Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Viaje]

I am in debt, and not from student loans, so I need to not only earn but to be able to save the money. Is Japan a better fit for this situation, in other words can you teach privates legally, as much as you want and are they easy to find? Someone said that they get $50 an hour tutoring in Japan. To me that is a lot of money if one could do ten hours a week in addition to their regular job. Is this not realistic, especially in today's economy which seems to be imploding by the minute? I do understand that Japan is more expensive than Korea, but the bottom line is which country would allow me to have more saved at the end of the month and the end of the year.

[blurgalurgalurga]

My two cents:
Most of the entry level jobs I've seen in Japan ask a lot of hours of you, but it's true that privates are not forbidden there. Building up a stable of jobs might not be that easy, though...depends on where you are and how good you are at hustling up work, I guess.
The won is weak right now; the yen is much stronger. It's a bit of a crapshoot as to which way the wind will blow, this coming year, but it's a fairly safe bet to guess that things will continue to suck here won-wise, for the near future at least.
As for privates here--they are illegal, of course. Nobody does them except for one-eyed mutant hooligans who couldn't hold down jobs as carnies in their home countries. If they catch you doing privates here--and they will, there's roving gangs of street-toughs hunting us, constantly, stalking and lurking (as is their god-given right)--they'll do a paper scissors rock as to whether they should crucify you, tar and feather you, or simply throw you under the wheels of a passing bongo van.
I'm joking...they don't really feather us anymore...
The big thing about Japan though is the amount of work you're asked to do, and your cost of living. It's a fun fun country and wildly expensive so saving money there is TOUGH, unless you're a complete hermit.
Here is kind of dull and boozy, but it ain't that hard to save money. The cost of living is pretty low if you're cunning about it.
I'd go to Japan, personally, if I were you, and save no money, and have a good time.

[Neil]

It depends on where you are I think, in Fukuoka there's some international centre kind of shop where people put notices up advertising lessons. Some of the rates are super low, I saw one ad where a guy was charging just 1000 yen an hour. Thing is Fukuoka ain't that big (about 2million people) but there are loads of foreigners. I think the local uni is a good place to study Japanese so there are lots of international students who are probably willing to teach for beer money.

I live in Kitakyushu a neighbouring town of about 1 million, there's far less foreigners here so I've managed to get several students. I charge 3000 yen an hour which seems to be the going rate. I've only been here a few months so hopefully in the future I'll meet more people/learn more Japanese/network and picks will pick up more. It's less than what I would charge in Korea but demand is lower and in Korea you're taking more of a risk.

I got my first few from a site called findstudents.net and then people recommended me to friends. The main difference is you can advertise openly. I've got no idea what it would be like in Tokyo, it's 10 times the size of most other cities but then again 10 times the amount of foreigners.

[Viaje]

Hahahaha, thanks, I needed that, first laugh I've had all day.

[cardigan bay]

i agree with Blurgalurgalurga
Go to Japan. It's hard to save money but easy to get private students, a great place to make friends and you will have a real life there even if you do have to work hard.
Try the JET program as they subsidise housing and assist teachers more than most companies in Japan. Living in a big Japanese city might be stressful and expensive but worth it if you need to find a new job. Relocating in Japan is enormously expensive.

[oskinny1]

I am saving 100,000 yen a month after rent and living expenses. I have a couple privates, but they just fell into my lap, I wasn't looking for them. I am charging 3000 yen an hour, but that doesn't include travel time and travel money.

People are losing their jobs left and right over here, so there may not be a lot of money going out for English lessons in the near future.

[cardigan bay]

That's a useful post.
Well done on saving that amount of money in Japan. It just shows it's possible.

[jkelly80]

Do Shanghai!

[asylum seeker]