Job Discussion Forums

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Ok this is a long shot I guess.

I've got a friend in NYC who wants to come teach English in Japan but he's low on cash. Does anyone know of any job that will pay for his flight to Japan and help him set up an apartment(except for the JET program)?

I know "I've got a friend" sounds really fake but this time it's true!

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

The heads around here say that Westgate Corp. is the only place that is really interested in paying for flights and setup costs, especially if your friend wants to go to Tokyo (which is probably the most desireable location in Japan). They also say that Westgate is more or less robbing good teachers of their positions through a McDonaldization of the industry at the university level. I've looked at their contract myself, and for the hours you work I have to say that the pay is abysmal.

I teach with a guy here in Thailand who got a loan from his employer though -- don't remeber which corp. it was, but it was one of the big ones. Keep in mind that the apartment setup costs will likely run your friend more than the one-way ticket would (between 3 and 5 months rent at at least 300 USD a month).

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 1:11 pm Post subject:

If you are that low on cash, Japan is not the place to come to initially.

Your friend will need a large wad of cash to get set up, even if a company pays the airfare.

Better off saving and coming later, or going elsewhere where living costs are lower. (eg Iraq)

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Thanks for the info.

I live in Tokyo now so I know how much it costs to get started but I never heard of the Westgate Corp.

Shocked

I just looked at thier website........They are evil Twisted Evil

Mc donalds?.....Oh yeah!

But I guess I'll tell my friend about this unless anyone else has any other info I could use......

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Just to clarify; my last post was referring to what Sheep-Goats said. I didnt see AgentMulderUK's post till after I posted my last post. Uh........

Responding to AgentMulderUK:

It's not that expensive so long as you dont eat or drink anything (hopefully you could fill up on free coffee at work. If you put enough sugar in it you got your whole days eatin done right there!), never pay for your train tickets (slightly dangerous, trying to get the "Gaijin discount"), never wash you clothes (if it's summer nobody will notice as everyone arrives dripping anyway, or is that just me?)

Anyway, I dont really want this thread to degenerate into total silliness so being serious I ask anyone with info or opinions to please post them.

Zzonkmiles · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 309

I don't think many people are going to respond to this thread for one of two reasons:

1. We don't know what your friend's qualifications are. (So we don't really know which jobs he'd be eligible for.)

2. Most schools are NOT going to pay for you to fly over so you can work for them. Salaries here are going down, jobs are being lost, and it's getting harder and harder to find decent work. Most schools simply don't offer free plane tickets anymore. Some universities might, but don't bet on it. And universities are generally out of the question without a master's degree.

2a. If such a job existed, I don't think people would be so quick to post it on the internet.

I would second the poster who said Japan is the wrong place to go if you don't even have enough money to afford a plane ticket. I would caution you against taking less than $2000 USD to tide you over for about 6-8 weeks, and I would actually recommend taking twice that amount. You're not going to get rich here, and it can be several months before you finally "break even."

Wanting to come to Japan is one thing. Having a plan for living here is totally different. If your friend wants to save money, the best thing he could probably do is stay in New York. The startup costs associated with living here are far more expensive than a plane ticket from another major international airport.

Walter Mitty · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 4 Location: Tokyo, Toshima-ku

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

My reaction to Zzonkmiles:

1) He has a BA in english but no TEFL cert or experience

2) and 2a) Like I said this is a long shot.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Earlham College's program to send teachers to Japan is much like the JET Programme. Snipped from their web site:

Salaries and benefits vary depending on the placement. In the majority of sites, monthly salaries and additional bonuses, are comparable to the starting salaries of Japanese educators holding teaching certification credentials. In addition, housing is provided free of charge by the employer. In several sites where housing is not provided, compensation is adjusted appropriately. Program participants are eligible for Japanese National Health Insurance which provides affordable comprehensive medical coverage in Japan. Round trip travel from the United States to the appointment sites is also provided by the employer.

http://www.earlham.edu/~aet/

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Ok let me repeat (again) I know this is a long shot.

There is no need to keep telling me what I already know.

If you have any info about jobs that will pay for my friend`s flight to Japan and help him set up an apartment then please help me out. If not, please keep walking. Nothing to see here. Move along please. Laughing

Much Thanks to the helpful posters!!

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

PQ.

Please stop aiming gratuitous sideswipes at people who know far more than you ever will.

sns

peterquinn · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

My reason for starting this thread is to obtain names of companies that will pay for my friend`s airfare to Japan. So far I got 2 good leads but if anyone else has any others I would be grateful if you would post them here.

If anyone wants to post anything else I really dont care. I didn`t start this thread to aruge with people I don`t even know.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Peter

the people you are arguing with have over 20 years experience teaching in Japan. I think they should know if there are schools that have what you want or not.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

PQ:

By the time that you manage to find a school here willing to pay your friend's airfare to Japan (if such a thing exists - and why should they when there are so many experienced teachers here and so many inexperienced ones willing to pay their own airfares?) s/he could have saved the airfare 10 times over by getting a job in the US.

Most Eikaiwa chains offer to pay the return (ie back to the US) airfare if your friend completes his contract. It takes a couple of months to get a Japanese work visa. In that time your friend can save for his airfare.

sns