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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:05 pm Post subject: Advice Needed! Teaching University Students or Adults |
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Hello
I am interested in working with either University students or adults. Would be willing to work a few hours a week with children. I would like to work a fairly typical 9-5 PM weekday schedule with weekends off. Perhaps working some nights and just one weekend day. I would like to have 2 days off in a row.
I am finding jobs that typically are split shifts during the week- 6 A.M- 9.AM and the 6 PM-9 PM weekdays and working weekends. I do not want to work these hours.
Do you know of any employers that would meet my criteria? Would prefer working in Tokyo. Would love your advice!
Thanks-Matt |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Dang...aren't you looking for the dream job.
Teaching English in Japan 101...the more criteria you have, the less likely you'll find a job. Given your criteria, I'd say your chances are...0.
If you want a 9-5 week day schedule, you'll have to find a public school and even then sometimes you have to work weekends or stay late. That means you'll be working with kids.
If you want to teach adults, you have to give you your nights and weekends. Eikaiwa schools cater to the students, not to the teachers. Think about the people who take English lessons, it'll either have to be after work/classes or on the weekends. Having two days off in a row can be negotiated but it'll most likely be weekdays or if you're lucky, Sunday + Monday. Also, there's no guarantee you'll teach only adults in eikawai schools. It can be a mixture of both kids and adults.
If your emphasis is more on your personal life than on the job, I would highly recommend you don't teach in Japan and look elsewhere. If you want a job in Japan, give up all criteria and work your personal life around whatever job you find. There is no perfect job.
To make things even harder, finding a job in Tokyo isn't easy if you're overseas. Not to say it can't be done but you really have to give up all criteria at that point. The pool of people eligible to teach English already in Japan is quite big. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: Advice Needed! Teaching University Students or Adults |
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| MATTDBOSTONJD wrote: |
Hello
I am interested in working with either University students or adults. Would be willing to work a few hours a week with children. |
Have you read around these forums at all?
Work teaching adults usually means eikaiwa (private conversation 'schools'). Many have split shifts, but not all. Not all split shifts are as bad as your example -- maybe like 9am-12pm, and then 4pm-9pm. Even at the places that don't make you do split shifts, you should be prepared to work Saturday and/or Sunday, possibly not have 2 days off in a row, and have to work some evenings. At my last eikaiwa job, I had 2 days in a row off and had no split shifts, but worked 1 weekend day and worked 2-3 evenings a week until 9 or 10pm. I also had to teach both kids' and adults' classes, and it wasn't in Tokyo.
A university position would likely fit all of your criteria. Such work generally requires at least a related MA (i.e., Applied Linguistics or TESOL), usually academic publications, and often Japanese language ability. Most jobs are limited to a few years. If you have the qualifications for this type of job, it might be a good direction for you to try. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| Have you read around these forums at all? |
The answer is no, it looks like he's copy pasting this on countries until he gets one that says he can find this kind of job.
How about you just do some simple research. The question you're asking can easily be found by using this popular website, you may have heard of it...it's called google. |
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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:15 pm Post subject: Thanks for the feedback |
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| I know Westgate would satisfy what I am looking for. Will try them and try a few more in the mix. Thanks for the feedback |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback |
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| MATTDBOSTONJD wrote: |
| I know Westgate would satisfy what I am looking for. Will try them and try a few more in the mix. Thanks for the feedback |
Yes, Westgate would fit many of your criteria, and can be a decent gig for some people.
Some things to consider:
- Westgate offer 3-4 month contracts (during each university term). Their web site says they do not offer any option for employment between terms (leaving you unemployed 2x a year for a month each time)
- Their web site says that you can't stay in the provided housing outside of your contract, which leaves you homeless for a month, twice a year (assuming you recontract with Westgate for another term)
- You must live in the provided housing, which I have heard Westgate overcharges for.
- I've heard that working days can be quite long -- often involving leaving home at around 7am, and getting back around 8 or 9pm (partly because of the long commute from the housing, which is usually in a suburb, to the university, which is usually inside a city)
- The classes that most Westgate teachers teach aren't regular university classes, but extra-curricular classes, and you aren't a university instructor. |
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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:30 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback |
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| rtm wrote: |
| MATTDBOSTONJD wrote: |
| I know Westgate would satisfy what I am looking for. Will try them and try a few more in the mix. Thanks for the feedback |
Yes, Westgate would fit many of your criteria, and can be a decent gig for some people.
Some things to consider:
- Westgate offer 3-4 month contracts (during each university term). Their web site says they do not offer any option for employment between terms (leaving you unemployed 2x a year for a month each time)
- Their web site says that you can't stay in the provided housing outside of your contract, which leaves you homeless for a month, twice a year (assuming you recontract with Westgate for another term)
- You must live in the provided housing, which I have heard Westgate overcharges for.
- I've heard that working days can be quite long -- often involving leaving home at around 7am, and getting back around 8 or 9pm (partly because of the long commute from the housing, which is usually in a suburb, to the university, which is usually inside a city)
- The classes that most Westgate teachers teach aren't regular university classes, but extra-curricular classes, and you aren't a university instructor. |
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed response. much appreciated. It's a bit strange looking for work when you are not in-country. Here is a bit of my background. Would you have any other potential fits besides Wingate? Kind Regards-Matt
B.A. in History
Some graduate work but not a masters
U.S. Citizen
Currently residing in the U.S.
Looking for a Sept 2014 start date
Early 40's
This would be a second career-long career in business
No TEFL Certificate (Would be Willing To Get One)
Looking at Japan (Tokyo Location) and Taiwan (Taipei Location)
Some volunteer teaching experience but no ESL teaching
Lengthy training background in varying business environments
Would like to primarily teach adults-part of day teaching children is O.K.
Reasonable schedule that doesn't have split shifts with lots of hours in between, 1 weekend day off, 2 days off in a row, prefer working days but willing to work evenings |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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Not always. I heard of teachers finishing work at 3:00.
Maybe in Nagoya it is less demanding.
Some don`t have to live in their housing. I know since I applied back in February, and this would not have been a problem.
I knew a teacher who lived in Sagami-Ono and he taught in Atsugi. Not a bad commute. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| What does suck is that you must wear a suit when you teach. |
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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
Not always. I heard of teachers finishing work at 3:00.
Maybe in Nagoya it is less demanding.
Some don`t have to live in their housing. I know since I applied back in February, and this would not have been a problem.
I knew a teacher who lived in Sagami-Ono and he taught in Atsugi. Not a bad commute. |
Thanks for the response. Do you work for Westgate? |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback |
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| MATTDBOSTONJD wrote: |
Would you have any other potential fits besides Wingate? Kind Regards-Matt
B.A. in History
Some graduate work but not a masters
U.S. Citizen
Currently residing in the U.S.
Looking for a Sept 2014 start date
Early 40's
This would be a second career-long career in business
No TEFL Certificate (Would be Willing To Get One)
Looking at Japan (Tokyo Location) and Taiwan (Taipei Location)
Some volunteer teaching experience but no ESL teaching
Lengthy training background in varying business environments
Would like to primarily teach adults-part of day teaching children is O.K.
Reasonable schedule that doesn't have split shifts with lots of hours in between, 1 weekend day off, 2 days off in a row, prefer working days but willing to work evenings |
Like I said, Westgate might be a good opportunity. I don't doubt that mitsui is right and there are people working for Westgate whose situation is different, but I do know that the things I listed happen. The reason I mentioned them is so that, before you accept a position with Westgate, you can clarify the things that are important to you.
I also wonder if Gaba might be a good option. I know there are some posts here that you should read. From what I understand, most (?) of the lessons are with adults, you get paid an hourly rate for the one-to-one lessons you teach, and you can choose the hours you want to work. So, I suppose you could try to work the hours you are comfortable with, and hope you get enough hours to live. Since you have a long working career, I'm guessing you have some savings that you could draw on in case you don't get enough hours at the beginning.
Maybe others with first-hand experience with Westgate, Gaba, or someplace that might fit your criteria will chime in here.
Last edited by rtm on Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:45 am; edited 2 times in total |
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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:34 am Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback |
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| rtm wrote: |
| MATTDBOSTONJD wrote: |
Would you have any other potential fits besides Wingate? Kind Regards-Matt
B.A. in History
Some graduate work but not a masters
U.S. Citizen
Currently residing in the U.S.
Looking for a Sept 2014 start date
Early 40's
This would be a second career-long career in business
No TEFL Certificate (Would be Willing To Get One)
Looking at Japan (Tokyo Location) and Taiwan (Taipei Location)
Some volunteer teaching experience but no ESL teaching
Lengthy training background in varying business environments
Would like to primarily teach adults-part of day teaching children is O.K.
Reasonable schedule that doesn't have split shifts with lots of hours in between, 1 weekend day off, 2 days off in a row, prefer working days but willing to work evenings |
Like I said, Westgate might be a good opportunity. I don't doubt that mitsui is right and there are people working for Westgate whose situation is different, but I do know that the things I listed happen. The reason I mentioned them is so that, before you accept a position with Westgate, you can clarify the things that are important to you.
I also wonder if Gaba might be a good option. I know there are some posts here that you should read. From what I understand, most (?) of the lessons are with adults, you get paid an hourly rate for the one-to-one lessons you teach, and you can choose the hours you want to work. So, I suppose you could try to work the hours you are comfortable with, and hope you get enough hours to live. Since you have a long working career, I'm guessing you have some savings that you could draw on in case you don't get enough hours at the beginning.
Maybe others with first-hand experience with Westgate, Gaba, or someplace that might fit your criteria will chime in here. |
Thank you. Will research Gaba right now |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:45 am Post subject: |
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No, just know people who worked there.
Kind of wish I did though, since I just work part-time 3 days a week.
I even had to go to Hello Work to get unemployment insurance.
The way things are going in Japan now, Westgate is a good first gig, especially if you come from outside Japan.
Gaba does not pay well. The hourly pay is low. |
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MATTDBOSTONJD
Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
No, just know people who worked there.
Kind of wish I did though, since I just work part-time 3 days a week.
I even had to go to Hello Work to get unemployment insurance.
The way things are going in Japan now, Westgate is a good first gig, especially if you come from outside Japan.
Gaba does not pay well. The hourly pay is low. |
Thank you for the response. The 1,500 yen per 40 minute lesson taught seems a bit light |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| mitsui wrote: |
| Gaba does not pay well. The hourly pay is low. |
That's what I've heard as well. There was nothing about pay in the OP's criteria, just hours and students, so maybe pay isn't an issue for him. If the OP can use savings to supplement his income, working at Gaba could be a good way to start out because it seems that he might be able to decide his schedule somewhat.
Otherwise, I agree that Westgate might be good.
Both would give him a work visa, so after his first contract is finished, he'll hopefully be in a better position for finding his next job. |
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