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dontcallme
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:55 am Post subject: Planning to teach in Japan |
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Hi all,
I taught English in Russia for two years before returning home to the UK to complete a degree in journalism.
In Moscow I taught classes of up to 6 students. The company taught business English.
I complete my degree this summer and hope to move to Japan to teach English. I would like to teach smaller classes and preferably adults.
I would like to teach in a city of large town but not Tokyo. In time I would like to get involved with a media company in Japan.
If anyone has any advice please reply. |
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dontcallme
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:15 am Post subject: |
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I've only just started looking into teaching in Japan so I guess these are my primary concerns/questions:
1. Which cities/large towns would you recommend me to go to?
2. Which schools/programs would you recommend to someone who will have very little money on arrival?
3. Is arranging a job to start at the beginning of August in advance easy?
Anything else you wished you were aware of before arriving in Japan is most welcome. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
| 2. Which schools/programs would you recommend to someone who will have very little money on arrival? |
I'm going to beat every one else to this. It's not a good idea at all to come to Japan "with very little money on arrival". It's not a good idea at all.
Even if you got a job right away, you would need to cover at least that first month before your first paycheck came in. You would need to cover rent (with possible key money and deposit), cell phone (not cheap!), transportation, costs of buying new things to set up an apartment, etc. There are numerous expenses that I haven't even mentioned that will pop up in the first months when moving to Japan. "Very little money on arrival" in Japan is very stressful to say the least and dangerous at the very worst.
Please re-consider. I think it would be best to wait until you have an ample amount of money saved, then draft your Japan-entry plan. With an ample amount of money saved (US$4,000-5,000 or so may be the standard quoted amount), those first months would be easier. You will thank yourself if you heed this advice.
My recommendation is to put together a JET Programme application later this year in the Autumn (starting around September) and give it your best shot to try to get an ALT position for the Summer 2014 intake. The application for that intake would be due around the end of November, 2013.
http://www.jetprogramme.org
Warm regards,
fat_chris
(JET Programme ALT, Shizuoka Prefecture, 2007-2012) |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
I've only just started looking into teaching in Japan so I guess these are my primary concerns/questions:
1. Which cities/large towns would you recommend me to go to?
2. Which schools/programs would you recommend to someone who will have very little money on arrival?
3. Is arranging a job to start at the beginning of August in advance easy?
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1. Any, depending on your tolerance for weather. The market is very full here, so beggars can't be choosers.
2. None. Don't come if you can't afford it.
3. No.
| Quote: |
| Anything else you wished you were aware of before arriving in Japan is most welcome. |
Read all the FAQs. |
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qwertyu2
Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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| fat_chris wrote: |
I'm going to beat every one else to this. It's not a good idea at all to come to Japan "with very little money on arrival". It's not a good idea at all ...
Please re-consider. I think it would be best to wait until you have an ample amount of money saved, then draft your Japan-entry plan. With an ample amount of money saved (US$4,000-5,000 or so may be the standard quoted amount), those first months would be easier. You will thank yourself if you heed this advice. |
That is spot on. Before reading this post, I just quoted my minimum start up number at USD 5,000. |
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dontcallme
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses so far.
I should have around $3,000 US available to me on arrival though that includes an overdraft.
In Russia the only way to get a visa was to get a job beforehand unless you were willing to work under the counter, which I wasn't. Because it wasn't a popular country for westerners it was quite easy to find work. It was more a question of finding the right position for you.
I know Japan is a very popular country to teach English in and I was hoping that 2 years teaching experience and a degree would make me quite employable. I don't think I can hang around in the UK until the end of the calendar year to start the JET program.
I will search around and start applying for positions and take it from there.
Is it more normal to arrive in Japan and look for work once you get there? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| In Russia the only way to get a visa was to get a job beforehand unless you were willing to work under the counter, which I wasn't. |
Same in Japan.
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| Because it wasn't a popular country for westerners it was quite easy to find work. |
Japan IS a popular country, however, and it USED TO BE easy to find work.
Most JET ALTs apply for a Nov/Dec deadline with applications, interview in Feb and get told about jobs to start in August. So you have missed the opportunity to work in Japan for JET in 2013-14. There is a recent change which added some earlier starting dates, but I forget the timing. Look up the web site.
Yes, it's "normal" to come here and look for work, but timing is critical to minimizing your down time. Plus, the market in the last 5 years or so has become flooded with teachers and wannabes, so it is far more competitive now.
Two years of experience plus a degree are close to bare bones minimum experience here. Most people who just start out have zero experience. Also, the degree itself doesn't even have to be in a teaching or language field, which should tell you how seriously the employers here (don't) see teaching. Moreover, many hire on the basis of visa eligibility and personality, not credentials. Not sure how that works nowadays with the steep competition, though.
| Quote: |
| I don't think I can hang around in the UK until the end of the calendar year to start the JET program. |
What's the rush to come here? |
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dontcallme
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| In Russia the only way to get a visa was to get a job beforehand unless you were willing to work under the counter, which I wasn't. |
Same in Japan.
| Quote: |
| Because it wasn't a popular country for westerners it was quite easy to find work. |
Japan IS a popular country, however, and it USED TO BE easy to find work.
Most JET ALTs apply for a Nov/Dec deadline with applications, interview in Feb and get told about jobs to start in August. So you have missed the opportunity to work in Japan for JET in 2013-14. There is a recent change which added some earlier starting dates, but I forget the timing. Look up the web site.
Yes, it's "normal" to come here and look for work, but timing is critical to minimizing your down time. Plus, the market in the last 5 years or so has become flooded with teachers and wannabes, so it is far more competitive now.
Two years of experience plus a degree are close to bare bones minimum experience here. Most people who just start out have zero experience. Also, the degree itself doesn't even have to be in a teaching or language field, which should tell you how seriously the employers here (don't) see teaching. Moreover, many hire on the basis of visa eligibility and personality, not credentials. Not sure how that works nowadays with the steep competition, though.
| Quote: |
| I don't think I can hang around in the UK until the end of the calendar year to start the JET program. |
What's the rush to come here? |
OK. It's good that I need to get a job beforehand. Much better than going to a country and starting from scratch.
I've been searching around and there are a fair few companies teaching adults that don't start in January.
The JET program sounds great but surely there are other ways to get started in Japan.
I finish my degree at the end of May and I have a job as a travel agent which is busy in the summer. After that, I don't have a full-time job so going to Japan as soon as I can is preferable.
I loved teaching in Russia and I just want to get teaching again. |
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qwertyu2
Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:14 am Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
| I should have around $3,000 US available to me on arrival though that includes an overdraft. |
That's really cutting it close even if you have a job waiting for you. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
| The JET program sounds great but surely there are other ways to get started in Japan. |
JET offers the best overall deal for newcomers.
Otherwise, if you are in your home country and job hunt from there, you will have about a dozen or so employers that recruit from overseas. Perhaps a wee bit more if they use Skype. Nobody on these forums has ever announced who those are, by the way, and I've been on the forums for almost 15 years.
If you choose to come to Japan and job hunt, come at a good time of year and bring more than $3,000. Expect 2-3 months to find a job, get a visa, and work long enough to get a first paycheck. There are more opportunities if you can come and support yourself, and you will get used to the language and culture more, but it's more expensive.
If you are British and under 30, you could come on a working holiday visa and stay longer than an American tourist. You wouldn't need an employer to sponsor you for a visa, either, until you decide to change from WHV to work visa, and you could start work immediately. You wouldn't need a degree to work on a WHV, either, but you will if you choose to convert to a work visa (unless you have 3 years of teaching experience).
| Quote: |
| I finish my degree at the end of May and I have a job as a travel agent which is busy in the summer. After that, I don't have a full-time job so going to Japan as soon as I can is preferable. |
You should realize that most jobs start in April. Some hiring is done throughout the year, but many openings that you see in May could be rejects from the April process, jobs that people discovered are lemons and bailed out on. Heads up. |
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sabina
Joined: 11 Nov 2010
Posts: 75
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:05 am Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
I've only just started looking into teaching in Japan so I guess these are my primary concerns/questions:
1. Which cities/large towns would you recommend me to go to?
2. Which schools/programs would you recommend to someone who will have very little money on arrival?
3. Is arranging a job to start at the beginning of August in advance easy?
Anything else you wished you were aware of before arriving in Japan is most welcome. |
Not offering an opinion just sharing my personal story:
I arrived in Japan with very little money. I already had a job/visa here, and as I was working for a very small school (that was also providing my apartment) I was able to work out a plan with them for them to pay me weekly for the first 2 months. I don't think large schools/companies offer such arrangements. I've heard of one company that will give you a loan if you really need money when you arrive, but I don't know the specifics. So, perhaps look into applying to a smaller school/family-run eikaiwa.
The job I currently have started at the beginning of August, but it was not arranged in advance. I took over for a teacher who suddenly decided to leave. Normally, most schools are closed for summer holidays during the month of August.
feel free to PM me if you have any questions!! good luck!! |
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qwertyu2
Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| sabina wrote: |
| I arrived in Japan with very little money. I already had a job/visa here, and as I was working for a very small school (that was also providing my apartment) I was able to work out a plan with them for them to pay me weekly for the first 2 months. |
Others might benefit from hearing how much money you brought with you, how you managed, and if you could have done so if your school had not provided your apartment or agreed to pay you sooner.
In my case, I came to Japan a long time ago as a student so I don't remember exact numbers. My dormatory room was pre-paid but, even so, I remember going through the equivalent of several hundred dollars a week on food and transportation. If I had to find my own apartment and pay normal start up costs, I would have been screwed. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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My own story is too rare to be offered as typical.
As for employers who offer loans upon your initial arrival, yes, they do exist, but do you want to be beholding to an employer for a job, a visa, an apartment they kept from a previous teacher (and paid your key money for), and on top of that a loan (which they usually pay themselves back on your first paycheck or two)? That would leave you with even less money in hand than they offered initially (what has become a lower standard than a few years ago.
Think about it. Have enough to take you back home if an emergency arises. |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, there are companies that give you a loan but in my opinion it's not worth it. I declined the loan from Interac because they suck it out of your check right away, and it's just one more debt to add to the pile. |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| dontcallme wrote: |
I don't think I can hang around in the UK until the end of the calendar year to start the JET program.
I will search around and start applying for positions and take it from there. |
Now is prime hiring time for dispatch companies, who put teachers in public junior high schools. Not what you're after, but definitely your best chance of having your visa sorted for you before you arrive in Japan.
Get your CV sent off right away, and you could probably land a position within a month. I'd start with Interac. Their interview process is a little more extensive, with a demo lesson etc. Heart English school may hire you on the strength of a phonecall, depending on how many positions they have to fill. You'll have to do your own research on these companies and see if you're willing to work for them.
As for areas, when you arrive in Japan everything will be quite new and exciting, so you don't really need to be picky. Just going to the local supermarket will be a challenge. But I don't know why you wouldn't want to work in or near Tokyo, if you want to get into a media company. You're going to want to make contacts, and Tokyo is the media centre of Japan. I'd recommend at least a nearby prefecture like Saitama or Chiba. |
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