Job Discussion Forums

rachelmarie86 · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Michigan

I have been researching and researching about ESL jobs. A little background about me is that I will be graduating from my university in about a week. My degree is in Business/Marketing/Management with emphasis on Fashion Merchandising and Management. I know, nothing to do with teaching but traveling and learning different cultures has becomes a passion of mine and while at college I also studied International business. I am currently working a lot to save up to go overseas.
I was looking to head out in or around September. In the current situation I will not be heading to South Korea or China but I am looking for everywhere else and especially Japan. My boyfriend is 100% Japanese and we have been researching schools and programs. Some of these include Gaba, Westgate, Aeon, and Teach Away. I am looking for a 3-7 month teaching position to start out. I don't have any certification and I know that most of these contracts are a year period.
I was just wondering if anyone had any advice, links, ways to get started or teaching suggestions. I am 110% open and I just want to learn. Any and all comments would be wonderful...
Hope everyone is having a great day!!

Stark · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 35

In before someone says to "read the faq", or that ESL is completely saturated at the moment.

lol but no, in all seriousness. I'm not sure if they are still looking for the timeframe anymore but Interac goes mid/late aug/sept, to march/april.

https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/

http://www.ohayosensei.com/

All you really need for most ESL entry level jobs is a pulse and a degree, or so I hear.

I'd say your best bet is to blanket all the major players with apps if you are really interested, and take a look at the smaller companies too. It may be difficult to get a job for 3-7 months though or on short notice, since it does take a bit of time to get the visa paperwork going. although I'd defer to those more experienced in this area.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

About 99.9% of schools will not go to all the trouble of hiring and training you and getting you a visa for just three months- I understand that you see it as more of a life experience, but they are ordinary companies and are looking for stable employees. Imagine applying for a job back home and telling them you only want to work for three months- your chances of getting the job would be very slim!

I think you will find that three months goes by very quickly, and you will also most likely not nearly break even in start-up costs in that short time.

The links you have been given above are good as well as the FAQs on this forum- there really is a wealth of information on the internet about teaching in Japan these days. Do some research and let us know any specific questions you might have.

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Don't Westgate do short-term contracts for one Japanese university term?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Yes, but only for people with teaching experience if I remember rightly- hence 99.9% Wink

gwynnie86 · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 159

www.interac.co.jp/recruit - they have limited places for every month, possibly just until March, although you'll have to be up for living in the middle of nowhere I think...

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I think it is AEON who will hire mid-year, but their contracts start in April, so if you get hired in August, say, your contract is up for renewal in March.

Don't always believe statements like:

Stark · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 35

lol no offense taken glenski, was just a poor joke based on comments that i've heard a number of times before. Believe me i went through quite a number of interviews to get that chemistry that you were talking about.

standingbymorning · Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Saitama

Just to answer what could be a question coming next.

Tokyo and Osaka are very hard areas to get for teaching. Those areas usually go to the more experienced folk. I have been here for 2 years and I was fortunate to be in Kanagawa and in Saitama prefectures. (They are next to Tokyo)
I started out way countryside though in Okayama prefecture(between Hiroshima and Osaka) and that was a great experience. If you really want to try out Japan, be open to living in the countryside. Stick around long enough, you could end up near a big city if you want.