Job Discussion Forums

[tokyojoe]

Just found this forum today...I've asked these same questions on other less ESL-specific Japan forums. Quite a few people have told me to just rock up and wing it, but looking for more ideas can't do any harm...Thanks in advance....

After many years visiting for between 1-12 months, my J Mrs and I have decided to make the move permanently with our toddler in August. Plan is to move to the countryside in Chugoku, Shikoku or Kyushu, probably Kyushu... we'll be rent and mortgage free and my Mrs has a small income, so I only need to make about 7 or 8 man a month, but hopefully more like 12...I only want to work 2 days a week

So, plan is for me to get a part time job at an eikaiwa... I see this as a long term thing and I want to be a good teacher eventually, however, the first thing is to score myself an initial job and go from there, so getting the initial job is what I'm focused on.

Me in a nutshell:
39 yo, spouse visa, native English speaker, Bachelors degree (did exchange at a J uni for 1 year),
experience as a tutor for uni students and as a primary classroom assistant in UK.

SO.....my questions:
1) Should I do the CELTA? - I know it will make me a better teacher but do I need it to get a job in an Eikaiwa out in the sticks? - and is it worth the $3000? - I'm willing to invest but a bit hesitant!!!
2) Should I just do an online TEFL? - will this make any difference to getting work? If yes, what's a good one?
3) Should I just go through Jeremy Harmer's How to Teach English, watch some vidoes and wing it?
4) Considering my attributes (particularly my age!!), will I be able to find work without too much trouble?
5) Any other suggestions or comments?

I think the main point is, I'm looking for part time work, with no experience, a long way from the mega cities, and want to know what I can do to increase my chances.

THANKS

[mitsui]

How can you not pay rent in Kyushu?
I guess you should be a bigger city like Fukuoka, Hiroshima or Matsuyama
in order to get work.

[tokyojoe]

we're going to buy a place for cash = no rent

[kzjohn]

I'm in a medium-sized city, about 450,000, and even outside of here I think you'd have trouble getting the income you want. People/teachers who live outside of town here come into town to teach.

So I'd echo the above, where you should try to be close to one of the cities there in Kyushu.

Then, since you're thinking two days a week, you could do a longer commute into town for work and stay home on your off days. So within about an hour of a bigger city...?

As for re-habbing a house, I don't see that in your budget. As someone who has done some of that, trust me when I say that costs start to add up. And besides materials, don't forget to consider/add the tools that you'll need (which you probably aren't bringing along). A driver-drill, or a power saw, or the right shears, or a good hammer, or a level/square, or..., etc., can be very nice to have. But it adds up. And then to have a vehicle to haul 3-4m long lumber. (Some home centers do have loaner trucks or can deliver.) Tho you may know how, all plumbing and a lot of electric is beyond me, so you may either be paying someone to do parts of the work, or buying more tools in order to do it yourself.

[tokyojoe]

kzjohn, that's the thing, we've got enough to cover all of that.
funny you mention it I am shipping my tools!
it's just day to day food, household bills and transport we need to work for.

yes you're right, an hour commute is cool if it's only 2 days.

[mitsui]

Oh you mean like an empty house?
Well then I could see what you mean.

Well you would need to be close enough to a bigger city by train.
As I said either Fukuoka or Hiroshima.
But actually I remember talking to a teacher in Hiroshima who had a hard time getting work.
Maybe Fukuoka or bust. There they do have trade with Asia so English is useful.

Miyazaki is at least cheap but getting work is a challenge.

[kpjf]

[timothypfox]

kpjf, he means joined as in actually posting something on the forum --- 6 years later after registering.

tokyojoe, don't rule out Kagoshima City and the environs. I live in Kirishima (a town of about 50,000), which is located on a a train line between Miyako-no-jo and Kagoshima City. With a car - not that far to Kanoya. Maybe an hour and a half to Miyazaki city.

If you don't mind a dispatch company and since you don't need a lot of income - just a steady income, you should start checking Ohayo Sensei which has a big part-time jobs section.

[kpjf]

[nicenicegaijin]

[Maitoshi]

In 20 years, it may be worth less than the land it's built on, since the new owners will need to pay for the demolition and removal of the old house to build.

[tokyojoe]

[tokyojoe]

[rtm]

[tokyojoe]