Job Discussion Forums

funkyging · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 45

So here i am, 1 year later from posting on here about going to China. I can officially say " been there, done that, ate the Baozi and got asked to marry a few girls"

Before i left for China my first destination was actually Japan and i studied fairly hard in hiragana and katakana but a job fell in my lap i couldn't really say no to in China so i figured 1 years experience will stand me in better stead when i apply for Japan.

Anyway my questions are this

1.) I live in Scotland right now and ive only been back 1 month, Ideally i dont want to ship out to Japan in April so i can spend some time with my family but again if the job was offered i would go for it. Is it possible to apply for jobs now for the Autumn term( My guess is no due to companies not knowing what teachers are leaving) if not when is the earliest/best time you would expect those positions to start opening up

2.) I'm sure this questions been asked a few times, I've looked at all the big companies that take teachers from abroad on the FAQ thread and what ive found so far but your input would be appreciated =)

Aeon - They have only face to face interviews in stages. I live in Dundee which is 400 miles away, does anyone know if its one full day of interviews or a few over the course of a month? One hell of a trip if i have to take it a few times =\

ECC - spoke to them on the phone today and i just missed one of their seminars and have to wait till october/september for the next =(

http://www.altia-jp.com/ - website doesn't exist anymore

James english school - Decent feedback from what ive found purely northern china school which isn't a bad thing

Language house - I've sent them off an e-mail and read good things about this company.

G.communication - website very complex, i cant find anything relating to teaching in Japan maybe the companies changed

3.) Do you know any smaller companies personally that i could maybe have a chat to I.E the ones that usually go through agents but you know are pretty decent ( my company in China isn't one i would suggest to other teachers hence why im asking)

Getting advice on which companies to avoid or even "oh i know this company that seem pretty cool you should give them a shout" is invaluable so anything from you guys would be awesome

Thanks

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

funkyging · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 45

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

ssjup81 · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:01 am Post subject:

Well, a friend Of mine works for James and everything about it is positive for it. I interviewed with the company too, but was offered a job elsewhere. Pretty much everything mentioned on the site is how the school is. It's a language school so that means you'll work with a range of people and they have their on curriculum to follow for the teachers.

The position that I was second choice for, apparently, starts in June. Maybe the position is still open. Maybe you could try contacting them directly.

funkyging · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 45

Thanks ssjup good info =)

Finding up to date review seem pretty trcky. I read a few reviews think "wow this sounds awesome / horrible" then notice its from 7 years ago =\

Another quick question. Has anyone done a course with I-to-I? first time i've heard of them and i did a big search last year when i was looking at Japan

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

I looked at I-to-I when I was in England and decided they weren't worth the money. It looked to me like a standard TEFL course, and although on first glance it appeared they'd set me up with a job in Japan, in reality it was little more than a shove towards an interview with a dispatch company (perhaps Interac; I've seen it discussed on here before, try the search function).

Christian St.Bacon · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 54

I ran 20hr week-end courses for i-to-i for a year back in 2007....of course it isn't worth much when comparing it to the CELTA or Trinity TESOL (teaching practice being 10 mins max, team teaching to english speaking peers....) but as they state, it is only an 'introduction to the TEFL world' and it is good for what it is - they don't proclaim that you will be a fully qualified amazing super teacher. At the end of the 20hrs, the instructors give their advice to the 'trainees' on how to go about finding work/gaining that first contract and the experience that comes from it, is far more valuable than the i-to-i certificate itself.....and if hard pressed, i-to-i can help you get that first contract.

Criticise them as you may, they are a successful and professional organisation and I was very happy to receive �515 each week-end for a 20hr course....

i-to-i
Shukran very much

and the cost.... well depending on your economic/employment situation it can be hugely subsidized - up to 80% claimed back - most my trainees back then were paying perhaps �30 for a 20hr week-end intoductory course - not bad for an insight into a new or change of career...or just a chance to travel and work for a few years

metropolis · Joined: 01 Nov 2011 Posts: 32

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

It means they are hopeful of winning the contracts for that area but don't have them, or it means that they have the contracts for x number of schools in that area but don't know which ones yet. They are likely juggling ALTs trying to match everyone up.

I live in Mito. It's not bad for a first city, quiet but not too far from Tokyo. The rest of Ibaraki is...very quiet.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

PS - alternate means you'll basically be assigned to sit around doing not a lot until you're needed to replace someone. I think there are some people that post here that have been through it and can explain in more detail.