Job Discussion Forums

ohdannyboy · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 18

Hello.

I'm looking for some advice from experienced university teachers in Japan. I worked at an eikaiwa for 2 years before returning to my native england to do my MA in ELT. I now wish to return to Japan and would like some advice about the prospects for an English teacher in my position. I am currently teaching on a pre-sessional English language course at an English university, I do not have any publications to my name at the moment but hope to change that in the future. I have a basic level of Japanese conversation, I guess about level four, I reckon I am about 6 months away from level three. I will be 28 years old when I return to Japan (next month).

could anyone give my info about University job prospects, pay and conditions, and generally anything else you think I ought to be aware of.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. Any replies would be greatlt appreciated.

Daniel

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

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

You may also benefit from reading these articles.
http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/002a.shtml
http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/028a.shtml
http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/032a.shtml
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/articles/2002/08/glick
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/articles/2002/09/glick
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/articles/2004/10/stapleton
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/articles/2004/10/mccasland

Plus, here is some slightly old information on salaries themselves.

1997 Kansai Area Teacher Salary Scales
courtesy Michael "Rube" Redfield
Osaka University of Economics
The following is the 1997 Kansai area college teacher salary scale, complied by the Kansai Private Universities Labor Union. The three highest paying schools are listed at the top of each table, the thirty school average in the middle, and the three lowest paying colleges at the bottom. The yearly salary includes all bonuses but does not include additional sources of revenue, such as research budgets and travel allowances.
[Ed's Note: these salary scales apply to Japanese (and assumedly non-Japanese) tenured faculty.]
Table 1. These figures are for 24 year old, single instructors (joshu).
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 6,554,438
# 2 Osaka Electo-Comuni. U. 5,615,700
# 3 Otemon Gakuin U. 5,578,020
23 School Average 5,021,548
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Osaka Tech/Setsunan U. 4,597,880
# 2 Osaka Women's Gakuen JC 4,480,226
# 1 Hagoromo Junior Col. 4,131,600

Table 2. These figures are for 30 year old Assistant Professors (koushi), married, with one child.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 8,972,452
# 2 Kansai University 7,994,490
# 3 Kinki University 7,614,510
26 School Average 7,299,799
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Osaka Women's Gakuen JC 6,690,234
# 2 Osaka College of Music 6,669,400
# 1 Osaka Chiyoda JC 5,995,466

Table 3. These figures are for 35 year old Associate Professors (jokyouju), married with two children.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 10,472,725
# 2 Kansai University 9,737,330
# 3 Momoyama Gakuin U. 9,611,875
26 School Average 8,653,140
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Hagaromo Junior Col. 8,110,200
# 2 Osaka College of Music 7,991,760
# 1 Osaka Chiyoda JC 7,330,242

Table 4. These figures are for 40 year old Associate Professors (jokyoju), married with two children.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 11,120,783
# 2 Kinki University 11,034,225
# 3 Momoyama Gakuin U. 11,020,240
26 School Average 10,085,578
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Baika Women's College 9,313,290
# 2 Osaka Art U/Naniwa JC 9,123,725
# 1 Osaka Choyoda JC 8,468,184

Table 5. These figures are for 45 year old full Professors (kyouju), married with two children
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 13,039,337
# 2 Kinki University 12,426,304
# 3 Osaka Seikei Junior Col. 12,288,205
26 School Average 11,476,637
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Baika Women's College 10,594,453
# 2 Shukugawa Jr. College 9,917,455
# 1 Osaka Choyoda JC 9,743,543

Table 6. These figures are for 50 year old Professors (kyouju), married with two children.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 13,829,743
# 2 Kinki University 13,663,151
# 3 Osaka U. of Economics 13,452,500
26 School Average 12,531,313
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Osaka Art U/Naniwa JC 11,420,215
# 2 Shukugawa Jr. College 11,102,695
# 1 Osaka Choyoda JC 10,627,802

Table 7. These figures are for 55 year old Professors (kyouju), married with one dependent child.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Kobe Gakuin University 14,329,834
# 2 Osaka Dental College 14,305,510
# 3 Kinki University 14,188,492
26 School Average 13,228,170
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Osaka Women's Gakuen JC 12,267,544
# 2 Shukugawa Jr. College 12,096,940
# 1 Osaka Choyoda JC 11,114,801

Table 8. These are the figures for 60 year old Professors (kyouju), married with no dependent children.
Salary Scale / University name / Yearly salary in Japanese yen
TOP THREE
# 1 Osaka Dental College 15,436,390
# 2 Kobe Gakuin University 14,659,482
# 3 Kinki University 14,494,508
36 School Average 13,623,467
BOTTOM THREE
# 3 Osaka U of Law&Economics 12,569,800
# 2 Osaka Women's Gakuen JC 12,547,426
# 1 Osaka Choyoda JC 11,119,715
Rube Redfield is an educator at the Osaka University

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

Glenski

do those JALT articles appear without a password? Im a member and they come up automatically sometimes. Other times I have to type one in.

This may be of interest too,

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/news/nn12-2004/nn20041208f1.htm

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

Paul,
I'm not a member of JALT, and I can access them without a password. I think only the most recent month or two listings in The Language Teacher are not accessible unless one is a JALT member (and has a password).

ohdannyboy · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 18

Paul thank you for taking the time to respond to my message. It seems like you know what your talking about and your advice is greatly appreciated. May I ask you a couple of further questions. You say that the monthly payment for teaching one Koma a week is from 20,000 . Have I understood this correctly. This means that each 90 minute Koma is payed at (20,000/4) 5000. Which equates to an hourly rate of 3600 yen ish, which is barely more than an eikaiwa. Is this the case, sorry if I give the impression for being a bit of a mercinary, I just want to know what to expect. Also, I guess bonuses are only paid to full time teachers is this the case ???

Many thanks
Daniel

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

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

ODB,

I have a masters in Education, 9 month TESOL cert, and conversational Japanese. No plublications, no doctorate, I was 23 when I applied for the job and I still got a full time position. Universities are buckling down here and everyone's feeling the pinch, but there are jobs to be had.

Most people start out part time teaching at universities and snatch a full time position when they can. However, universities place a cap on your contract. My university's five years, most are two or three years. Strangely enough, after riding out the contract many of my coworkers go back to part time. (less university BS to deal with) The cycle's a bit tough, considereing the time it takes to adjust to and find a new job. I came here to get work experience on my resume. I plan to return home ater my contract's up. People who live in Japan long term and support a family working the university catch 22 are hard core.

Paul's advice is spot on. Making contacts will be the most important thing to getting you the uni job you want.

ohdannyboy · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 18

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my message for their helpful advice. Much appreciated. Quite sobering actually, I was really excited about the prospect of returning to Japan, but the impression I get is that teachers are really feeling the pinch in Japan at the moment, both in terms of salary and the avaiability of jobs. I get the impression that it is very difficult to support a family on a teachers wage, this of course greatly puts me off returning to the land of the rising sun, but I intend to return anyway and try my best.

Thanks again
Daniel