Job Discussion Forums

[monocongo]

I plan to take the plunge and go to Japan to search for a position as an English teacher. I am hoping to find a position in Kansai (Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, perhaps Osaka). My general plan is to lodge at a gaijin house somewhere in Kansai and then start making personal appearances at eikawas with my resume/diploma in hand. I have been told by an acquaintance who is currently working in Kyoto that if I do this then I should find work before too long. I certainly hope that he was right and that I won't be heading back to the US after three months of hemorrhaging cash (I will have about $4500 to bring with me). I have a college degree, a CELTA, and I have been teaching ESL part-time as a volunteer for three months in order to gain some experience, so I think I am qualified enough for most eikawas. I will arrive in Japan mid-September.

What I am fishing for are tips and tactics which might help me in my search, such as immediately getting a cell phone and trying to find a few local Japanese acquaintances to help with communicating with Japanese office workers - suggestions that my friend has already mentioned. Does anything come to mind that you can share with me ?


Some questions of immediate interest:

* Can you recommend gaijin houses or other places to stay for a short time in the Kansai area ?

* Before I begin my quest I want to compile a list of schools in Kansai where I will try my luck. I am aware of the job classifieds in Kansai Time Out and Kansai Flea Market but these rarely have full-time positions listed. Fortunately I have found a good list of language schools in Kyoto (http://www.ksckyoto.com/kteach.html) but how would I go about finding the names and addresses of schools in other places in Kansai ? I fear that I may have to wait until I arrive and then start poring over the language schools section of the local Yellow Pages. Hopefully there is a better way - can someone advise me on this ?

* I have been told that I won't need to bring a computer (laptop) since internet cafes are plentiful, but getting anything printed will be difficult since most printers are only set up for Japanese. Can anyone comment on this situation ?

* How can I minimize my transportation costs, and how can I minimize wasting time every day by getting lost trying to find my way to the schools ? [I fear there is no solution to this one]

* Will an official transcript from my university showing graduation date, etc. be sufficient documentation for my visa ? I'm not keen to bringing my original diploma if I can avoid it.


If you can offer any advice or suggestions then I will certainly appreciate your feedback. Any relevant ideas/tips/anecdotes will be welcome.


Thanks in advance...

[guest of Japan]

I'll try to answer a few of your questions. I'm sorry I cannot be Kansai specific.

-Original Diploma: must bring it.

-printers: They can't read languages. They print the digital image they are requested to. You should establish an internet email account and email yourself an attached file containing all the things you will need to secure your job. Attach it as a word document. Open it and print it.

-minimizing transportation costs: If you have a pda, there is a program called metro that you can download for a fee. This program can map out your train and subway routes for you. You have to download the specific cities you want.

-internet cafes are not cheap. They are about a $1 for every 15 minutes.

-Take nothing for granted. Make hard copies of your resume to distribute before coming just in case. You will have to buy a prepaid cell phone because you cannot buy a regular cell phone without an Alien Registration card. There are less English teaching opportunities in Kansai than Kanto. The area also has strong competition because of its scenic lore.

-Yes you are qualified to get a job at an Eikaiwa. Good luck.

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

For jobs at 'other' language schools than the big chain schools in Kansai try this site

http://www.kansainow.com/ads.shtml

Good luck

[PAULH]

Found this on Kansainow.com


APPENDIX C: Do not take NOVA housing; stay at a "gaijin house."

A yahoo search for "BANANA HOUSE" will give you http://www.sakai.zaq.ne.jp/animo/

Check it out. I have lived there three times, 6 months, fifteen months, and five or six months. A good place, I strongly recommend it -- especially having also lived for a year and a half at "Osaka English House," and also heard about the other foreigner houses in the Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/etc.) region of Japan. From their website you should learn alot, including their email address (write to Mr. Shibata, and you might not do badly by mentioning that I, Saul Fleischman, recommended them -- I only say this since, say, in the winter, when heaters are not "officially" available, if you are NICE to the managers, and they like you, they MIGHT just be able to find one, should you ask NICELY... You know, for favortism in general). You will also find tel and fax number(s). They "sort of" speak English. Speak SLOWLY and CLEARLY, should you call in English.

I have written about Banana House in the past, and below have pasted my old posts for more on my opinions about the place:

FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT LIVING/WORKING IN OSAKA,

1. In response to a message about the pros/cons about "NOVA living," I would agree that if you can get together your own group of even two, if not three people to share an apartment, even in SIX months, you would come out ahead, over the ridiculous prices NOVA EXTORTS from its very own work-force. Really, if you consider that you can find plentiful 2-bedroom apartments for 60,000, and GREAT 3-bdrm places for 70-90,000, one need only do the math and discover that
even considering the initial investment of 3 months deposit (of which half or more is generally refunded, let's remember), in only a few months you come out cheaper than going with a NOVA DUMP.

Further, on "gaijin-houses," or guest houses: I have lived in two and visited another two. At OSAKA ENGLISH HOUSE, the place was kept SPOTLESS by two full-time housekeepers, and years ago I paid 60,000/month -- with two meals/day included, 6 days a week. I stayed there for 18 months. Okay, that WAS years ago. Now, I think you can have your own nice room with no meals for 60,000 or therabouts. I prefer BANANA HOUSE. I have stayed there twice, once for 2 years, the second time for six months. Actually, I get a considerable amount of email from people thinking about coming to Japan to work. When they are thinking Osaka, I always suggest BANANA HOUSE. Why...? Well, when you just arrive in a
new country, the LAST type of place you want to stay in is one (i.e. an apartment) in which you are isolated. In Banana House, you pay 17,500 for a week or 55,000 Yen for a month, with only a 10,000 Yen deposit -- which is 100% refundable, and they DO give it all back to you. For that, you have your own large room, with closet, table, futon, aircon, utilities included, and now, most rooms have their own refrigerator and bed, as well! Then, you share free showers, a kitchen, two common rooms with large TV's and CABLE (incl. English-language movie channels!), and now, a computer area with free internet access! Plus, easy access to TWO train lines AND the extremely important MODOSUJI subway
line. But, for the "Japan-newbie," I cannot overemphasize the value in living at such a place for the chances to meet other
foreigners... have people to hang with... hear about jobs, learn where to shop, what mags/papers to buy for job-leads... and
basically, quickly learn how to enjoy life in Japan from the very start -- whether one speaks Japanese or not.

Oh, and whether you wind up working for NOVA or any other English school, do you REALLY want your accomodation dependent on your remaining their employee...? Stay at Banana House or another such "gaijin-house," or guest house, as they are alternatively referred to, and when you move on to a better job -- which the overwhelming majority of NOVA teachers do, before the end of their Japan stay -- and you need not be told to "be cleared out of the school's flat THE DAY YOU RESIGN!"

2. As for finding accomodation once you are here, foreigners typically consult one of the local English-language magazines
that cater to foreigners and have plenty of classified ads for housing, jobs, etc. In the KANSAI region of Japan (Osaka,
Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama) the main mags with the most classifieds are the monthly KANSAI TIME OUT and bi-monthly or monthly (I forget) KANSAI FLEA MARKET. http://www.kfm.to


The KTO can be found online as well: http://www.kto.co.jp

Osaka English House

Spotless, but remote... on ONE train line, and even THAT is a good 20-minute walk UP A STEEP HILL, in Hirakata
(the "boonies"), a GOOD thirty minutes+ from just the connecting station for the MIDOSUJI subway line (which
everyone who washes up in Osaka invariably becomes well aquinted with), and also at least as far from the nearest Kyoto station... which again means transfering and thus more time. So, for the OEH, you are looking at a good 60-90 minutes travel time to any job or nightlife. Compare to 20 minutes from ORANGE HOUSE, and 30 from BANANA HOUSE (for major Osaka work and nightlife stations like UMEDA (Osaka Station), TENNOJI, NAMBA, and SHINSAIBASHI. Oh, and my travel times include the walk from domicile to station.

So, Banana House sounds fairly convenient, right...? What I neglected to mention in my message yesterday is that, in all fairness, while the rooms are large enough (6+ mats each -- over here, we measure room-size by the number of tatami mats... which becomes yet MORE confusing when you learn that tatami come in at least two sizes...), the common areas and stairwell, etc. are rather dirty -- and sometimes occupied (at 1, 2 a.m.... later on weekends, even, by drunk foreigners and (typically) their Japanese "entourage"). So, while I still strongly suggest Banana House -- and hey, we could even meet, since my home and business is only about 3 or 4 km away -- for the ease of moving in (a mere 10,000 Yen refundable deposit), security of having your own lockable room, reasonable rent (55,000/month, which drops to 50,000 after several months, and includes unlimited cable TV, internet access, electric, gas, etc. -- all utilities except that you must feed the pay phones that are conveniently located between floors), and what I found very helpful, and what someone coming to a new country to live for months or years should not underestimate the value of: the chance to meet other foreigners -- who have been here weeks, months, and even years longer than oneself, and can provide great leads on work, shopping, where to meet the women... where to have lunch for 480 Yen... where to go for dry-cleaning, etc...
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[monocongo]

I certainly appreciate the helpful and informative replies to my original posting. Keep them coming !