Job Discussion Forums

dog8food · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 60

So I got accepted into JET a few years back and had to refuse the contract for personal reasons.

I had applied a few times to JET since and I won't even get an interview. I believe I'm blacklisted.

So now I have a wife and child and we're looking for other ways into the country.

Are there other programs (or schools) out there that would be family visa friendly?

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

What are your options?

Staying in your home country.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Accommodation, childcare, and education are all issues you need to consider.

My partner and I share a house in suburban Tokyo for cheap. Our place is big by Japanese standards, a 3LDK, 3 rooms and living, dining and kitchen. Housekeeping, futon care, laundry and cleaning, is a lot of work.

We got it through a local real estate agent, and it wasn't hard because he's Japanese and does all the talking. We had to pay out two months worth of deposit before we paid rent.

For a non-Japanese family, it may be a big shock to live in a small house with no central heating or cooling, and very different lifestyle (futon care, garbage bylaws, neighbourhood associations, etc). Just getting a house may be difficult. Landlords are wary of non Japanese who don't know Japanese housekeeping and may reject you outright. I recommend you look at real estate agencies that specialize in foreign resident accommodation, but it will cost you a lot more than the going rate (starting at ¥100,000).

We don't have school age kids, but we are aware of the issues. It's tough to find childcare here, and babysitters are nearly nonexistent outside of Tokyo.

If you have two incomes, and your school age kids in public schools, you'll still have to think about after school care.

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Agreed. Japanese house work is way more than normal. Not having a dryer and a dishwasher make for more chore time.

Also, it will be very hard for you and your wife to find a house/apt here. UNLESS your company does it for you. As most places simply won't even rent to you.

I also agree that ALT/Eikaiwa salaries aren't enough to really support a family.
Seriously, in your case, why Japan? Not trying to be mean

timothypfox · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492

I quite frankly wouldn't recommend it.

I took 5 years doing a private high school job search until something came up that looked good. 5 years. But, I got the job after having had teaching experience in a NYC public school, having an NY State TESOL teacher's license, having an masters in TESOL, AND prior teaching experience in Japan at language schools.

If you do come over to teach at an Eikaiwa or work as an ALT, you will NOT make a good living - at least not to support a family. Even if you get a direct hire ALT job, there is a question of job stability. Stability is what you need when raising a family, surely.

I strongly recommend getting yourself qualified as a public school teacher in your country including getting a masters degree and teacher's license, and then some public school teacher's experience before you consider moving your family. Your options will be better then, though still very competitive.

Salaries for public school teachers in large urban cities in America are quite decent, and the benefits good. (I'm not sure what country you are in). If you can stomach working in a high needs environment with union wrangling, it is maybe worth this route.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

On my way ho,e, I looked up gaijin apartment rentals. ¥100,000 gets you a one room apartment, very small, in the Tokyo area.

If you can get into a normal rental apartment or house, you're looking at deposits, real estate fees amounting to three or four times the rent. We paid about ¥300,000 before we got the keys.

What rxk22 says is not exaggeration. Futon care, laundry, and cleaning are intense here. Fighting insects that bite (tatami ticks, skeeters, centipedes), and trying to prevent fungus from growing on you, your clothes, and futon are not easy for a newcomer with no experience and no Japanese literacy.

Lamarr · Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 190

Totally agree with the above. If you're going to come over, I'd do it at a higher career level/salary, with a company or organization that provides help and support with moving and settling issues, apartments, childcare and so on. An eikaiwa/ALT salary will be very difficult to support a wife and child on, and they will literally dump you in a one room apartment, then leave you to fend for yourself. They provide virtually zero support (save setting up a bank account and getting a mobile phone).

I'd advise anyone who's seriously interested in Japan to forget eikaiwa and ALT (except JET) and get a job in their home country first, then look to move to Japan with your company, or get a job in Japan in the same field. I agree with Timothy: if you want to teach, get a teaching qualification and experience at school in your home country first, then apply for a school in Japan. You will have a far better, nicer, smoother experience doing that than you would working for some criminal eikaiwa or ALT racket.