Job Discussion Forums

Dunn · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 2

Hello! I'm fairly new to the board and was introduced through a professor who worked in Thailand. He opened a dozen or so schools and returned to teach at Saint Francis Xavier where I met him.

I have a few questions about working there. I know a friend who worked there for 15 years and picked his brain for several hours and now I'm looking to confirm some of the things he said.

I was turned down after a job interview with ECC. I believe it was mainly because I mentioned I'd rather teach adults than children. I'm extremely interested in teaching English in Japan but am unsure which company to apply to and how to get there.

My friend suggested I just head over there, get a job at a bar, and then search for teaching jobs. I've graduated with a BA in European and East Asian history honours.

I've taken a look into other companies but I always seem to find someone saying one is bad and the other is great. I understand that there will be many conflicting opinions and biases in regards to those who work in different places but am trying to narrow it down to a few decisions.

Should I take my time and find a company that has the best reviews; or should I just take a leap of faith, get a holiday working visa, show up, and get a job?

Sorry for the generic topic which has probably been posted several times (if not dozens) but the other topics I have read seem... inconclusive when pertaining to substantial answers.

Thank you for the help!

Brian

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

Deep Thirteen · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 39 Location: East Sea Japan

Is it still easy to score a job at a bar these days? I had a friend who was in the Navy in the 80's who did it, and a professor who did it in the 70's. It doesn't seem like a sure thing (if there is such a thing), but some people I guess can operate like that.

It might not have just been your unwillingness to teach children at ECC; there's other things they are looking for in a candidate, but obviously if you pronounced your dislike for children that would get you the snuff. If you are looking to mainly teach adults, you can rule out working as an ALT, so you've narrowed your choices down to eikaiwa; where you will still have children's classes for sure.

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

Deep Thirteen · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 39 Location: East Sea Japan

I figure it is. It's not something I personally would ever consider for an entry into the country. I was more curious about how prolific bar work for your casual foreigner is these days. It seems like a begone thing, like fax machines and VHS.

Dunn · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 2

I would imagine it'd be a good thing! I mean... a foreigner working at a bar serving drinks would bring in customers wouldn't it? I'm just speculating here but I would think it'd be an interesting job and you could meet a heck of a lot of people.

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

Foreigners without excellent Japanese would only be hired at bars where the main clientele are expats. I'm assuming Dunn that you aren't in Japan, because if you were you would know that foreigners are not such a novelty in Japan in 2009 that people would go to a bar just because it had a foreign bartender- this isn't rural China Wink

Fina1 · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Philadelphia, PA

I would recommend AEON for teaching English in Japan.

They interview candidates overseas and will sponsor a working visa for you. They were very friendly and helpful for me and helped me take care of everything much quicker than I expected.
I also hear that most people's experiences with them are generally good.

You can choose to teach adults or children, although most of their schools teach both. You can ask for a school teaching only adults, but then you'll have to be very open with your location preferences. If you choose to teach both adults and children they will ask you how many children's classes, maximum, are you comfortable teaching a week.

Just to give you an idea, I interview with them a few weeks ago and said I prefer adults but would be willing to teach a maximum for 5 children's classes.

I ended up getting a position at the school that only teaches adults.
But they also say that even if you go to a school that "only" teaches adults it's subject to change if they get children who want to enroll.

So if you apply with AEON and get a personal interview, you can certainly say you prefer adults but are flexible to teaching some children's classes. Just give them a number you are comfortable with and they'll work with you. They key is to be a little flexible.