Job Discussion Forums

[uchuujin]

Hi, I'm new to the forums. Anyway, I'm still in college, but strongly considering teaching ESL in Japan after I graduate. While this is a few years off, I'd still like to ask some questions since it's my goal to be as prepared for the future as possible...

I recall reading numerous times it doesn't matter, but I would just like to make sure 100%: I have yet to choose a major, and I intend to go shortly after graduating, so: DOES the major matter, if it's only a BA? Even a little? If so, what's something you would reccomended to major in? I realize it's a major decision but living/teaching in Japan is a long-term goal and though I realize goals and ambitions change, for now this is my focus.

I was considering "winging" it and leaving in the peak February/March hiring season and go to Tokyo and look for work after I graduate. However, if I have ZERO teaching experience would I have any hope whatsoever of landing a job? I realize I could get experience and a foot in the door with the big 4 but I would only want to do this as a last resort. Since Tokyo has the biggest market, would my chances of getting a job be any better?

One more thing...I studied abroad in Japan my senior year in high school, and plan to also study abroad over there before I finish up with college, does having an advanced Japanese ability help potential job prospects at all...I'm asking since I'm hoping maybe it would make up for my lack of teaching experience. But I honestly have no idea.

Again, I know it'll be some time before I leave, but I believe it's best to get things cleared up in advance...I would really appreciate any help/advice any could give me...Thanks.

[sethness]

Some of the Big Four prefer to do their interviewing and hiring abroad, rather than after you get to Japan. (Goodness knows why.) As you said, they're good as a last resort, or as just a way to get a visa before arriving in Japan-- and then switching to a better employer ASAP.

As far as your major goes, it's true that it doesn't matter too terribly much, but if you can pack in some education, teaching-English-as-a-second-lanuage, linguistics, or Japanese studies in there it'd help in the long run.

You will also want to consider getting a CELTA or similar certificate-- again, it's not required, but puts you ahead of the pack, and may substiture for experience. Heck, if your summer vacations are long, maybe you could do one of those work/study programs in Thailand (3 months, they give you a CELTA or similar while you teach an English class for them).

Perhaps, before you come here, it'd be beneficial to hang ou ton the websites of Japan's English teaching associations-- ETJ or JALT. The more contacts you have, the better you chances of getting work here.

[Glenski]

If you truly expect to do EFL/ESL for a long term, get the proper credentials. Sethness has given some very good practical advice.

University work requires master's degree or PhD, plus publications, plus some Japanese ability, plus experience working in Japan (plus luck and contacts). Even so, tenured jobs are a rarity, and most teachers have to leave their jobs after 3-5 years. That could entail relocating, which is costly.

International schools require a degree in a certain subject major, plus a teaching license in your home country, plus teaching experience there. You don't teach in any language other than English (unless you teach a different foreign language). Not sure about job stability.

Unless you own your own school, practically every other teaching opportunity will be short-term (1-3 years). Some high schools offer tenure, but those are as rare as university jobs.

After your first year, you can try to "self-sponsor" your own visa with strings of part-time work, if this suits you. I mention this because it is one way to make more than the usual full-time salary, and you can stay at many (most?) places indefinitely as a PTer.

Japanese langauge ability is not permitted in most classrooms. Ok, now that you have read the black and white version, here's the gray area. You WILL need some anyway to do certain things (take attendance, for example, in a high school, or more importantly attend staff meetings). Teach very young children, for example. Teach very low level learners, for example. You may have to sneak in the Japanese language so that your employer doesn't know. Case by case. Obviously, knowing Japanese will ease communications in daily life and with office staff, but there is a caveat to this, too. Appear to know too much Japanese, and some people will shut down rather than speak in front of you.

Knowing some Japanese may help get an interview or job simply because the employer might think you won't be so much of a problem case to babysit (with office functions or your apartment if it has problems or with local transportation and banking). Experience abroad may also be looked upon as favorable because is suggests that you might not suffer as much culture shock as someone without that experience. Japanese language and previous experience are not guarantees to landing a job, though, and they may or may not be substitutes for work experience, in the eyes of the employer. Case by case again.

[uchuujin]

Sorry for the late response, but thanks for the replies.

Wow...I didn't know jobs were so "impermanent." Doesn't that make things difficult? When you say PT work could pretty much secure me where I was, what exactly does PT work entail, and how is it different from full time?

Basically my main question is, though, without any teaching experience, straight out of college, is there any point to go, or would it be too difficult for me to find work? I'm just scared I would go over there and employers would see my lack of experience and instantly give me a 'No.'

Also, when it comes to an apartment, if you get it unfurnished, I realize you often have to get an Oven, bedding, etc...But my question is, WHERE would you get this kind of stuff? And where would you sleep the first couple of nights...Stay in the Gaijin House? I'm just not very clear on this....Thanks.

[Glenski]

[uchuujin]

Thanks for the quick response. When I asked, "Where do you sleep?" I meant at first after you get the apartment and it's totally empty. Also, these things such as fridge, oven, etc...I'm guessing they'd be fairly expensive. The general consensus is to bring around $4000 or $5000 dollars when coming over, does this INCLUDE the cost of furnishing your apartment?

I'm assuming with part time work you would work for more than one employer? What's the average? Does one have any free time? Since ultimately it may be better if I want to stay in one location for the long term, and since tenure is so uncommon, is it maybe a good idea to just go and search for part time positions right away?

Also, this might be an entirely seperate topic altogether, but...When one is looking for an apartment in Tokyo, is it better to make sure it is close to the workplace or a more central location...I was leaning more toward central since my job situation could be changing often, but I'm aware that it's more expensive. Where in central Tokyo would be considered a "good" place to live...I don't mind the hustle & bustle, but I would like a good location.

Thanks!!!

[Angelfish]

From what you've written so far about your concerns to do with the living and practicality side of things, I'd strongly suggest going with one of the Big 4 for maybe just your first year. If it's the testimonals of ex-Eikaiwa teachers that puts you off, I wouldn't listen to them too strongly. A lot of the time it's only the teachers who are having a crummy time of it who tend to post about their experiences. Teachers who are happy tend not to post about it so much, which makes it look as though the majority are unhappy in Eikaiwa teaching. The reality is, it's probably under 50%, maybe even a lot less than that. Also, some of the teachers who whinge and moan about the Eikaiwas are recent college graduates who've never held down a job in their life, let alone a full-time job in a foreign country, and are really whinging about the general working life, rather than the company they're working for.
True, the Eikaiwas have got a long wrong with them, and they can be frustrating and demoralising sometimes, but the way I see it, so was every other job I've had, and I had to work more hours for less pay at the others. I've also had a lot of good times working at my Eikaiwa and so long as you don't take all the head office cr*p too seriously, you can have a pretty enjoyable experience.
Hope this balances out your image of the Eikaiwas a litte.

[Glenski]

[uchuujin]

Sorry for the endless amount of questions, and I probably sound terrilbly uninformed, BUT...

On average, how many jobs offer housing? I can't tell from gaijinpot or anything like that if the employers help with housing, maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot.

[furiousmilksheikali]

[uchuujin]

Thanks for the response, but I meant more in respect to the kinds of jobs people apply for with a tourist visa, if that makes sense.

[bearcat]

You cannot legally work on a tourist visa.

[uchuujin]

I know that, I meant jobs outside of the big 4, that people apply for in person while in Japan.

[bearcat]

Usually the bigger the outfit, the more they have resources for assiting with housing. Cons of that is that there is less flexibility with the conditions as they try (albeit not too successfully IMO) to maintain a standard of conditions for them.

Smaller companies or schools might provide such but many of them look to people already within country with some sort of housing already in place.

Companies that allow you to select your own housing and then assist there after are much less. Many that do though just give you a "loan" that you pay them back via deductions from your pay over a period of time or a lump sum.

Jobs that offer housing for free are almost non existant now. Those days are long gone. Jobs that offer subsidized housing are as well becoming less.

I recommend you write down a list of the conditions that you want and order them in priority from highest to lowest. Then compare that to the conditions mentioned in most jobs that you are seeing.

If you're coming up with your conditions and their priorities being in small number then you need to rethink those conditions and priorities. At least at this time of the year you have a good opportunity to see most of the jobs that are offered as this is when 90% of the jobs for the year are hired/advertised.