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blunder1983
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 26
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 Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject: Working in a public school outside of JET? |
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Hi guys,
I work in Incheon in SK in a girls middle school. I having a blast here but I am looking for other places to experience after my time in Korea (the place doesnt do much for me).
I really love teaching in a proper classroom environment and get a kick out of all the excitement my lessons generate. However as my contract ends next May I cannot be in England for the interview stage, and I dont think I can take the interview in Korea.
This means I must do the work off my own back. Is it possible to get employment through private schools outside of JET? Failing that is there the same rules for applying with NOVA? What problems will I face with a contract starting, at the earliest, June/July?
As a last resort I can come over from Korea and work in a cram school I guess.
Thanks for your time!
Chris |
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blunder1983
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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Oh finally, I'm considering hopping over the Sea of Japan (  ) on my winter holiday and researching up my options then. Good idea? How far along could I get with job apps for later in the year (i finish may 20th so technically i could start early june but i was hoping to go home for a bit) and could I potentially get a school gig if I was able to get there that little bit earlier (22nd of may ish  ) |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Working in a public school outside of JET? |
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| blunder1983 wrote: |
HThis means I must do the work off my own back. Is it possible to get employment through private schools outside of JET? Failing that is there the same rules for applying with NOVA? What problems will I face with a contract starting, at the earliest, June/July?
Chris |
JET teachers do not teach at private high schools, they work at public high schools and salaries are paid by municipal boards of education.
Do you want to work at a public high school or a private high school.
NOVA is a private commercial language school like a hogwon in Korea. Are you asking if the rules are the same as a hogwon?
If you are talking about a private high school you wont get a contract in June-July as its the middle of term and schools will hire teachers to work from the beginning of term, either in April or in September. Dispatch companies will hire teachers to work as ALTs at public high schools (non-JET) but Im not sure when their main hiring window is. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you want to work at a public high school or a private high school. |
Since the subject line says public, I'd guess he wants a public school job, Paul.
blunder, public schools don't hire FT foreign teachers. They take ALTs, whether through dispatch agencies (lots of negative press on them here lately; check with a search to see their deficiencies) and through JET (probably also through the similarly run Earlham College program).
So, if you want a FT job with benefits, you'll have to get into a private HS like I did. You will likely have to get some other work here first for a year, as they tend to require teaching experience in Japan first.
I'll agree with Paul that trying to get such work in June/July is futile. School terms begin in April. The busiest hiring time is February to March, but some schools advertise 6 months in advance of that April start date. The number of ads themselves, however, is pretty small, so you really need some contacts to get the inside information. Another good reason to get over here and set up shop with other types of teaching first.
What do you mean by this question?
| Quote: |
| Failing that is there the same rules for applying with NOVA? |
Private high schools interview in Japan, not overseas, like NOVA. |
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blunder1983
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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Actually I meant any high/middle school us brits have the very confusing thing where public MEANS private. Ok it looks like I'll going over and job hunting for your typical cram school work there for 6months/18months and hop into the high schools at the right time.
Thanks for your help guys. Any links to info on the various places I might want to live? (So info on general areas)
Thanks again.
Chris |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| blunder1983 wrote: |
Actually I meant any high/middle school us brits have the very confusing thing where public MEANS private. Ok it looks like I'll going over and job hunting for your typical cram school work there for 6months/18months and hop into the high schools at the right time.
Thanks for your help guys. Any links to info on the various places I might want to live? (So info on general areas)
Thanks again.
Chris |
Now you are talking about something else again. Cram schools here prepare students for university entrance exams, usually involve the teaching of English grammar and the class is conducted in the students language, Japanese. Studnets are taught by Japanese native speakers. I dont know many foreigners that teach in "juku" in japan. Cram schools are not conversation language schools or high schools, but are like a shadow education system where students education is supplemented by cram schools. I dont really know of any foreigners teaching at cram schools and Im sure they dont teach English conversation at one.
In Japan you have
elementary schools (99% public)
junior high schools (mostly public)
senior high schools (public and private)
universities (public national and private)
semongakko (trade schools, private)
juku (private)
eikaiwa (private conversation schools)
Public in Japan means they are owned and financed by the government and run by Boards of Education. Private means privately owned commercial businesses, with a board of directors)
Japan is a big country and everybody will tell you the best place to live is where they live. I live in Kyoto and Glenski is in Hokkaido. Do you want to live in city area, or rural? Do you need lots of foreigners around you? What do you like doing in your free time and what environment and climate do you prefer? Fuku-oka and Kyushu are closest to Korea but there are few jobs there at the moment. |
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blunder1983
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:13 am Post subject: |
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Sorry I didnt realise it was so complicated!
I thought cram schools = the after school hagwons of korea, I would much rather work in a conversation school rather than a cram school.
I think I'l buy a guide and read up on the areas. I am young and want to meet people my own age, I also would like to have mebbe 2/3 foreign people to hang out with. I dont drink at all, unless I'm out clubbing. I would NEED a gym, nightlife is not a big deal a few bars and mebbe a clubbing place 1hr away would suit me down to the ground.
Sorry for being such an oaf. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:55 am Post subject: |
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blunder,
You are NOT being an oaf, just a bit too general in your questions. Thanks for providing some info so we can help you.
As for location, most major cities will provide what you want. The key question I always ask prospective teachers is what sort of climate are you for or against? Japan has it all. (And before you say something like "not too hot" or "not too cold", remember to state that as a temperature.) |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| blunder1983 wrote: |
S
I think I'l buy a guide and read up on the areas. I am young and want to meet people my own age, I also would like to have mebbe 2/3 foreign people to hang out with. I dont drink at all, unless I'm out clubbing. I would NEED a gym, nightlife is not a big deal a few bars and mebbe a clubbing place 1hr away would suit me down to the ground.
Sorry for being such an oaf. |
I dont really know any areas except Kansai and Nagoya from the occasional overnight business trip.
You would be wanting somewhere that has an expat population of foreigners. Im sure you dont want to go out with the same people all the time as it can get a bit cliquey. Kyoto for example has about a million people and a large expat community and Hiroshima and Fuku-oka are smaller than that. Kobe is popular for foreigners and even has a sports and athletics club with a large expat membership.
Bigger cities include Hiroshima, KitaKyushu, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Tokyo as well as dozens of others north of there. You can find a gym in most of these places and they accept foreign members (helps if you speak the language though). Tipness is one of the biggest gyms in Kansai. 1hr is quite a distance by train and in some places could put you way out in the country areas especially if you are chasing after the last train and catch a local train home.
I would consider the big chain conversation schools such as NOVA, AEON, GEOS or ECC. Most you would apply through the company websites but some will want you to be resident in Japan or have a valid visa if you interview in Japan. All will sponsor qualified candidates with a degree.
Here is a NOVA page (NOVA has over 230 branches around Japan and 4000 foreign employees)
http://www.vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html
AEON
http://www.aeonet.com |
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