Job Discussion Forums

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

I have been hearing a lot about the Peace Boat recently and am interested to hear from anyone who may have first-hand experience of it. It looks like you could have a lot of fun teaching English to eager learners and of course you get to travel around the world!! Has anyone heard any good/bad things about it?

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Yeah, funny story -- we had some guests over last night and they were telling us their experience with Peace Boat... Not even from the teachers' viewpoint, but as prospective passengers.

Well, to make a long story short, they paid their 1,380,000 yen (each) and went to see the boat (and take a tour of it). Apparently, an hour later they were demanding a full refund.

Reasons they gave: - the ship was over 50 years old (and had insufficient stabilization systems), was REALLY small and cramped (even for a Japanese) and there was no way they were going to shell out upwards of $30,000 just to spend 105 days on something like that.

And that was the end of that.

Mark · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 500 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Plus, if you teach English on the Peace Bota, you don't get paid. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to do it for the experience, but they should really be paying salaries.

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England

I was reasonably interested in volunteering for the Peace Boat a year or so ago and requested more information on the teaching programme from the organisers. What put me off was this (and I quote):

"Each class is around 45 minutes long, and is team-taught by a teacher and a CC (Communication Coordinator or Interpreter). The number of people who attend fluctuates from day to day, and can reach as many as 200 or more, especially at the beginning of the voyage."

200 students in a class! Perhaps some teachers would love that challenge, but it really doesn't float my boat, as it were.

bornslippy1981 · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 271

I had a former roommate who was onboard last year. He said it was a great experience.

I applied myself, but wasn't offered an interview. I don't like to make any excuses for things like that, but from what I understand, it's very important that you have at least 18 months teaching experience before joining. I had 16 at the time I applied, but figured it'd be 18 by the time the boat left, so shouldn't be a problem. But, your information sheet goes on the top page. It's probably one of those things where if you don't have 18 months, they just pitch it in the "Rejected" pile without reading your lesson plans or other documents.

Anyway, the boat is a bit cramped. You are working a lot, and each day have two classes with 4-8 students. They can be beginner, intermediate, or advanced. You have the same students throughout the voyage.

The open class which can have upwards of 200 students in the beginning isn't something you do everyday, if I remember correctly. You also have to plan a non-language activity that anybody onboard can participate in. Things like a scrapbook, blog, theatre, festival, etc.

You don't get paid, but the room and board is covered. It's a lot of hard work, especially at the beginning while you're getting adjusted, and also helping passengers with luggage, etc. The boat does stop in many ports, but you're pretty confined to that area, so you don't actually venture out into the sticks. However, the teachers do get a week vacation at some point, and do get to participate in many activities inland.

Considering some of the places you go, and the activities you get to do (when not confined to the ports), I personally wouldn't have a problem volunteering as a means of saving a load of cash in the future. If you�re doing it to pad your passport with country stamps, then it�ll help. Also, in the future it would be good for jobs to show that you volunteered for that length of time.

Like anything, there are pros and cons, and people with good and bad experiences. I'd say apply, if you get an interview, go and see what happens. The application process is time consuming, but might be worth it.

Good luck.

Alberta605 · Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Japan

It sounds like one of those ideas that would appeal to the 'magically' minded.

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

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, the open class deal with up to 200 students was the one thing that really put me off. I just can`t see that being productive unless the students are advanced. Anyway, the main reason for wanting to participate is the need to do something new and challenging. I don`t mind so much not getting paid but I don`t want to be worked like a donkey!! I also wondered how many other people would be working in the cafeteria etc on the ship. Do you have to eat with the students too? If so, that would be a really long day! I see they also have a short voyage but it looks like they don`t have classes on that one. Is that true?

Anyone else had any experiences?? Thanks in advance.