Job Discussion Forums

harmonica · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

I am trying to decide whether to go to Hong Kong or Japan. I have a BA, a couple of years of business experience in market research, & one year of teaching experience in Korea to elementary and middle school students. I do not have a TEFL certificate, but I can get a CELTA prior to arriving if it will help me land a job. Otherwise, I will read about teaching techniques & principles on my own time. Here are some of my priorities:

I want to teach adults or older teenagers
I want a stable work environment. By that I mean that there aren't many surprise Saturday meetings & the like.
I would like to save at least $500USD/mo. I don't party much & live a fairly frugal lifestyle.
I would like to play in a competitive football (soccer) league. It�s a passion & I only have a few years left where I can still play at a high level.
I would like to have cheap access to high-speed Internet. I'm working on a personal project that will require that I go online rather frequently. I have my own laptop.

Here is a breakdown of what I have gathered so far. If I am incorrect about something, please let me know. From what I have read, saving the kind of money that I would like to save isn't an issue in either country. However, in HK it would be in my best interest to get a CELTA prior to arriving while in Japan it wouldn�t factor in much in terms of helping me land a decent job. You are automatically enrolled in the state healthcare program in HK while in Japan you have to be careful that your employer gives you credit for at least 30 teaching hrs/week so that they do not skirt responsibility for helping pay your healthcare costs. Lastly, there is less xenophobia in HK than in Japan, but they both trump Korea in that regard. I don�t intend to paint people in broad strokes. I am just trying to get an idea of what the social climate is for foreigners in both places. Any insight will be appreciated.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

often the good jobs require teaching certification in Hong Kong.

For soccer, Japan is better since it is popular here.

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

Saving US$500 a month is not that hard in Japan.
Cheap Internet access is easily available.
Soccer? Dunno, but you're likely to get an ALT job which leaves you free after 4:30 or 5pm on weekdays and all weekend, or an eikaiwa job with could have you working on Sat or Sun, usually from noon to 9pm.

ALT work would put you in K-12, depending on the BOE, and eikaiwa would usually be the age range you want, but be careful about whether the employer also had kiddies as customers.

Health insurance. Yes, many employers here avoid the corporate type (shakai hoken), but you can still get national health insurance for citizens (kokumin kenko hoken), and in the first year it is only 2500 yen/month. Then it goes up about tenfold.

harmonica · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Glenski, thanks for the input. I have to look into the work option in Japan, but I am leaning toward going there. Out of curiosity, about how much is deducted from your paycheck for health insurance? 2500/yen month doesn't sound like a bad deal for private health insurance.

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

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

Celta + Hong Kong in my opinion.

Getting in with the JET program is really the only way to save money at the entry level anymore, but your placement is probably not going to give you access to good soccer. Teach at a conversation school and you're going to be teaching kiddies for sure, and not likely saving much either. Salaries and benefits continue to spiral downward in the private sector here while JET's keep making their 300K and get their flights paid and everything.

Unless you've got the skills and want to try out for the J-league, HK might be a better option. You might want to post this in the HK forum as well and see what they think, if you haven't already.

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

harmonica · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Soccer is the least of my worries. I just mentioned it because it is one of my favorite pastimes. Avoiding having to babysit is much more important to me.

ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject:

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

[quote="Glenski"][quote="robertokun"]Getting in with the JET program is really the only way to save money at the entry level anymore, but your placement is probably not going to give you access to good soccer.

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

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

harmonica · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Thanks for the help. I've got until about April to make up my mind. If anyone has lived in both places & can offer their opinion, I'm all ears.

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:12 am Post subject:

Actually you've got until about Jan to make up your mind. Jobs tend start April, you need to have found an employer before you can start the visa process and even then it can take a couple of months to get the COE sorted.

lillet · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Looking to teach ESL in Japan, but there are a zillion web sites...Any suggestions for where to begin - reputable schools. Ideally 6 month commitment. TEFL certified, BA, etc.
Thanks for info,
Lillet