Job Discussion Forums

sumyunguy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

I worked three contracts at Westgate. It's hard to squeeze into a nutshell, but I'll try to be concise. I know I took it for granted at the time, but looking back, it's a pretty great introduction to Japan. They take care of you. If you've already lived in Japan a while you might feel like they're holding your hand, but for first-timers it's pretty much what you want. (Ex. meet you on arrival at the airport, give you a phone you can reach staff with questions, escort you to your apartment and your first day at the university, and so on.) All of the coordinators I dealt with were friendly and professional. And $1000 paid airfare? Where else are you going to find that in a three month contract?

Now, to be fair, it is hard work. Some teachers get lighter schedules, particularly if the program is newly established at their school and hasn't attracted a lot of students yet (this was the case on my second contract, where I taught about 4 classes a day, had lots of time to go outside and sit on the bench in nice weather on the pretty campus, and thought I was living the life). The average day for the average teacher, though, probably works out out to something like 5.5 classes a day, plus a English chat period, though in my experience students appeared for that less than half the time (other teachers I talked to certainly had more). But the university age group is a fun one, and for the extracurricular program, at least, their motivation and cheerfulness will make you smile. Despite fairly long hours, it passed my basic test: I rarely minded going to work in the morning, and I usually felt tired but satisfied at the end of the day.

Also, on lesson planning, though you may teach different student levels (I think the average is two), if you use a lot of your own ideas (which they allow for, despite giving you daily lesson outlines) you'll find you can tweak a lot of the activities to accommodate different levels and save yourself from spending too much of your evening on prep (that's what the train ride home is for).

Of course it's hard to make a career out of working half the year on three month contracts (four if you join the accredited course program). But as a first job in Japan I'd certainly recommend it.

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

Used to be, people said you couldn't usually get consecutive term contracts with WC. What's the current situation?

I ask because it's not going to be easy to uproot after 3 months, find another place to stay and another job. Granted, having a visa in hand eases some of the burden, but getting a new job and apartment is frustrating.

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

The terms on the contract/page stated that the person needed to be physically on Campus for 9 hours, and that the commute could be as much as 1.5 hrs long each way (which wouldn't be considered part of the campus requirement).

Is that not a long requirement? I'm still getting my head around the norm for Japanese placements.

sumyunguy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

On consecutive term contracts: If they're happy with your performance they'll keep asking you back from what I've seen. But 'consecutive terms' still means more than a three month gap from the end of December through March, or a shorter gap from the end of July through part of September. This was a couple years ago, but assuming this still holds. If you get into the (more qualification-demanding) accredited program, you can subtract about a month from both gaps because you'll be teaching the full lengths of university semesters.

Personally I never stayed in Japan over the gaps. I wouldn't have known what to do with myself. Hence it being a very newbie-friendly introduction to Japan, particularly for the commitment-shy, but hard to keep up for the long term.

On commuting times: My first term was an hour, door to door, and my second two both about 45 minutes. That's the typical range from people I talked to. Could be faster if you buy a bike (and parking permit if your area requires it) because much of the time is often walking to the station (don't expect your apartment to be very close -- 15 minutes is typical).

mdoor · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

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

mdoor · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

genesis315 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 116 Location: Japan

mdoor, I am going to put this as elegantly as possible; you are way out of line.

You do not have the clout or wisdom that you think you have.

mdoor · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:06 am Post subject:

If the contentious bickering focusing on the messenger rather than the message continues, the thread will be locked and sanctions will be issued as appropriate.

In other words, if you have a point, make it civilly and move on. Continuing to target individual posters by name will do nothing for one's long-term tenure here.

No additional warnings will be posted regarding this matter.

JohnHarris · Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 10

Well, it is good to see a Westgate thread on this forum. I have been meaning to write into it for quite some time.

I responded to their solicitation for teachers which was posted on the cafe, and filled out their rather tediously lengthy application form. During our electronic communication phase, with my application completed, I was asked not less than three times whether I was applying for the "University" teaching or the elementary school positions; actually, I believe that they had two different application forms, with mine being explicitly for the University" teaching position. I answered at least three times during the electronic communication phase that I was applying for the university teaching. (I possess a Delta along with two degrees and have taught at the university level before.) So, I was perfectly astounded that when I received the telephone interview, the interviewer asked me how I felt about teaching elementary school students. I did not respond, (although I should have) by saying, "Are these elementary school students attending university?" But it seemed downright duplicitous for them to ask me to teach elementary school students after we had made it abundantly clear on the application forms and in email exchanges that I was applying for the university position. Furthermore, the interviewer did not seem fluent in English. Is this my unique experience, or have others had this bait and switch tactic foisted upon them?
They write that they hire more than three hundred teachers a year. That does not sound good. Where do all these teachers go so soon? To another country or back to their own? Why would they have a need for 25-odd new teachers a month? The need is not growing that fast, even taking under consideration the number of other educational establishments to which their teachers may go. Are all these teachers quitting or being dismissed? Does anyone know?

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

JohnHarris · Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 10

Yes, I did read that, but it does not explain: 1. why they would ask a college teacher to teach elementary school students, and 2. how the need could possibly be growing that fast, even with other schools taking up the teachers after three months. It seems like a way to get rid of people.
No, the interviewer was not fluent in English. Great recommendation, for it was still a bait and switch. We made it clear at three written points that the applicant was applying for the University teaching(!) position.