Job Discussion Forums

[milesdenman]

Hi, just a thought.
I don't really understand the big attraction of JET over the eikaiwas.
Looking at the threads location seems to be an important factor to people seeking jobs in Japan, i know that it is for me. I get the impression that generally people prefer to be placed in larger cities. From my understanding you are more likely to be placed in citys with the eikaiwas.
Secondly, i don't know about anyone else but i want to teach my own classes, i wouldn't want to be just a classroom assitant (ALT). I feel that working at an eikaiwa would benefit me more in terms of professional development. I know that i'm following their agenda, but still you get to teach your own classes, you're the teacher.
I understand that the pay is better, but so what, money isn't everything. I would be a lot happier living where i wanted, teaching MY classes.
I'm just trying to understand why people are so attracted to JET, personally i wasn't even going to apply.
Anyway, this is just my opinion, but what do i know i neither live or work in Japan (yet)!

[luckbox]

[milesdenman]

Hi, i just used NOVA for extra effect. It is at the bottom of my list, but i'd still be very happy if i got a job with them. ECC is at the top, have got an interview next week.
Your reply is perceptive! - at first i kind of was looking for reasons not to JET, only because placement is a major concern for me.

Quote: "NOVA is not ALT work, so a bit of an apples and oranges argument you are presenting." (Sorry i don't know how to use that handy quote function!! )

I know NOVA is not ALT work, that was my point.

The benefits of JET working conditions ie. sick pay, loads of holiday etc. sound great, but i've never had a job with any type of benefits anyway so am none the wiser, i'll just try not to get sick!
My presumptions are largely based on threads i've read, but i am quite sure that the majority would like to be placed in citys and that this is more likely with an eikaiwa.
Sorry if i came across as dissing ALT's - i really wasn't!!
[/quote]

[canuck]

[Glenski]

milesdenman,
As you wrote, it depends on how people look at things.

If you don't care about location or teaching your own class, then let's compare eikaiwas in general with JET. I'll only list ways in which JET seems to be favored over eikaiwas since that was the thrust of your question.

JET hours are Monday to Friday, roughly 9 to 4.
Eikaiwa hours are any day of the week (and possibly with non-consecutive days off for a weekend), usually from noon to 9pm.

JET gives people exposure to a real high school situation. That's what some people want.
Eikaiwa gives people exposure to teaching a handful of people at one time, whether very young kids or senior citizens or anything in between.

JET pays 300,000 yen/month.
Eikaiwas pay 200,000 to 280,000 yen/month. Salaries have been falling to the lower end of the spectrum recently, too. Not with JET.

JET pays your airfare to Japan.
Eikaiwas usually don't, and some have end-of-contract bonuses to sort of make up for airfare and as an incentive for teachers to stick around because many don't.

JET arranges your visa. (It's not a Humanities Specialist visa, though, so you can't use it for anything except JET.)
Not all eikaiwas sponsor work visas, but at least with the HS visa, you can use it for other teaching.

JET has you on an insurance plan.
Many (Most?) eikaiwas don't copay for that. Some have their own plans, and not all of them are good. Plus, if you are not on national insurance, but later choose to opt for it, you are liable for up to 2 years of back payments.

JET provides supplemental training throughout the year (I don't know the details.).
Eikaiwas usually don't. You are on your own.

Some would consider the vacation days better with JET.

[shuize]

If what you really want to do is flip hamburgers for minimum wage, you could probably make a case that McDonald's is better than JET, too.

Most people, however, would understandably disagree.

[dove]

In some ways, I agree with the original poster about eikaiwa work vs the Jet Programme. I was a JET for 2 years deep in the countryside in Yamanashi Prefecture (more than 10 years ago!). While I did have some wonderful experiences, professionally I felt like I was wasting away. Being an ALT in a public junior high school just wasn't for me. I was severely bored....I was actually told to study Japanese during my hours of downtime. I know that might sound like a sweet deal to some, but I never felt comfortable doing that while the Japanese teachers were toliling away. I ended up spending hours making materials, supplements, posters....many were never used, but at least I was doing something professional. Maybe it's just me, but I need to feel utilized.

I was going to say STAY AWAY from NOVA, but I recently met 2 NOVA teachers who are happy as clams working at their schools. They love their students, their roommates, their mornings off....I guess it's what you make of your situation.

[Apsara]

I was a Nova teacher who wouldn't have swapped with a JET. Even all the extra benefits couldn't induce me to stand up in front of a horde of teenagers and try to keep them interested- kudos to all you who do it, but it sounds like a nightmare to me. I did do some presentations on my home country to classes at a high school for just one day as a favour to a Japanese friend and it was terrifying. I much preferred small groups of adults.

I never wanted to be a school teacher in my home country and I didn't want to do it in Japan either. Mind you, Nova paid more when I was there.

[ghostrider]

Apsara, where do you work now?

[cornishmuppet]

Oh man, Nova over JET. I wake sweating some mornings with that same nightmare.

I understand the points about teaching your own classes, but when you have 30 odd a week see how motivated you are to keep each one fresh, fun and interesting. And look forward to your few scant days of holiday once a year during peak travel periods to 'unwind'. I'm not a JET but I am an ALT and I love this job. Japanese kids really aren't like western kids. I haven't found chalk or drawing pins on my desk once yet, no one has stolen any of my stuff, etc...

The school gig might not be for some people, but my job is basically to make lessons fun, and seeing the kids enjoy themselves is way better for me than trying to press what I thought was 'interesting' on to my old eikawa students.

Some things work better for different people, but having done both, I just hope the OP knows what he's saying. Good luck my friend. Whatever you chose, I hope it works out. BTW, I've heard ECC is the best of the eikawas, though I don't think there is one in my town.

[Apsara]

[Sweetsee]

Hostess?

[Deicide]

wish I were a hot chick...life would be a lot easier...minus the pms of course...

[Billy Chaka]

[Like a Rolling Stone]

only pricks use the word "utilize" when they should use the word "use". You want to be used then you are a prostitute. Have fun in your next careeer of being prostitute.