Job Discussion Forums

housecat · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 104 Location: usa

I have my MA Teaching, BA English, and 7-9 certification, and I'm thinking of working in Japan. Can anyone give me advice about the best jobs for those quals and where to look?

Thanks!

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

If you have a couple of years of classroom teaching experience, try international schools. The salary is much higher than teaching ESL and you get about 14 weeks of paid vacation. If you google international schools in Japan you will find most of them. Most are in the Tokyo/Yokohama area, but there is one in Sapporo and several in Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe. I believe there is also one in Hiroshima. There is quite a wide range among them though and the best deals will come from those that are accredited by places like the Council of International Schools (CIS). The basic qualification is a teaching certificate and 2 years of full time classroom experience. Your MA is a plus. At the secondary level, if you've taught AP, IGCSE or IB classes that's even better.

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

I agree with johanne, and don't skip over the part about having work experience back home. You'll need it.

Otherwise, I personally think you are going to have to start at the bottom rung (ALT with JET or dispatch agency, or instructor position with an eikaiwa). Some people have gotten lucky (IMO) with first jobs in universities, but I am not so positive on counting on those percentages.

Japan is flooded with teachers right now, especially since NOVA went bankrupt. Plus, universities and schools are closing/merging due to the declining birthrate. Competition is fierce, with 20-100 appliants per university position, on average. One eikaiwa even reported 400 applicants for just one opening, and the person who got it was French!

housecat · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 104 Location: usa

Thanks to you both for your replies! I have classroom experience, both in the States and overseas. I lived and taught in Taiwan for seven years, in language schools, public schools, and university.

If I understand correctly, to teach at university leven in Japan requires pretty good Japanese. I speak some Japanese, but it's not very good any more.

Thanks for the information about the international schools. I'll look into those. Can you give me an idea of the salary? A quick google of American schools brought up JAS, but there is no mention of salary range.

I'd not like to teach in language schools. I would not think that I'd make enough money to support myself and my young son, who will be comming with me on around 250,000, which I understand is the average rate for this type of teaching.

Any further thoughts?

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

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

Most international schools pay between 4-6 million yen a year to start and a few can get up to as high as 7 million with a MA and several years experience. Your salary usually increases every year and for some teachers who have been at a school for 20-30 years, the salary is 8-9 million a year. For international schools, language school experience doesn't count. You must have been a teacher in a K-12 school, private or public, and have taught the class on your own. JET or similiar experience doesn't count.

Another plus with an international school is that your child will be able to go to that school for free or at a heavy discount (usually at least 90% off the regular tuition fee). Most international schools have kindergartens that accept kids from 3 years old. This can solve a lot of the difficulties in coming to Japan with a child.

If you are interested in international schools, now is the time to apply. At the moment teachers are having to tell their schools if they are staying another year or leaving. Recruiting for jobs beginning in late August, starts in January and is pretty much over by the end of February. If you are only interested in the ones in Japan contact them directly and perhaps offer to fly in if you get a few nibbles. I did that and ended up with 3 job offers. Of course, if nothing pans out you're out a couple of thousand dollars. The alternative is to come and find an ESL job and once you are here try and an international school job for the following academic year.

Anyway, good luck.

scottybobotti · Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

Anyone else have experience applying to international schools? I am in a similar situation as the original poster and would like to hear more.