Job Discussion Forums

User N. Ame · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 222 Location: Kanto

I asked the following questions in another thread, sorry for the repetition.

These questions assume I have a valid visa, I already have a few years of teaching experience in Japan, and am already in Japan.

I've worked for years in the school system. It's a great, safe, reliable, secure way to go (ie, if you get a good contract) but I'd would really like to try a more freelancing approach in Tokyo. What are the main challenges I face in taking this approach, assuming I have enough dough to get by for a couple months and am set up with apartment in greater Tokyo?

How easy or difficult is it obtain a number of short-term temp classes in Tokyo? I've heard that if you are resourceful and willing, you can piece together a string of eikaiwa jobs, which can add up to much more income than the standard 250,000 - 300,000 / month jobs out there.

Alot of these once-per-week privates in the city pay anywhere from 3000 - 6000 / hour, and it doesn't take a math genius to deduce that if you had a few of these, you could do quite well. Granted, this approach lacks security, requires alot of commuting, but it sure seems you'd be in full control of your schedule (take on as much or little work as desired), and I imagine you'd make a helluva lot of contacts along the way, which might lead to all sorts of possibilities.

Also, since alot of these private, once-per-week jobs exist in corporations, there is no school year start/finish to be concerned with. They are ongoing.

Anyone with related experience to share? Advice? Best online sites to find such work? Take out an "employment wanted" ad in one of the city newspapers? Employment agencies in Tokyo specializing in this type of teaching job?

Would love to hear from anyone is currently freelancing in Tokyo.

Thanks

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

dove · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Location: USA/Japan

I like my private lesson students to come to my place. I teach them in my kitchen. I serve coffee or tea. I like the relaxed atmosphere and I think my students like it too; they've been coming for years and they always ask me if I have time to teach their friends, co-workers, relatives. I think many Japanese people like private lessons because they feel so much pressure and fear in a classroom with other students. And let's not even talk about their war wounds from junior high school....

Teaching privates is only something I do a few times a week because I have a full-time teaching job. But I'm going to make the move to only privates (with some corporate classes) in a couple of years. I know I can get a lot of privates. I know how to tailor the lessons to their needs. Yes, that requires me to prepare a lot of my own materials, but I like doing that. My students tell me that it is hard to find GOOD native speaker teachers. They tell me that most of their previous experiences with private teachers have been less than pleasant. So once you establish yourself as a good teacher, word of mouth will bring you work.

You must have clear policies about payment. You must make your policies known at the very beginning. Japanese students are genearally trustworthy; you must be as well.

Good luck!
Dove

ruggedtoast · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 81 Location: tokyo

I knew a guy who worked part time in NOVA and managed to string together a successful business as a freelancer in the rest of his time. It took him years to build up a reliable client base however and he had a lot more self discipline than I would; even then he didnt want to cut the umbilical cord of the perm job.

Like every other small business , realistically going it alone offers the rewards of being your own boss providing your willing to put an awful lot of hours in.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

It's really hard work to fill up a schedule with all private lessons that would compete even with a starter eikaiwa job.

Best thing to do if you take this route is to get a few part-time contracts and then supplement them with privates.

It's all a bit of a hassle if you ask me.

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Freelancing is definitely an attractive option, especially if it is just you and one student.

I find it more satisfying to actually TEACH a person rather than play class monitor to 30 students.

One is rewarding and the other exhausting.

I also agree with the OP in that there is nothing quite so satisfying as being able to support yourself on a couple of hours work per week and thus be free to dictate where the rest of your time shall go.

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

mitamita · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

This is quite a late reply but maybe this can be useful for anyone thinking of freelance teaching. The past 8 months I was a freelance teacher and it was the best thing I ever did. The best website in Japan for this is findateacher.net. I got a good base of about 17 students in one month and by the end of my 8 months I had about 27 students. I was charging 4000 yen to 5000 yen a lesson. I was making double what I made working at the corporate teaching company and working much less.