Job Discussion Forums

[aemurata23]

Hey Everyone,

I'm thinking about going to Japan to teach English for a year and am having such a difficult time choosing a program! I'm looking to leave at the end of March. Everyone I've talked to says that JET is definitely the best program; however, the deadline for the next session in July has already passed. I definitely don't want to wait another year and a half for the following session, but I'm not sure if it's worth it? I'm currently looking into Amity (AEON) and ECC. Any advice? From my research, it seems as if ECC might be the better program.

I appreciate any advice anyone can give me!

Thanks so much!

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

JET is a government program. You arrive and are an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher), usually in a rural setting. Work hours are m-f 8:30 to 4:15. It pays more than other jobs and the hours are better. BUT you are usually in a rural area so going out after work may not really be feasible. The actual job itself may be several classes a day in which you are required to prepare lessons and materials, or it may be just sitting in the teacher's room doing nothing all day, almost every single day. Usually, it's something in between where the ALT helps the Japanese teacher but doesn't have much lesson preparation to do, except maybe thinking of 'games' for the kids.

The others are private conversation schools. they aren't programs at all. Not the same thing as JET.

JET ***may*** be worth the wait. It depends on your goals and qualifiactions etc. JET is never really a guaranteed thing, so even if you wait the year and a bit, you may discover that they turn you down.

[bradley]

I can only say great things about the JET Programme. I spent three years in rural Japan and had a great experience.

[Glenski]

End of March is dangerously close to the start of the academic and fiscal year, so you risk not getting a piece of the pie (or just getting sloppy seconds).

"Best" program/employer is a relative term.

JET is probably the best starter, but you missed the deadline, and competition is pretty stiff.

Eikaiwas are a good second bet. Apply from home and you limit yourself to about a dozen places, but at least you won't have to come here with US$4000-5000 in your pocket to support yourself until the first paycheck.

ALT dispatch agencies are the typical third. Most operate illegally but the government doesn't care. Nobody really talks about any that are truly good, so those must be rare and/or guarded secrets. Approach with caution.

International schools are good deals, but you must be qualified with a teaching license and (usually) experience back home.

Universities offer high salaries, good breaks, research budgets, private offices (most of the time), and few class hours, but they are hard to get, require higher qualifications than most jobs, and are not usually tenure positions.

Business English jobs pay fairly well, but most that I've seen want people with experience in some sort of ... uh... business/industry just so they can talk the talk of that field. Not all, but most.

What's best? What are you qualified and willing to do?

[bradley]

I knew a few teachers who did JET for one year and quit to take another position somewhere and all regretted it. I think JET is probably worth the wait.....