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vindie
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Location: Thailand
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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject: Getting Started - Visa Sponsorship |
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I have read a lot of threads that point to Westgate as a means to get started in Japan. I am concerned about their discalimer that "we might not be able to get you work near your accomodation". What I don't see are other options. I read of one person signing up with Nova and running away half-way through.
I like the idea of short-term contract work to get me in country. Perhaps Westgate is the best answer, but is it the only answer? And what about hiring times... sure April is the start of the teaching year, but I find jobs offered year-round on various web-boards. Finally, I noticed today that ECC hires year-round with contracts starting in April. This means they will hire you in say... May, June, July, and your contract will still end in April. Is this another valid option?
What about teaching styles? I'm TEFL trained and have had extensive experience with Interchange, a lot of Skyline (Skyhigh), and some Headway. Are there schools that follow certain models? I'm looking for a classroom experience versus 1 on 1 (which I find enormously draining).
At this point my aim is to look for work in country. I hope to get there in March, but if I don't, how screwed am I going to be? I have the cash backup for 'hard times' and I have some places I can crash for free, but I want to know what the reality is for a qualified EFL teacher.
There are some great moderators around here, but some of the advice is so oblique. I am happy to hear about best case and worst case scenarios... it's good to prepare for... but what about most case scenarios?
-Jeremy- |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:32 am Post subject: |
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English conversation schools hire year round. I've never really noticed anything seasonal about hiring for Nova, ECC etc.
It's the ALT work that is more seasonal and usually starts in April at the beginning of the school year. |
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vindie
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:40 am Post subject: ALT work |
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| Correct me if I'm wrong... but aren't ALT jobs basically 'teaching' jobs for people that don't have any qualifications (save native-English speaking) and want to live in Japan? It doesn't sound like teaching. Is it? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Most case scenarios are just that -- very general options that most, but not all, people follow.
You wrote:
| Quote: |
| I like the idea of short-term contract work to get me in country. |
May I ask why? Is it because you plan to stay only a short time, or because you want to feel comfortable in bailing out of a situation if it turns out to be bad, and short-term jobs help you to do that?
Be aware that if you quite a contract early from one of the Big Four (can't recall which one), you may not even be considered for employment by one or more of the others (again, can't recall who). So, you may have gotten your foot in the country, but you have just eliminated an option or two for work. Also, bear in mind that most eikaiwas offer pretty much the same in terms of salary and benefits, so unless you have some distinct fine detail that another school is willing to offer, you probably won't gain much (unless you are bailing out because of poor working conditions, but you need to research well enough on those anyway).
So, how do you "get started" in Japan? Two options:
1) Find work that is willing to sponsor you from your home country.
2) Come here and look for work.
Option 1 limits you to a very few number of employers, but at least you won't have to fork out for airfare and housing in order to do the job hunting. You'll just have to travel to the interview and pay for expenses lasting 1-3 days. Meanwhile, you can stay in the comfort of your own home and continue to do whatever you like before you leave.
Option 2 will probably mean having US$4000 to set yourself up and tide you over until that first paycheck, a month or 3 down the road, even if you come in March.
Hiring times:
| Quote: |
| sure April is the start of the teaching year, but I find jobs offered year-round on various web-boards. Finally, I noticed today that ECC hires year-round with contracts starting in April. This means they will hire you in say... May, June, July, and your contract will still end in April. Is this another valid option? |
Yes, jobs are offered year-round, but the majority are advertised for April start dates. If you simply want to play the percentages, look for those jobs. If you can't or won't do that, you'll just have to deal with whatever few there are left (and during certain times of year, that is VERY few!) and with the quality of such jobs. Quality may vary, as teachers could bail out for a variety of reasons (bad employer, emergency at home, better opportunity comes along, sickness, etc.). As for ECC's options, of course they are valid. You would start on those months, then hope to get a renewed contract in April.
Teaching styles:
| Quote: |
| What about teaching styles? I'm TEFL trained and have had extensive experience with Interchange, a lot of Skyline (Skyhigh), and some Headway. Are there schools that follow certain models? I'm looking for a classroom experience versus 1 on 1 (which I find enormously draining). |
Conversation schools pretty much teach the same way, but some have their own formats and textbooks, and you may not be allowed to vary from them. Valid concern for an interview question!
| Quote: |
| At this point my aim is to look for work in country. I hope to get there in March, but if I don't, how screwed am I going to be? I have the cash backup for 'hard times' and I have some places I can crash for free, but I want to know what the reality is for a qualified EFL teacher. |
The best advice is to know well in advance what to expect. Look at the job boards and sift through the information. Ask questions about certain employers for people on these discussion forums to answer. Plan your strategy, prepare resumes and cover letters, notify prospective employers when you plan to be in Japan, confirm that after you land, and do your best in the interviews.
After March, the number of ads will fall, of course, and some people may even bail out during April and May (that should be a red flag in itself!). Are you going to be screwed? Probably not, but why look at the negative side? Plan for the hiring to take place in March.
As for being a "qualified EFL teacher", you have no experience in Japan, so expect to be treated by most employers as a beginner, suitable only for entry level work (JET program ALT, eikaiwa teacher, or dispatch agency ALT). Give it a year, then you can move on to something else if you like. As I wrote, eikaiwas are pretty much the same, so you'll have to look long and hard to see if any other one suits your needs better (needs could include salary, location, type of teaching, housing, etc.).
You have a certificate and some experience in teaching. That's more than probably 90% of newbie teachers. Good for you, but many employers don't care, and all they want is a warm body with a native English speaking tongue and the right chemistry for their students. Keep that in mind. Teaching eikaiwa is labeled here as "edutainment", not serious education. Know the market and its demands on teachers. It might also pay for you to read this article as background.
http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/015a.shtml |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| Correct me if I'm wrong... but aren't ALT jobs basically 'teaching' jobs for people that don't have any qualifications (save native-English speaking) and want to live in Japan? It doesn't sound like teaching. Is it? |
ALT = assistant language teacher
Obviously the A means you are not (usually) the main person doing the instructing, but the T does signify you teach something somehow.
JET ALTs often complain that they don't perform real teaching functions. Some do, though. Case by case. None of them really need teaching qualifications. The JET guidelines don't ask for such (although Chtulhu will tell you from experience that JET is trying to put more emphasis these days on people who DO have teaching experience).
Dispatch company ALTs may have the same teaching situations and qualifications (or lack thereof) as JET ALTs. Again, case by case. Some have near autonomy in the classroom, while others don't have much.
Compared to eikaiwa teachers (who are not ALTs but have complete authority in the classroom), there is little or no difference in qualifications. Do you call eikaiwa education "teaching" or TEACHING? |
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Venti
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Kanto, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:49 am Post subject: Re: ALT work |
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| vindie wrote: |
| Correct me if I'm wrong... but aren't ALT jobs basically 'teaching' jobs for people that don't have any qualifications (save native-English speaking) and want to live in Japan? It doesn't sound like teaching. Is it? |
It may not be the kind of teaching you want to do, but it will give you a chance to work in a Japanese public school classroom and to learn a lot about public education in Japan, particularly English education. Plus you'll get a lot of time to absorb some of the Japanese language during your downtime in the classroom and in the staffroom.
It may be possible to find your ideal teaching job right off the bat, but if it comes down to you having to put in a year somewhere to pay your dues and get your visa, ALT work can be beneficial if you look at the positive side of things. |
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