Job Discussion Forums

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

Erm..ok cool down. The post was not meant as a direct response to you. I was just trying to show a more positive side to working in Japan.

All Interac employees have 5 weeks off in summer, just over 2 weeks for xmas and about 2.5 weeks in march. Interac Emplyees also get all national holidays off too, plus 5 days flexible holiday. If you dont believe me check it out for yourself.

I certainly wasnt boasting about my salary. Its just a lot of people were making out the pay is really low. Well sorry but to me 20,000 pounds a year is not a low salary. Most of my friends back in the UK are really struggling to get a job right now and 20,000 is above average for the people i know who have left university with a degree.

Although im in danger of being accused of boasting again, id just like to correct you. I dont earn 3 million. I earn about 3 million from interac and 1.5 million from my second job, so im actually on over 4.5 million.
The JTEs at my school probably work similar hours to me each week, if not more and id say im probably earning more than most of them (especially the younger ones). So i certainly dont feel like a victim in any way.

Also, Im not full of shit, In the last year ive been to the philippines, sri lanka and indonesia. (Although admittedly, Sri lanka was on the way to Japan). I did party hard for six months (Well i went out at least once a week drinking heavily anyway) and i have paid back 300,000 yen debt as well as 2.5 thousand pounds.

That was all on my Interac Salary, as i only got my second job in the last month.

Im sure you do speak better japanese than me, if you want a "im more japanese than you" fight then you wont get it here. Ive only lived in Japan for a year.
Anyway my comment about people who dont get on in japan was not directed at you. Its just a few of the reasons i've seen for people not enjoying their time in Japan as much as i have.

Im glad you had a great time in japan. I just dont know why youre trying to prove to people that im lying about the great time iv had and the things ive done. I know many other Interac ALTS who have done just as well. In the last year one of my mates has saves 1,000,000 yen (also visited is home in the uk and traveled in japan a bit), another has been to Indonesia, Napal, India, Russia, UK, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore (although he didnt spend long in each country).

The point im trying to make is just because you dont get a job with JET does not mean you cant have a good time in Japan. 250,000 is plenty to live well, do a bit of traveling and save some money. So i imagine 200,000 is enough to live quite well, do a bit of traveling in japan and maybe even save a bit of cash.

Ikki · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 58

seklarwia: I don't deny that there are bad apple JETs. That's one reason I would advocate reforms to JET(e.g. requiring ALTs to have a TEFL/CELTA, scrapping the age limit, etc.). It's worth remembering that COs are under no obligation to renew a JET's contract if it's felt he or she is not up to snuff.

nights: I'm glad you're enjoying Japan. I think what blows me away in a "then & now" sense is that a decade ago FTs would be embarassed to admit they made only the legendary "visa minimum" of 250,000/mo. Now there are posters who wear it as a badge of honour. I agree that you can live on a quarter mill. a month. I just don't know how anyone can live WELL on such a salary.

Certainly, there's a lot more criticism than praise out there for outfits like Interac. The guy who started the thread wants to hear the "positive". Understandable, but damned if I'm not going to "calls 'em likes I sees 'em".

seklarwia · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:19 am Post subject:

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

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

the4th2001 · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 130 Location: Tokyo

Ikki · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 58

I think the last two posters, quite inadvertently, put their fingers on an important point. It's a question of perspective though. And therein lies my disagreement.

Not counting JET(which has been a gov.-sponsored PR do-gooder scheme...where JETs are supposed to enjoy Japan), Japanese EFL employers(eikaiwa, dispatch cos., etc.) certainly are NOT there to have you "enjoy Japan." Quite the contrary. In fact, these gangsters can be as ruthless & cutthroat as Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese...take your pick...ones. So it's pretty obvious what THEIR purpose is. The key question, though, should be: what is the FT's purpose? The answer, for me, is clear: it IS to enjoy Japan and get an experience that can't be had in Liverpool or Lethbridge, Alberta.

The delights of Japan are many & varied but let's face it folks: not many of those delights can be had on the cheap. So when I see a job ad that asks for a FT with a TEFL, experience, an international driver's licence, some Japanese ability, a willingness to teach all ages from 3-70 & perhaps be under 30 and THEN the employer has the church bells to offer no benefits, a 55K/mo. apartment with a whopping 210K/mo. salary, well...I just shake my head to think some schmuck will take the gig.

Is there any point in coming to Japan just to work and to likely feel frustrated by being surrounded by delights that are largely unaffordable? Why not just stay home and stock shelves in Manitoba or shovel shyte in Louisiana?

the4th2001 · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 130 Location: Tokyo

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

1. Japan is relatively safe.
2. No beggars
3. People let you be.
4. Good food.
5. Warm water in summer at the beaches.

Denizen · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 110 Location: Tohoku

Plus...

People are generally courteous and polite.
You're well-respected as a teacher by the vast majority of society.
Taxation is low (comparatively).
...

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

6. Lots of tennis courts where you can play all year round.
7. Police don't patrol traffic.
8. Beautiful people.
9. Lush foliage.
10. Not so much in-your faceness.

Denizen · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 110 Location: Tohoku

11. Eating things that were alive only moments ago.
12. Actually finding yourself drooling over colored bits of plastic and resin in restaurant windows.
13. Hearing train announcements possibly made by Popeye.
14. Learning to admire architecturally sound stained concrete.
15. Never having to say you're sorry about breaking wind.

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

Positives are nice to know, but they must also be tempered with reality or perspective, otherwise they begin to look suspicious or like the objects of rose-colored glasses.

7. Police don't patrol traffic.
What is this supposed to mean as a positive? There are fewer "highway patrol" vehicles out there, yes. There are fewer patrol cars than back home, yes. But I hope you don't mean that such a situation is positive because it allows drivers to break the traffic laws more easily.

9. Lush foliage.
Huh? Where?

You're well-respected as a teacher by the vast majority of society.
I think that one can be argued, depending on what kind of teacher you are (eikaiwa, ALT, uni, etc.).

5. Warm water in summer at the beaches.
But the beaches here are generally a disgrace.

Ikki · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 58

I second Glenski on the "well-respected as a teacher" bit.

When I was a public school ALT, I was immediately accorded status as a "sensei"-status I didn't deserve but there it was.

Later, as an eikaiwa instructor, I lost, by and large, any such status. This despite the fact that I worked far harder &, quite frankly, became a better teacher.

Fair? No but life isn't fair, is it?

ghostrider · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 147

2. But homeless still exist, and are quite abundant in some areas. People just ignore them.

5. Agree with Glenski. Even the super busy beaches in Kanto have a ton of trash and washed up junk and now radioactive particles. The waves are very small and the sand and water are dark. The untouched areas of Okinawa are another story. Incredibly beautiful, but a vacation there is nearly as much as Hawaii.

6. Not sure about abundant tennis courts. May be a phenomenon where you live. I've found it's hard to find a court or open space to play any sports without being in a league and paying a high fee. Kind of like trying to join a gym. $70/month and you're limited to a very short time in which you're allowed to use it.

The "sensei" thing doesn't mean they actually view an ALT teacher as near equal to the Japanese teachers. It also doesn't really impress women, or any salary-dude, in Tokyo. They may act like they're impressed, but it's just a typical "face" reaction. Direct-hire at a private school helps a bit, being a university teacher (not with Westgate) even more I'm assuming. I think eikaiwa and public school ALT are viewed about equal in status to Japanese, which is pretty low to Tokyo-ites. Well, I think you get a newbie pass the first 2 years and when you're under 25, but after that you'll find it harder to admit what you're doing when someone asks. I think it's probably less of an issue in other cities where there are fewer foreigners and high earning professionals.