go, as the USAnians say, figure.

The latest case was just last Tuesday after working for four years with a very good high intermediate student who has excellent skills.

Here, they move you around in companies because they want to move you around not because you fit the job.

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

As the starter of this thread I`d also like to say that I understand that in some cases language schools/companies cannot afford to pay the best wage or even 4,000 yen. The posters from parts of Japan other than Kyushu may be able to have more scope to negotiate because of the competition.

For example, I see so many jobs advertised for Tokyo - but the odd one or two for Kyushu. If you freelance like some of us do (that is, if you don`t work full time for one school but do a number of jobs) that makes life very tough. What are teachers to do in Kyushu? Often there are simply no jobs available so qualified, experienced teachers have to take less.

On a more positive note, sometimes job satisfaction plays a part. I have worked at jobs where the pay was lousy by the standards of what I should be asking for but the job was really enjoyable and the bosses were really good. The hours were not a couple of hours a week but relatively decent. It`s a dilemma - should I be providing my years of experience in the UK and Japan and my qualifications for such a rate or is it more important to enjoy the work?

However, what I do get angry about is seeing these jobs advertised in Kyushu/Fukuoka asking for `an experienced, fun teacher` to go somewhere for one hour a week. I think that`s a plain insult. I also get angry hearing of my friend waiting in vain, having signed a contract, for even 2 or 3 hours of work a week from a group that hires English teachers to teach at places around Fukuoka and Kyushu but keeps them hanging on as they wait for colleges etc to decide if they want an English class or if they have enough students.

Kyushu/Fukuoka seems the worst for exploitative, pittance hours or wages or both jobs. Does anybody from Kyushu want to write an article for Fukuoka Now? I am thinking of submitting one anonymously but if that is not acceptable, then maybe somebody is willing to come forward and put their opinion in `Do desho?`

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

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

I'm constantly getting asked to volunteer my time for "we need a gaijin" stuff. The other day one of my young student's mothers, whom I hardly know, asked if I'd dress as Santa Claus for her toddler's kindergarten class. My wife guessed that the mother probably just thought a white guy (I'm probably the only one she knows) would've been ideal for a Santa. But when I told the mother that I worked at the time she wanted me, she seemed peeved. I guess I shirked my duty.

On my way out of school after that class, a staff member was at the front door waiting to intercept me. The big emergency was that a TV station wanted to interview an American to get tips for a show they were making about an American living in Japan. It just didn't feel right, so I told the staff member that I led a quiet life a couldn't offer much. Again, it got icy.

Rolling Eyes