Job Discussion Forums

[William.]

JES is located in northern Honshu. They have 15 eikawas. Their website is www.jesjapan.com

I recently interviewed with someone there, and after reviewing the contract that I was sent it looks like a great first job in Japan.

Has anyone taught there RECENTLY? Is there anyone CURRENTLY working for JES? What has your experience been like?

From the testimonials I HAVE found at various fora, they have only been very positive, which of course has me feeling very hopeful. I haven't seen anything from within the past 2-3 years though.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[William.]

The only possibly negative thing I noticed in the contract that jumped out at me was that freelance teaching is grounds for termination.

Is this pretty standard? I thought that this was the case in Korea, but that most Japanese schools were more lenient about this, and I've heard it can be great money...

Still, there are great overtime incentives at JES, so hopefully it's not too big of a deal?

[cvmurrieta]

Interesting.

I had just sent in my documents to them recently and was told there were no positions in Sendai and that they would keep my documents on file.

Maybe they also didn't like that I put July 28 as the earliest I could start

No matter. I still have time to find another job once my contract ends, and I may go to Tokyo anyways.

Regarding freelance teaching, I was under the impression that prohibition was unenforceable in contracts with the exception of those for JET. I may be wrong though.

[William.]

ah really? 'cause I've heard freelance teaching can be a GREAT supplement to the income you're getting from the school.

They are based out of sendai, but have 14 other schools in the area. I'm sure the time that you'd be available doesn't matter since they are ALWAYS hiring (I think roughly 60 positions at any given time to keep filled). But yeah, only a 1/15 chance that it'll be sendai.

Looks like I'm headed to aomori, the FAR north. God I just wish the visa didn't take so damned long to process. Short enough that it's not worth it to get a job here but long enough to get anxious as hell doing nothing. Maybe I'll try to find a short term job anyway...

[Apsara]

A lot of schools/agencies say that you aren't allowed to teach elsewhere. A lot of teachers still do go ahead and teach private students, but they keep it low key. It is apparently legally unenforceable, but they can make things difficult for you because they think that teachers are unlikely to take them to court over it.

[William.]

Thanks so much for the insight! For someone who's never been over there, this stuff is very helpful

[William.]

giving this a bump in case it catches someone else's attention...

[iverin]

So is the general info about JES good? To make a long story short, I had a family emergency back home and had to leave my job at Aeon because I couldn't give a definite date of return (for the ET placement). I've been home for a couple months now and have been toying around with the idea of heading back to Japan. I have a friend who works for Aeon in Fukushima-ken, and I was with Aeon in Fukushima-shi. Since JES is based in and around this area I thought I would see what info I could find out about them. If I don't head back to teach I definitely want to head back in December to visit. I had a three year specialist in humanities visa and did not get a re-entry permit when I left...will I be able to get back into the country even if it is just to visit for a few weeks in December?
What is it like working for JES? Especially compared to Aeon (classes, schedule, curriculum etc). For Aeon you had to interview here in Canada, for JES is it all done online/on the phone? Any info would be great. I don't have a job here yet in Canada (proving difficult to find one, hence my look back into teaching) so the only real stipulation I have to leaving would be saving up money for flight and the Visa issue.

thanks