Job Discussion Forums

[keronaly]

Hi everyone who has applied for Westgate or is thinking of doing so.

I worked for them from September to December last year, and overall had an enjoyable time. I will give you the positives and negatives in point form so you can weigh it up for yourself (that�s the overall message I want to get across here � it�s not the most life-changingly wonderful EFL job you will ever have, and it�s probably not going to be the worst either, so you have to take on board all the information you can and decide what you want to do).

Positives (In my case):

- Relaxed bosses, didn�t visit me at work very often and when they did seemed to have very little to say to me
- Always paid on time and as promised
- Weekends off
- Great students, enthusiastic because this is a voluntary program for them
- Living arrangements all taken care of � house was small but comfortable, only 30minutes from work door to door, had internet and tv
- Only 3 month contract so while there were some things we complained about there was no point getting really worried about them
- Airfare subsidised (paid back with I think first and last paychecks)
- Opportunity to have fun and meet people in Japan while not at work
- Curriculum is planned out for you (although there will be times when you want to change what the topic is for that day!)

Negatives (Again, only in my case):

- Timetable � I worked 9:45am to 6:45pm, seven 40 minute periods a day, seemed very long at first but I did get used to it
- Can be boring teaching the same class six times a day (the seventh period is �English Challenge� where you attempt to have free conversation with the few keen people that turn up), especially bad if you have planned a lesson that doesn�t work and you have to go through it six times!
- In my case I worked with a group of four others and lived with them too � the usual politics that comes with such a situation could be a downer some days
- Not great pay for the hours I was working (I got the lowest salary bracket due to my level of experience)
- The curriculum really had to be taken with a grain of salt, as some topics just wouldn�t have suited my students and some activity ideas were just plain silly
- Timing of the contracts was a problem for some people � at the moment there�s a break before the next Westgate course starts so quite a few people were having trouble filling that gap. I think it is less of a problem going from the Spring to Autumn courses though.

Those are the main things that come to mind. If you want to PM me about specifics, I will do my best to reply.

Above all you need to remember that you could be placed in a variety of situations � from being at a fashion university, working and living by yourself, to being at a technical university, working and living with five � fourteen (!) other people. If you have an idea of how you want your situation to look, I recommend telling Westgate as early as possible, and then being prepared that what you get might not be what you asked for. I think they do try to place people as well as they can, but I knew of some cases that seemed totally inappropriate to me (a woman who had never been to Japan before being placed alone, for example). You only find out your placement for sure a few days before you leave, so you could bail at the last minute if you wanted, but that would be a bit stressful for some I�m sure, and needless to say Westgate would not be amused.

Really hope that helps people, I remember how stressed I was trying to decide if I should go with Westgate, but it really did turn out fine in my case. Again, just take in all the information you can from Westgate and other sources (but don�t always rely on comments on messageboards, including mine!).

-keronaly

[Miyazaki]

I don't get it....What kind of work visa are you on, a 1 year work visa?

So, if you only teach for 3 or 4 months can you stay in Japan until the next course stays?

Can someone please explain the visa status of Westgage university course teachers to me as I've never head of only a 3 month contract.

Thanks!

[Glenski]

Gee, Miyazaki, read some posts about Westgate, why don't you?

Westgate offers a 3- or 7-month contract. They are a rare bird, but that fact has been posted a gazillion times here and elsewhere.

I believe the visa is an instructor visa. Once you have it, it is good until it expires.

[Miyazaki]

Thanks, Glenski.

Even if you felt you had to be b*tchy about it!

[flyer]

refreshing to hear a seemingly balanced view

Thanks very much

[alexcase]

I agree with flyer- this is the kind of view I hear from people I meet who have worked from Westgate, but one I rarely read on forums

[Miyazaki]

Glenski,

So can I self-sponsor my visa at the end of this 1 year visa and 3 month contract?