Job Discussion Forums

tripper · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Osaka

Anybody working in a private high school? I was just wondering how much would be considered a good salary for someone with a lot of experience, Japanese skills etc. I have just been offered 350,000 yen a month before tax. Do you think that is a fair offer?

Thanks!

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

c-way · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Kyoto, Japan

Hard to say without knowing the hours, number of lesson, expectations etc.

But the number itself definitely sits above the curve.

tripper · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Osaka

Thanks for the reply Canuck and C-way. It looks like I would have 17 classes a week and only teaching the communicative component of the English courses. I will have around 12 weeks paid holidays and transportation is also paid. They said that I would have to come in to school about 5 Saturdays a year for special events. It appears they are hiring me to help the administration staff deal with the native English teachers because they can`t speak Japanese very well. I think it sounds fair but I don`t know anyone else in this kind of position so don`t know what I should be making.
Anyone else doing this kind of job? How much is the norm??

Thanks so much.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I think it's fair. You don't mention anything about housing. I assume that Osaka is expensive, but I haven't been there. Do they arrange the housing? How much will it cost you each month? If they haven't mentioned it and then they set you up with an apartment but charge you up to 100,000 a month with the lease in their name (so you end up with a sublet agreement) suddenly that 350,000 is 250,000 and that's about average for people with some sort of TESOL certificate, but really little to no Japanese language ability.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I'd take it.
Sounds good to me.
Sounds like where I work, except that 350,000 to start is good. I got paid less than that when I started.
17 hours of teaching a week is standard where I work.
I would ask how large classes are. At Momoyama it is 40 per class, which is too big.
And I'd ask about bonuses, too.

Osaka is cheaper than Tokyo. I pay 105,000 for a 3DK and in Osaka I could get it for 80,000.

I have to work 11 Saturdays a year and two Sundays, and I get some money for transportation.
12 weeks off a year is good. I think I get 7 weeks off but get another 3-6 weeks with paid holidays. With paid holidays I never use them all since there isn`t time.

Sounds like you will be the go between. It is what I am too.

If you have to help with a club, except to work a lot more on Saturday.

c-way · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Kyoto, Japan

Canuck wrote

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

Pronunciation Practice Activities by Cambridge (British English)
Top-Up Listening by Abax (North American English)

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

tripper · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Osaka

Thanks for all your replies. I can`t believe those teachers are making 8-12 million! Wish I could make that! To answer your questions I would be the go-between for this position, about 20 students per class and since I have been living in Osaka for 6 years I don`t need housing. I actually have been at this school for 4 years and was making a pretty crappy salary. 350,000 is an improvement but I think if I pushed it I could make more. As you all know the deductions from your salary are quite high so what you take home doesn`t look too impressive I just keep thinking that other people in such positions are able to pull more so why can`t I? Afterall, I have put in the time so it isn`t as is they would be taking any chances with me. On the other hand the holidays are really great........
Would you try to up the salary?? Please give me your opinion! Where are all the good jobs in Osaka? I have been on the look out all year but haven`t seen anything good!! Sad

Thanks

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

It sounds about right to start. Some other questions besides the abovementioned are-

Is there a housing stipend on top of salary?
What exactly will your supervisory duties be?
Are you expected to write your own lesson plans or use a set curriculum?
Are you expected to coordinate with the Monbusho/school grammar curriculum?
Is all teaching solo or with a Japanese teacher assisting?

At my school (private, HS/JHS) I teach 16 hours weekly. Our salaries are a bit higher than what you mentioned, but we put in a lot of time on school events and other such things.

As for your question about negotiating a higher salary, do you have any teaching qualifications? Graduate degree? Experience? Otherwise, try it for a year and then if you feel valued by the school it might be easier to negotiate a higher salary at that time.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

for more money, you do overtime or help coach a club, and your pay goes up. But it takes up your time.
In my experience, salary is take it or leave it in this country.
I do get a raise every year but it isn`t so much.
Or, do what lots of people do: teach privates (no tax there) when you have time.

I, too, would like to know where the good jobs are in Osaka. I guess that at those places, turnover is low (obviously).

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

My experience at a private high school as a full-time non-tenured teacher.

3-year contract, no exceptions. After 3 years, you are done unless a tenured slot opens up, but you still have to interview for it with everyone else.

Salary was 20-30% more than your offer.

Same number of classes, but I taught OC, reading, and special projects classes, plus a few one-off Saturday science in English courses. Never had a textbook except for one OC class, and it was horrible.

You got told what you were teaching 10-14 days before classes started, and the syllabus and textbooks (if any) had been chosen months earlier.

Two Saturdays per month were required for all teachers (except PT), and those 2 could be consecutive or not, so if things were times right, you could work the last 2 in a row for one month, then the first 2 for the following, meaning 6 day weeks for 4 straight weeks. Saturdays were half days, but most teachers stayed until at least 5pm.

Club activity was mandatory. So were committees. You were given a choice to request, but there was no guarantee you'd get it. Dorm committee was the most feared, because it meant visiting the dorm 1 or 2 times a week from 8pm to 11pm, sometimes more often.

Those "special events" are probably school festival, open campus, and entrance exams, among others.

If you are supposed to be the leader of the foreign teachers, you will get a boatload of responsibility heaped on you, and be prepared for those guys to resent a newbie getting it. A lot depends on how close they are with each other, and how well they get along. My group was fantastic and helped each other enormously. Without them, it would have been hell squared. Planning time for lessons is at a premium, especially for PT teachers, so good luck in trying to convince any of them to stick around after their classes to help plan lessons. Same goes for making exams five times a year (and correcting them en masse).

As someone else mentioned, summer vacation is not that. You are required to be there for all but 2 weeks. They will find stuff for you to do, trust me.

If you want to know more, PM me. I also have some information on private HS teachers from survey results from about 20 people.