Job Discussion Forums

[mushroomyakuza]

Hi all

I realize this is a complete noob question, but, can please explain to me the differences between an Eikaiwa school and a...well, NOT Eikaiwa school?

Are the hours between them different? Is it harder to find work with one than the other? Is one "better" than the other? Does one look a lot better than the other on the CV?

Do non-Eikaiwa schools operate on hours beyond the usual 9-5 working hours?

Ideally I'm looking for a place that can offer me 9-5 hours, in Tokyo, but I know this will be hard to find as I have only 6 weeks experience as an ESL teacher. I have a TESOL cert and a uni degree, I'm from the UK.

Any and all advice is much appreciated,

thanks.

[ssjup81]

Not sure, but seems some of these Eikaiwa (English Conversation Schools) are open in the afternoons/evenings and weekends. You know, like students and people who work might attend one after regular school and work. Of course the keyword here is "some". lol

[Glenski]

Eikaiwas operate when customers are available:

housewives
retirees
noonish to early afternoon, and later

kids
business people
college students
late afternoon to late night

"Normal schools" are your traditional public or private elementary, junior high, or senior high schools. You know their hours.

Eikaiwa instructors come from a variety of backgrounds and need only a vanilla degree to land a job. People in "normal schools" are usually ALTs (often a more specialized degree is needed, sometimes even a year of experience, but not always). Direct hire to "normal schools" is possible, but very rare for public schools.

Look better on a CV? At your stage in a career, and with the Japanese market in the shape it's in, take anything. Just be wary of contract conditions. Might also help to know what your goals are.

[mushroomyakuza]

[Glenski]

I can tell you about eikaiwa teachers that are/were worth their weight in gold and ALTs that weren't worth the time to spit on them.

But, in general, I think the market may look upon an ALT more favorably, perhaps because it serves a different type of market. As they say, your mileage may vary. It may also depend on how one sells oneself.

[seklarwia]

Not sure what you mean by reputable, but yes, ALT positions are about 9-5 (some start and finish slightly earlier or later but not by much).

But you can't have all the cake and eat it. Assuming you get an ALT offer as well: Are you going to choose Tokyo or 9-5?

Ever heard of the the saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush"? If you're too greedy and spend too long trying get everything at once, you'll likely end up with nothing.

Once you are in country, it is easier to find jobs, because many jobs are simply not posted on the net, that require in person interviews or are not open to overseas applicants. So decide which is more important to you: Location or hours? Then when you have been here a bit, are used to the environment and how things work (plus you'll have some of the all important in-country experience that many employers value), you can work on getting the other.

[mushroomyakuza]

Seklarwia, I understand what you're saying, and I am indeed wary of such a thing occur. Some times there can be such a thing as keeping your options too open.

I am carefully weighing up the hours vs location thing...so far I think location is winning. The problem with ALTs is, your location is an unknown variable, something you'll only know when it's too late to take back the other job offer. The hours may not be ideal, but ultimately, I'll be exactly where I want to be, and I think that's worth more.

[seklarwia]

The hours may not sound ideal now, but many people do them and don't hate them. Perhaps it's simply that working those kinds of hours in a teaching job is such a strange concept to us westerners. When you're here, have settled and gotten used to the work, the hours might not seem so bad anymore.

There are some perks. If you start work at 1, you'll never have to face Tokyo rush hour for starters. You can do everyday things like go to the bank or post office (they're normally only open 9-4/5).

If after a while you decide its not for you (and you do have to give it some time before you decide you hate it), then you can simply look for a different job. If you live and interview in Tokyo with ALT dispatchers, guess where they'll be placing you? Or you may even be able to score one of the rare direct hirers.

[gaijinalways]

glenski posted

[Imseriouslylost]

If you limit yourself to Tokyo then you're really hurting your chances. The same logic applies here in Korea to teachers who insist on getting a public school job in Seoul in their first year.

You should be flexible enough to teach anywhere. After your first year, then you can start being picky.

Not to say that it is impossible to get a job in Tokyo... Its just that everyone wants to be there so the competition might be a bit fierce. I wouldn't mind being in Tokyo but am considering all areas equally with a preference for the Kanto prefecture or other prefectures nearby

I think a lot of the cities nearby Tokyo don't feel that much different anyway!

[Glenski]