Job Discussion Forums

[Nephi]

Hello everyone. I'm hoping to teach in Japan soon, but at the moment I feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. About me:

My name is Laura, I'm 25, and a US citizen. I have a B of A in International Relations, a minor in Asian studies, and I took all available Japanese classes in college. For fun, I taught English in Taiwan from March 2007 - February 2008, so I have a year of experience teaching ages 4-16. I've been to Japan twice, first for two months as an ambassador from my college town, and then again this past Christmas to visit friends. My life goal is to be fluent in Japanese (I want to be a translator).

So, on the plus side: I have teaching experience, know a fair bit of the native language, and don't expect any extreme culture shock after my past travels.

Possible negative points: I'm really hoping to be placed in one of the major cities (Yokohama, Kobe, etc.)... the Tokyo area would be especially nice as I already have a circle of friends there. Also, I have an industrial piercing in my right ear (the only unconservative element of my appearance).

I've been browsing groups like AEON and GEOS, and I've lost all direction. I'd appreciate any tips on where I should look for something that really suits me. I admit, I feel like I'm a perfect candidate for a teaching position in Japan, so maybe I'm having difficulty because I'm hoping for something special...

PS: If anyone has questions about Taiwan, I'd be happy to help... pm me.

[AgentMulderUK]

What kind of classes do you want to teach?


Kids,Adults,Business,University ?


Also, the piercing thing is utterly irrelevant.

[Apsara]

Actually if it is a large gauge, which I'm thinking is what industrial piercing means, then it could well be relevant- depends on who is interviewing you.

[iverin]

The piercings do become relevant depending on who hires you. I have 3 lobe piercings in each ear as well as two cartilage piercings in my left ear. When I'm teaching with Aeon I'll have to remove all but one lobe piercing in each ear. Aeon also does not allow any piercings for men, or visible tattoos at all in front of students.

With Aeon you can make requests about where you wanted to go. I asked for a smaller city as far north as they had available so as to not be ridiculously hot in the summer. I'm going to Fukushima which has about 300,000 people and it's about 1.5 hours from Tokyo by bullet train. So Aeon tries really hard to place you where you want to go.

[markle]

look at it this way.

Whatever option you take, even if it turns in to a disaster, it is going to be an experience. Since you are obviously looking at this as a long-term thing, take that experience and use it to your advantage later on. You're young you can do it. Good Luck.

[Nephi]

@ Markle
See, that's what I did last time, flying to Taiwan suddenly, knowing no Mandarin, and probably more trusting of the small group that hired me that is usually wise. I just relaxed and enjoyed the experience. Now, having a year of teaching under my belt, I am picky.

@AgentMulderUK
I love kids, but teaching the very youngest ones (4-7ish) drives me crazy enough some days that I'd like to avoid it... I do great with Jr. High age kids... we click as if I never grew up. The groups I've browsed seem to only offer classes to students elementary-high school. I'd love to try teaching adults in a business or university setting, but do they hire someone like me, with no teaching degree? Is a year of experience and a history of interest in Japanese enough?

An industrial is a fine barbell (14g I think) that connects two piercings in the ear cartilage. I got it just after returning from Taiwan, so I'll be able to remove it by the time I'm teaching in Japan, but I'm not sure I'd be ready to remove it for an interview in the next month, maybe two.

Thanks much for your responses guys... helps me organize my thoughts, having you all to talk to.

[southofreality]

[iverin]

[Tiger Beer]

[Nephi]

@Tiger Beer
Well, if I did that, how soon would I be able to start working? I thought one of the big advantages of groups like AEON was the work visa that is arranged before you arrive. If you're suggesting I could start working within two weeks of landing(while the visa is being processed I guess?), then you've just made me giddy.

[markle]

[Nephi]

@Markle
Haha, brilliant point. But still, Beer helped me realize a question I'd never formed. I have no idea what it would take to get hired and arrange the visa after arrival. That's similar to how I did it in Taiwan, but everything was taken care of by the school... and I was expecting things to be more difficult this time.

And of course I don't expect a 'perfect job' in that quite that way... It just seems that applying for AEON, GEOS, etc. means likely giving in on one of my priorities (location, saturdays off, etc.) when I would regrettably not know what else might have been available outside of groups like it.

[parrothead]

[AgentMulderUK]

[quote="Nephi]
I love kids, but teaching the very youngest ones (4-7ish) drives me crazy enough some days that I'd like to avoid it... I do great with Jr. High age kids... we click as if I never grew up. The groups I've browsed seem to only offer classes to students elementary-high school. I'd love to try teaching adults in a business or university setting, but do they hire someone like me, with no teaching degree? Is a year of experience and a history of interest in Japanese enough?

[/quote]


In that case why don't you think about an ALT position in a Jnr High School over here. Lots of that kind of work about. Lots of dispatch companies will get you a visa too. You just need a degree,nothing else.
Workload is not too heavy and the hours are more sociable then than the conversation schools.

Or as parrothead said, get a Working Holiday thing if you can.

Don't listen to the doombringers on this forum - there are far too many.

On a positive note, You are young and female, so you've already earned lots of bonus points over here.

[GIR]