Job Discussion Forums

[elkarlo]

[Glenski]

Looks like I'm going to have to respond to 3 posters simultaneously here. Sigh. Prepare for a long post.

[ripslyme]

[flyer]

[JL]

Yeah, a yeoman's job by Glenski on his post. Was a good read for me too, someone who's been outside the game for a while. About the only quibble I might mention, is that public school teachers in the U.S., are paid their salary 12 months a year. This, coming from the child of two public school teachers, as well as one who, himself, was once a public school employee in California (as a bilingual classroom assistant, not a teacher, however).

Also, though my own classroom experience in Japan is dated, I taught at both private language schools, and high schools (three public high schools, and one private all-girls' school). There are advantages and disadvantages to both. It's definitely not a wash in favor of the high school gigs. You get a better variety of students and experiences at language schools. And if you job hunt in Japan, you can somewhat self-select where you'll be located. Also, working nights can be a drag. But on the other hand, depending on your language school schedule, you might be able to sleep in mornings, or otherwise get an errand or two accomplished before your lessons begin.

[Glenski]

Once more with multiple replies...

[chinagirl]

Just to clear this up:

Public school teachers in the US are salaried, but it totally depends on the location of the district in terms of whether you are paid during summers or not. The vast majority of teachers are paid for 10 months of work, not 12. Some school districts spread the checks over 12 months, and some do not. Some districts give you the choice of spreading the checks, and some do not.

Some teachers then teach summer school for an extra hourly rate.

[elkarlo]

To Gelnski, yes JET makes no bones about placements. Which is one reason why I didn't go JET. Also the application process is crazy long, and even after doing all that is required, you can still not even be invited to the interview. Yes they pay for your ticket, but again, I think the chances of getting into JET are slim for me. So why even bother?

Yes, you can be placed in an urban area, but I think at this point it is not going to be very likeily. I think being placed on some small islands is prolly in the cards for most JETs. I lurk on Bigdaikon, and many of those there are in the super Inaka. Which I think is not the real Japan. As they deal with some kids, and some 40+yearolds. Dealing with not 20/30 year olds is not the real Japan.

While I do agree being banished will help your language skills. But as you have said many have zero ability, and to learn from nothing in such an enviroment is most certianally stressful. I would not want to be in such a placement, and I have pretty good Japanese for not having been in Japan for long. I would be lost, and would have trouble doing daily stuff. Now imagine some ALT with IRL no real Japanese skills. Said ALT would prolly be stressed out at the fact that he couldn't speak to ANYONE at all, as no one would be able to speak English, and he couldn't speak Japanese, nor could for at least a solid year.

No thanks.

[ripslyme]

So imagine the worst case scenarios on JET (do all that work for the application & not even get an interview OR get "banished" to a rural Japanese outpost) and yeah it sounds like a nightmare so applying would just be a waste of time.

Better yet, instead go with a dispatch company that will have considerably worse pay, little to no benefits for the improved odds of living in the sprawl of a Japanese suburb/urban area.

To each their own.

[elkarlo]

[fluffyhamster]

Blueberry1, DIC seems to advertise most regularly here:
http://www.jobsinjapan.com/jobs/teaching.html

[ripslyme]

[elkarlo]

Fair points. When I did JET (back in 2000, geez was it that long ago?! ), I was told by the embassy I interviewed at that the numbers were like this:
Of all the applications they received, half were given an interview.
Of those given an interview, about 70% were accepted into the program.
By those numbers, it was a 7 of 20 shot of getting in. I imagine those numbers are even worse now what with the increasing number of applicants and decreasing number of positions. Who they choose is also somewhat akin to the lottery as well. I know people who were just as qualified, if not more so, that were not accepted.

I admit I may be out of touch with what the scene is like applying for jobs from overseas. If this is what's out there and you just need it to come to Japan, then I hope everything works out.[/quote]

I can only go off of rumors, so take what I say with some salt. I hear that 10 apply for 5 or 6 interview spots. 1 or 2 will then get an actual position.
As you said, a lot of people I know that are resonably qualified, got turned down for the interview. I think that it has gotten to the point where JET is not a choice to rely on.

That's my plan use the dispatch to get here, not that I am doing to ditch out on them. AFter I am here on a Visa, I will see what my options are. I actually have it somewhat laid out. I plan on going after the new JLPT2 in 2 years. After that if I don;t see Japan going anywhere back to warehouse managing for me.

Thanks man. I didn't mean to throw poop at you btw

[ripslyme]

[blueberry1]