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littlefish
Joined: 22 Jul 2003
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 1:11 am Post subject: Hokkaido Teachers |
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I've been following a number of threads on this notice board and found some valuable info, so thanks to all you folks who make regular contributions.
My questions are directed towards those of you who are familiar with life in Hokkaido and more specifically the work situation there.
I suppose a little background info on who I am and what I'm looking for in Japan might make it easier for you guys to point me in the right direction. On a professional level, I'm an EFL teacher by trade with a MED (TESOL) and five years university teaching experience abroad. With a fondness for the 'Great Outdoors' and everything that comes with it, Hokkaido is the natural choice. I would also like to try my hand at learning a traditional instrument like the shakuhachi while in Japan.
It seems that the best way to find a job that suits is to be in the country. So I'm planning to be in Japan/Hokkaido late August, early September. This would give me a little over a month to find a job and do the visa run. Is this a realistic time frame or am I better off waiting it out for the April starting semester?
I'm hoping to find work as a FT or PT instructor within the university, college or high school system. As most of you probably know, getting your CV into the right hands is the first challenge. I have tracked down the homepages of most of the tertiary institutions in Hokkaido which don't seem to provide any specific contacts. The same problem also exists for high schools. Any ideas, suggestions or leads?
Sapporo sounds like a wonderful place to be. Any other places you would suggest or steer clear of?
I've been a member of JALT for close to a year now and managed to make some great contacts. I've also joined 'The Insider' which provides information specific to Hokkaido. Any other suggestions?
Any ideas as to where I should base myself once in Sapporo and on the job hunt? (housing, restaurants, schools, places to meet people)
Anyway, if you do have any suggestions, it would be much appreciated.
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 1:38 am Post subject: |
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Glen
Have you had a look at the japanese university blacklist by Debito Arudo? It gives a rundown of the different universities including their job conditions etc.
http://www.debito.org/blacklist.html
One I have heard to stay away from is Asahikawa University in Hokkaido as they have had some recent legal troubles and court cases over their foreign teachers and term limits.
Glenski and I have some useful JALT articles about getting university jobs and I can answer any general questions you have, though I dont teach in Hokkaido myself (Glenski teaches in a high school in sapporo though)
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 1:41 am Post subject: |
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Sorry my email address should read
[email protected] |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 1:55 am Post subject: |
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| I'm hoping to find work as a FT or PT instructor within the university, college or high school system. |
PaulH can give you good advice on landing university jobs. I'm in Sapporo and can only say that there are quite a few universities and high schools here.
High school and university contacts are pretty scarce, even if you have lived here for a while, so it is no surprise that you have not found many online.
Persistence will be the key to getting either type of job.
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| Sapporo sounds like a wonderful place to be. Any other places you would suggest or steer clear of? |
A language school (CIE?) up in the Kitami area seems to advertise for teachers every 6 months. This raises a red flag. I have also heard about a school in Kushiro that has a fairly dictatorial manager (Alpha School?). But, if you have a masters degree in education, it isn't likely you'd be applying to these 2 jobs anyway.
| Quote: |
| I'm planning to be in Japan/Hokkaido late August, early September. This would give me a little over a month to find a job and do the visa run. Is this a realistic time frame or am I better off waiting it out for the April starting semester? |
There is always a minor surge of openings for October start dates, so coming in late August or September might prove beneficial, but if you are looking for high school or university jobs, hiring schedules are somewhat quirky. Start dates, as you know, are April. Some places hire for October. Since a lot of teachers give last minute notice in March, you will find more and more ads cropping up for teachers to "start immediately" at that time. However, schools that have forecasted their hiring needs will post ads 6-12 months in advance. Keep your eyes peeled on the basic web sites for such ads.
I would say that giving yourself a month to find work is cutting it close, but it depends on the amount of planning you have put into your job hunting before you land here, and it depends on how much effort you put into it while you are here. I know of several people who have looked for work for the entire length of their tourist visa and gone home jobless. Preparation is everything.
If you hope to get a PT job that sponsors a work visa, think again. Few of them do so, so while this is possible, I wouldn't count on it.
Plan on making that "visa run", but you may not even have to do it. That requirement is becoming more lax these days.
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| Any ideas as to where I should base myself once in Sapporo and on the job hunt? (housing, restaurants, schools, places to meet people) |
Sapporo has 1.8 million people, but its central district is fairly small and hinges around Odori Park. Write to the information center for info on housing. There are some hostels and guest houses in the area. Meeting people will be no problem. |
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