Job Discussion Forums

[sfarkas103]

I am from the USA and have been a univeristy level teacher for the past 2 years in China. I am thinking of switching to Japan when my contract expires June 30, 2004. Any thoughts on the idea, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[guest of Japan]

Information on education, qualifications, and family situation would be very helpful.

[sfarkas103]

I am 43, white male, unmarried. BS in Economics from an American university in 1988. 2 years as Chief Foreign teacher at a college in China. Have done well here in China, but an thinking of a change to a slightly more "western" Asian country. Anything else you need to know to help me I am happy to pass it along.

[Gordon]

What type of teaching do you have in mind? University teaching here will be next to impossible without a masters and publications. What are your interests? City or country life?

[guest of Japan]

You will be unable to find employment in a University here because you do not have an MA.

This leaves you with conversation schools and the possibility of working as an assistant language teacher in a high school, jr. high, or elementary school. Often these positions want experience teaching in Japan, but there is always the possibility.

You do not need a TEFL certificate to gain a teaching job in Japan, but I think it would be helpful in attaining a better position.

You will probably make more money in Japan, but I think you will find the lifestyle harder than in China. You will teach about 25 to 30 hours a week in a conversation school in addition to at least 10 hours to company things and prepping. In a regular school you will teach about 16 hours with a lot more time to prepare. You will have a lot of deadtime to fill.

You will probably find Japanese students a lot less rewarding to teach too.
In addition jobs with the kind of autonomy you probalby enjoyed in China don't come around so often. To get them you need experience in Japan and/or an MA in a relevant field.

Converstion schools hire year round. Regular schools usually hire in Feb. and March for positions starting in April. Most regular school positions are now gained through dispatch companies.

You can expect a salary of around 250,000 yen a month. If you are lucky it will be hire. Many jobs now are offering lower, but it would be foolish to work for less than that amount.

I recommend you have a look at the Fact post at hte top of the forum list. It has a lot of info.

Good luck in your decision.

[sfarkas103]

University is out then as I have only a BS and the publications are limited to my own plays and articles (professional freelance writer and playwright). I am depending on you good people to help me with city or country, ( the distinction between the two in China is massive). I much prefer country, but that is something I have forgotten about after 2 years here where a "country" setting is a town with less than a milliion people. Hobbies and interests are across the board: snorkeling, skiing, fishing, reading, astronomy, cooking, and on. I am a fairly solitary person and don't require much if any interaction with westerners, but I do like a bit more, and please excuse the rude remark, "civilized" culture than what I have found here to date. I have been to over 30 countries and consider myself very flexible and adaptable. I just figured that another year in China will lead to another, and another. If I am to make a change I think the timing is about right.

[T-Bone]

Good info, Guest of Japan.

I'm bummed you've changed your avatar! I loved your old one-- that photo was brilliant.

But maybe you've had it for a while-- time for a change,eh?

The new one's spiffy.

[guest of Japan]

T-bone, you are the first person to ever comment on my avatars. Thank you. I'd become bored with the other, so I went hunting. The current one is the Shinto god Yebisu or Ebisu. He is the god of fishing and prosperity. One of my favorite beers in Japan takes his name and also uses a similar picture on the label.

I'm glad you found the info helpful.