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bigjoe
Joined: 20 Oct 2014
Posts: 48
Location: Honolulu, USA
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 Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 7:24 am Post subject: Non-EFL Background |
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Just curious, how many folks here come from a non-EFL background and are looking to do (or you are currently doing) something different by teaching in Japan?
I'm one of those people. I have a master's degree in computer science, but sitting down in front of the computer all day is not giving me much satisfaction.
When I was in grad school, I used to be a teaching assistant, which was fun, and I enjoyed teaching. I recently applied to many eikaiwas so I'm looking forward to something different. Hopefully, a few will come through.  I'm avoiding the big chain eikaiwas for now; I'm only applying to small ones, which I've found thanks to the O-Hayo Sensei newsletter.
My goal is to start up my own eikaiwa in five years and/or work as a freelance Android developer in Japan.
The pay in the beginning will be low compared to what I'm earning now, but money doesn't really matter to me, as long as I enjoy doing what I'm doing and save enough money on the side. |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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I majored in business marketing in college, worked in hospitality during college, worked in the music business after college, had no teaching experience, and one day decided I was going to move to Japan.
It's been a few weeks so I hope you've heard something back Salary is a bit low here but you'd be surprised at how much money you can save, especially if you work in smaller towns with cheaper rent and etc. |
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nicenicegaijin
Joined: 27 Feb 2015
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| jtea wrote: |
I majored in business marketing in college, worked in hospitality during college, worked in the music business after college, had no teaching experience, and one day decided I was going to move to Japan.
It's been a few weeks so I hope you've heard something back Salary is a bit low here but you'd be surprised at how much money you can save, especially if you work in smaller towns with cheaper rent and etc. |
I am not EFL, either I regard myself of one of the most successful gaijin in Japan. I teach some English courses and other different types of courses at a university. I have 2 cars, both are expensive, I live in Kamakura in the best part, I take at least 2 overseas vacations a year often more, I eat out in expensive restaurants and still manage to save around 30K per year. So there is a way to be successful in Japan, it is mostly down to luck being in the right place at the right time, never feeling sorry for a company and employer, be willing to drop everything and move to a more lucrative situation and having a terminal degree. |
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Maitoshi
Joined: 04 May 2014
Posts: 718
Location: 何処でも
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Other thread says 3 cars. You're slipping NNG! |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Nicenicegaijin, what the heck are you talking about?
The guy makes little to no sense.
To the OP, I've worked in private and public schools in Japan for many years. Lots of lost people with no background in language acquisition or education work in a variety of jobs. The worst was a former corporate guy who claimed he lost his grade book and never assessed his students.
The middling were recent university graduates who had little more than enthusiasm. I watched an American High school teacher butcher a grammar exercise and tell students they were wrong when she didn't know the grammar rule. I've seen TESOL certified people babysitting - no learning was happening and the teacher had no plan.
The best I've seen - a guy who has a learning disability, educated himself, and rubs a successful eikaiwa where his kids are years ahead of junior high English and love learning. He researched a lot, and he's a genius.
Two philosophy majors I have worked with were loved by their students because they were methodical about learning and communication.
You could be brilliant it's just a matter of applying yourself.
Miserable people who don't care whine at the pub about how bad it is.
Hang out with people who can mentor you.
Good luck! |
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Maitoshi
Joined: 04 May 2014
Posts: 718
Location: 何処でも
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Others of us just like to whing on Dave's! Saves on the pub tabs at least  |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:37 am Post subject: |
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Cheapskates! Earning big money, driving three cars, living in Kamakura and then too cheap to buy beer at the pub and boast to friends.
Maybe he has no friends.... |
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Didah
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 88
Location: Planet Tralfamador.... and so it goes
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 4:08 am Post subject: |
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Greetings NNG,
I make it a habit of not replying to trolls, however, this is one NNG post that I just can't resist responding to.
Being one of the most successful gaijins in Japan and only teaching a couple of classes in an oxymoron. The most successful gaijins in Japan don't teach English or any other class for that matter. Occasionally, I could see them being guest speakers. Further, the most successful gaijins in Japan probably never heard of Dave's ESL Cafe and even if they had, they would most likely be too busy and successful to troll on this site (no offense to all of us who do frequent the site).
You say that you live in Kamakura? I bet that you live inside the Daibutsu -- which is probably the most famous address there. Although for you, being in such a good neighborhood living inside the Great Buddha has its drawbacks. Since there are no windows, and your are surrounded by hills and trees, you don't get the ocean view. Also, I would imagine that parking must be tough for those two expensive cars with the tiny streets, all the tourists and the tram.
Maybe Kamakura is Kawasaki, the house a 1DK and the two cars one old beat up station bike. But at least you can dream.
I do enjoy your posts.
Good luck |
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bigjoe
Joined: 20 Oct 2014
Posts: 48
Location: Honolulu, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 4:45 am Post subject: |
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I applied to many EFL jobs already. I got shot down hard by one. The lady said I was a strong candidate, but when I blurted out that I did not have experience teaching kindergarteners, she told me not to send any more documents. Honesty hurts, but I wanted to be upfront with her.
I applied to two more jobs I found on ESL Cafe today. One was at a preschool.
For now, I'm not applying to Big Eikaiwa: Gaba, Interac, et al. Too much crap going on there. |
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jkozera
Joined: 09 Jan 2015
Posts: 90
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 5:47 am Post subject: |
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You thought about getting an early childhood cert? My Uni offers it for only like 18 credits with the option of doing them all online. I am debating on getting it myself for future employment.
| bigjoe wrote: |
I applied to many EFL jobs already. I got shot down hard by one. The lady said I was a strong candidate, but when I blurted out that I did not have experience teaching kindergarteners, she told me not to send any more documents. Honesty hurts, but I wanted to be upfront with her.
I applied to two more jobs I found on ESL Cafe today. One was at a preschool.
For now, I'm not applying to Big Eikaiwa: Gaba, Interac, et al. Too much crap going on there. |
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bigjoe
Joined: 20 Oct 2014
Posts: 48
Location: Honolulu, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| jkozera wrote: |
You thought about getting an early childhood cert? My Uni offers it for only like 18 credits with the option of doing them all online. I am debating on getting it myself for future employment.
| bigjoe wrote: |
I applied to many EFL jobs already. I got shot down hard by one. The lady said I was a strong candidate, but when I blurted out that I did not have experience teaching kindergarteners, she told me not to send any more documents. Honesty hurts, but I wanted to be upfront with her.
I applied to two more jobs I found on ESL Cafe today. One was at a preschool.
For now, I'm not applying to Big Eikaiwa: Gaba, Interac, et al. Too much crap going on there. |
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Never thought about that, but it's a good idea. Thanks for the suggestion. I have a TEFL cert from BridgeTEFL, an online course. But I guess it didn't cut it for teaching very young kids. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| MAteacher, you really are the gift that just keeps giving. All the degenerates on here are just jealous of you mate. |
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nicenicegaijin
Joined: 27 Feb 2015
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| Maitoshi wrote: |
| Other thread says 3 cars. You're slipping NNG! |
Other thread says I have 3 classic cars which are assets, i.e. family assets gifted to me. They are not my daily drivers as they are in Europe, in Japan I have two cars as there are too members in my family and I drive to work, so my wife needs to be able to get around. |
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nicenicegaijin
Joined: 27 Feb 2015
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| Didah wrote: |
Greetings NNG,
I make it a habit of not replying to trolls, however, this is one NNG post that I just can't resist responding to.
Being one of the most successful gaijins in Japan and only teaching a couple of classes in an oxymoron. The most successful gaijins in Japan don't teach English or any other class for that matter. Occasionally, I could see them being guest speakers. Further, the most successful gaijins in Japan probably never heard of Dave's ESL Cafe and even if they had, they would most likely be too busy and successful to troll on this site (no offense to all of us who do frequent the site).
You say that you live in Kamakura? I bet that you live inside the Daibutsu -- which is probably the most famous address there. Although for you, being in such a good neighborhood living inside the Great Buddha has its drawbacks. Since there are no windows, and your are surrounded by hills and trees, you don't get the ocean view. Also, I would imagine that parking must be tough for those two expensive cars with the tiny streets, all the tourists and the tram.
Maybe Kamakura is Kawasaki, the house a 1DK and the two cars one old beat up station bike. But at least you can dream.
I do enjoy your posts.
Good luck |
I will reply to your trollish post even though it is meant to provoke me. First of all I have never even been to Kawasaki apart from the ramen museum and certainly would not consider living there. If you really wish to know where I live in kamakura it is near Hase and parking isn't a problem as I have 2 parking bays and I have an ocean view in case you were wondering. The rent is high but it is about the only nice place to live in Kanto apart from Hakone.
Ok you are right about one of the most successful gaijin comments, I am sure there are CEOs, tv talents and other people who do not post on Daves, but I will go out on a limb here and say I bet there isn't anyone else with total assets of 2.5 million Euro/USD here on dave's which is what I have. (total lie by the way)
The only reason I frequent the site is that I have taught and do still teach English, and live in Japan like others, working at a uni I also have a lot of free time.
As for friends I do have some, but I cannot talk about money and brag about my lifestyle to them or they wouldn't want to hang around me. Besides the people who I frequent are well brought up, and don't like to talk about salaries, money etc... |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 9:55 am Post subject: Bragging rights |
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| Most uni profs I know are busy and having a great time teaching. They brag about their students and their cool projects. |
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