Q & A about moving to Japan/teaching in Japan (cont. from Rezz`s photo diary)

[cobo_11]

Just read Rezz`s request to delete all the Japanese english teaching stuff from his thread on CARS! lol

Thought I would start this and hopefully it will continue on from where it was left off in Rezz`s thread...

I for one am extremely interested in this as I see some of you are too!

And many thanks go out to Rezz, DaiOni and Demon Dave for all their valuable insight into Japan and ways to go about making a life for onesself there, Cheers guys!

PS: I know this is the "General Automotive Discussion" area and maybe this should be in another area of SAU, but thought more people would have a chance of seeing it here and learning something. :-)

[DaiOni]

better ask some questions then!

have deleted all my 'valuable' insights from the other thread

[cobo_11]

well I have one...

do the places like Nova and the other two mentioned in Rezz`s thread have website and such for a bit of info and etc on them?

Cheers,.

[akeenan]

nova = teachinjapan . com

Before you do anything, have a good look around at all the schools.

[DaiOni]

You lazy bugger!

JET: http://www.jetprogramme.org/

Aeon: http://www.aeonet.com/

Geos: http://www.geoscareer.com/

Nova: http://www.teachinjapan.com/

[akeenan]

yes lazy indeed! theres also this magazine called ohayo sensai . Which I found a little useful . however most jobs in this are internal, you have to be in japan so you can attend interviews.

[Demon Dave]

I've also deleted my posts from the Photo Diary thread (sorry Rezz for the hijack there! )

Regarding general info on the web, I've heard that Dave's ESL Cafe is a good place to start (and no that Dave isn't me! )

Dave

[Demon Dave]

I have to agree with what Akeenan said - there are so many more opportunities to get a job once you're in Japan. My case is proabably a good example: I applied to Nova back in the UK, but failed to get a place due to the demand. I was told it is next to near impossible to get a job in Japan while living abroad, and in many ways this is true. If you're prepared to take a risk, then I recommend coming to Japan on a vacation and start looking for work soon after you arrive.

Being available for interviews is a big bonus, and in the newspapers (eg. Japan Times) you'll find tons of wanted ads, especially around Feb/March time - towards the end of the school year here. I was amazed at how many jobs there were, so it didn't take me long (a day in fact) to set up several interviews. I was lucky - by a lucky coincidence my first vacation to Japan was at the end of March, at a time when many schools were desperate to fill last minute teaching posts. Despite having a small suitcase with a weeks supply of clothes (and that's about all!), no experience, no preparation and no idea of what I was getting myself into I managed to secure a good job and the rest, as they say is history!

[akeenan]

dave: i hope some of your luck rubs off on me. im leaving at the end of march

[Steve]

so do most schools have a carriculum to teach to? Lesson plans etc?

Just sounds a bit bizarre, rolling up and trying to teach something without having any training or experience doing it, and in a foreign country.

I have had to do a fair bit of training in my work (I was the lead instructor in my trade - navy), but it just sounds a bit overwhelming - where would you start once you get the job?????

Cheers for any help/insight

Steve

[Demon Dave]

It's all case by case. Some of the bigger schools have mini training courses or something similar. Most however don't. In my case I was interviewed by the school on Friday. They knew I had no prior experience (hell, I hadn't got a clue what I was doing), but nevertheless I started work the following Monday and was literally thrown into my first class (a group of 4 year olds!). No training. No advice from the Japanese staff. Nothing.

Fortunately some of the other foreign teachers were able to give me a few ideas, but at the time most of them (like me) had only just started themselves. I guess it just comes down to getting on with it, doing the best you can. I have no doubts that I was a totally crap teacher the first few months I was here (though non of my students said so). You just get better with experience.

To be honest, I don't think training or any kind of teaching experience is necessary - it would help, and it would sure make the move into Japan a little less stressful, but you shouldn't be put off teaching just because you've got no prior experience. By way of an example, the school I originally work at had 10 foreigner teachers. Out of them, only 1 had any prior experience before getting the job...

[Rezz]

Yes, Daves experience is quite common really. My friend (who I came to Japan with originally) had the same thing happen, he just answered a whole bunch of ads in the newspaper, and he got lucky and was literally thrown into his first class, with a textbook, and "Ganbatte!" from his boss!!!

For me, it was a little different. I had "quite a bit" of spending money, so the pressure was off to find a job (we were on working holiday visas). While my friend had broken the ice and taken his first part-time job, I was holding out for something more permanent (and a higher salary). Eventually I got a 1 year contract to teach out in Iga-Ueno, Mie... right out in the country. The teacher who I was replacing was quite experienced, and he taught me for 2 weeks before I took up the post. The way I saw it, it was better to make a sacrifice and live out in the country away from friends, in order to get my foot in the door in Japan... best thing I ever did really...

[DaiOni]

If you've got the nutz to uproot and come all the way to japan - you should have the nutz to be a teacher. Excellent English schools aren't a (factual) requirement for most places - but I wish it was! (I cringe at some of the things I've seen... it's no wonder engrish/japlish is so prevalent).

As for curriculum - I have no idea about the corporates - but they will be using a set text. With JET there is a pile of workshops, meetings, etc that will build your skills. Personally, I've found teaching very natural, which was kind of surprising.

These are a few 'essentials' for japan:

* English skills - if you r a l33t typa, may b not a good fing 4 you 2 come. Seriously though, you're going to need a workable grasp of punctuation and grammar etc - people will ask you questions!

* Be a people person! Be genki! I'm neither of those, but I manage! Definitely helps if you can do it naturally.

* Learn my mantra: "It's not my culture, it's theirs... It's not wrong, just different".

The absolute #1 problem people have in Japan is dealing with cultural difference. People ALWAYS resort to "in my country..." or "why isn't it like this..." - it p1sses me off! You will have problems/issues - deal with them intelligently. And take a deep breath! I actually find 'reverse culture shock' (coming home) to be worse - people starting fights in public places, not being able to happily walk down a dark street at night, people f@cking with my sh1t - you guys largely take that as part of life - in that regard, Japan is 99.9% wonderful!

* Part of the above, but very basically: Respect is important.

* I think of some more later

[Steve]

Thanks for the replies. Some interesting points.

Bottom line I suppose, if someone else can do it, so can I:D

DaiOni, I am a bit mystified why anyone would move to another country and not embrace the culture there. Why would you move somewhere if you didnt like it? Got me farked why so many do it here too. I had a girlfriend that moved here from England, always complained about how everything was much nicer/more civilised/greener/blah,blah etc in england. I told her to go back, she did, and was back in Australia 2 months later - she never bitched or whined again - must just be in some peoples nature I guess.

[DaiOni]

Steve: a lot of people come with good intentions, but just can't/won't cope/deal with cultural difference. Coming from England to Australia is one thing - but moving to a country where: gender roles are (sometimes very) different, religion is different (and that has bigger social impact than most realise), social hierachy is different (and thus the way we deal with those 'above' and 'below' us), language is different (obviously a huge factor - when you may know far less - or nothing - of what's going on around you)......... I could go on and on and on. But let's just say, even the most culturally seasoned of us, will have to confront things every day/week or month.

I like to think that this is one of my better skills, but I've felt like punching a few people in the head since I've been here (a certain licence registry officer springs to mind....).

Breath.... start the mantra...

[Steve]

Oh, and just wondering about visas, do you need a working visa before you travel, as Japan currently doesnt require a visa if you visit from Australia? Or can you obtain one once incountry? Also, do you know of any restrictions on visas such as age?

Cheers

Steve

[DaiOni]

Some of the other guys might have some factual info on that (visa) point. All I know is hearsay. In my case, I was issued with a three-year specialist visa before I left.

This is, I hear, how it used to work. You came to japan, found a job. To get a working visa, the regulations stated that it had to be issued in a foriegn country. Most people would get around this by making a trip to korea (being quite close), getting a visa, then coming back. I think there may have been a small waiting period too - so they had to stay in korea for a little while.

Again, that's just what I've heard. I believe things have changed in recent years, so you'd need to do some research into that.

[Steve]

I do understand how daunting it can be, even trying to find your way home can be very, very frustrating and a bit scary at times - I have been to Korea, as well as Japan, and found that place the worst as nobody speaks any english at all.

Bottom line though, if you dont like it, piss off home IMHO:)

One other thing I was wondering, how easy do you find it to get accommodation at a reasonable price over there?

Cheers again:)

[DaiOni]

You'd definitely want your employer to hook you up with accomodation - that tends to be the method of all the major companies and JET.

That's another of those things that is like a jackpot - you get what you are given. Most city dwellers who come to my place are shocked and jealous (I have a very large place by japanese apartment standards - and it's not in the typical 'box with four rooms' layout). But then again, I live in the country.

You can always move out and look for your own place - but that is easier said than done. Some (many?) agencies and/or landlords will have a no-gaijin policy.

Some landlords will also insist on key money (reikin) - this is non-refundable 'thank you' money - equivalent to 1 month+ of rent (can get very expensive).

Here's an example I pinched from another website, it's is an example of an initial rental payment:

Key money 160,000

Deposit 80,000

Realtor 80,000

Advance 80,000

Total 400,000

ouch!

the crappy apartment you may (or may not) get starts to look better and better!

[Dreg01]

just wondering how much japanese you need to know before you head over and start looking for a job?

i am planning in going over in a couple of years and i know no japanese.

should i start learning?

also what is the pay like?

sorry if this was already covered in Rezz's thread.