Job Discussion Forums

[KarenMarie]

speaking people?

I have decided to expand my job search to cities outside of Tokyo. I'd like to be in a fairly large city with a fair number of expatriates, or at the least, a city that is near-enough to an American military base to be able to get some English conversation once in a while. At best, I'd like to be able to socialize with an English-speaking community and other ESL teachers. The only places I wish to avoid are rural areas where I will be isolated from other English-speaking expatriates. (At least for my first year in Japan, while I am learning Japanese.)

If anyone can give me good advice, I'd appreciate it.
Thank you very much.

[Glenski]

You don't have to be near a military base to meet people who speak English. Any of the larger cities have plenty of English-speaking expats. Hiroshima, Sapporo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, to mention just a few.

If you really want to learn Japanese, however, you should really consider those rural areas. Nothing like immersion.

[guest of Japan]

Even small towns often have a small English speaking ex-pat community. Any city over 250,000 people will leave you with a plethora of English speakers. I personally don't recommend trying to move to a place that has a US military presense. Those places are often the most biased against foreigners. I'm not really fond of military people myself.

[shmooj]

[Gordon]

If you want to learn Japanese, why live in a big city with other expats? That's the last place you should be. Some people have lived here for 10 years and know only a few Japanese words. If you want to communicate with someone and they don't speak English, guess what language you will try to speak?

[KarenMarie]

[KarenMarie]

[quote="Glenski"]You don't have to be near a military base to meet people who speak English. Any of the larger cities have plenty of English-speaking expats. Hiroshima, Sapporo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, to mention just a few.
[quote]

Thank you. I'll do some research.

If anyone knows of any good sites with expat statistics for various cities, I'd be thankful if you could guide me to them.

Thanks again.

[denise]

Unless you're just not a country person, I wouldn't rule out the countryside. Depending on your school, you may still get that expat network for both linguistic and moral support. I am in a town of about 30,000, yet, between my program and the others housed in the same building (we've got college, high school, and children's classes all at the same site), there are quite a few expats. Not to mention the JETS and others who work in the community--I haven't met all of them, but I know they're out there. If I were the only foreign teacher I'd feel pretty lonely, but with a faculty/staff as large as mine is, all is well.

One of the benefits that I have found to country living with other foreigners is that you are simultaneously immersed and sheltered (I mean "sheltered" in a positive way--like assisted). Most of the foreigners around me speak pretty decent Japanese, and most of the Japanese staff speak pretty decent English, so there is always someone around to help or to talk to. I came here six months ago with a knowledge of about 10 words in Japanese (including such useful phrases as "kawaii oshiri"), and I am slowly, ever-so-slowly picking things up.

The "big city" (Niigata, population roughly 1/2 million) is close enough to go for dinner/drinks/etc. and be part of the "expat scene," so I've never felt isolated.

Of course, if you don't like country living, then that's a whole 'nother issue. (I didn't think I'd like it, but so far, I'm having a great time out in the rice fields.)

d

[PAULH]

[Gordon]

I�m on the outskirts of a city of 300,000 and like Denise, surrounded by rice fields. I think I have the best of both worlds. Unlike many countries around the world, You`re never very far from a city in Japan because the population is so dense here.

[Brooks]

I think you should work in a city.
I think a city in the Kansai area would be good, like Kobe.
Kobe has a lot of people from different places. It has a good Chinatown.
It has over a million people, but its size is manageable. You can get around by walking, which is nice. It is not too big, but not too small.

[Smooth Operator]

Write your own reference and get your employer to sign it

To be honest, there is nothing wrong with living in a city. Sure, one's Japanese will likely progress slower, but there are so many more options and activities open to one. Things like finding a professional Japanese teacher, making friends with both foreigners and Japanese alike, joining cultural and language classes. The list goes on...

Also, culture shock is less likely to happen in a city.

I think you are right to apply to jobs outside of Tokyo. Living in a smaller city would be a better experience I feel. Less travel time to work, cheaper rents, more of a community feel, more natural beauty, etc.

[kiracle]

Karen Marie,

Where do you live now? City, country, suburb? That does make a difference. If you are not used to living in a big city it can be pretty overwhelming and in a way isolating even though there might be more English speakers. As Denise mentioned a lot of communities that are smaller have the benefit of being close to large cities but providing a real community of both other EFL teachers and local Japanese interested in speaking English and playing tourguide. I am a city girl that really misses living in a city but I have to admit that I've made great friends with other EFL teachers and JETS in my area (town of around 60,000, near both Gifu and Nagoya) as well as many of my students that go out of their way to bring me into the community (and therefore into japanese language only situations!)

Also, one hears a lot of disparaging comments about he quality of ESL teaching in Japan. Most of it is probably true, but aside from any expereinces with management, you certainly will improve your teaching skills and make a difference in your life and your students' (not all, of course, but a lot) if you are dedicated and determined to do that. Then again, I work for a foreign, not Japanese, boss, so my vision is perhaps a bit skewed.


Find a job that feels good first if you can. I had my heart set on a city but ended up taking this job anyway and it's worked out pretty well.


Good luck.

[KarenMarie]

[quote="Brooks"]

Sounds good. What other cities would you recommend?

[Gordon]

I like Kobe too and think it's a good size. However, it has some of the worst water in the country.