Teaching English in Japan?

[Lord Garth]

Maybe not even Japan, but has anyone ever considered this?

I went to a job fair today, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't seriously considering it. The school year is from July to July, I don't need to know Japanese -- even though I took Japanese in college -- and they cover relocation expenses, including the flight over.

It's something different. On the other hand, I'd be taking a year off from my life at best or setting things back a year at worst. If I even decide to make the move.

Dilemma.

 

[Davros]

I considered Prague

 

[Misfit Toy]

Didn't Goji do this?

 

[RoJoHen]

I have had 4 friends teach English in China after graduating from college. They enjoyed it, and I don't think they regret it, but by the end of it they had all grown to hate the country and have absolutely no interest in ever going back.

 

[Canadave]

Didn't Goji do this?

I believe so. And Danoz is doing it right now.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

A word of advice I'm sure one of my friends would give you: be sure you know the age group you'd be teaching before you get into it.

 

[Lord Garth]

I used to be a substitute teacher. Elementary kids were okay but it really wasn't my thing. High school was okay.

Middle school (or "junior high" as it was called when I went) is a whole other story. I susbstituted for middle school for one day and never again. They're out of control and out to challenge you at every turn.

Then I worked at a community college for four years. The students were fine, but it was the political underbelly of the aristrocracy that drove me out (well, that and the terrible pay). Unfortunately, students came last where I used to work.

As long as I don't get the middle-schoolers I'm fine; but Japanese are supposed to be more respectful than Americans, so this might not even be as much of an issue.

 

[Goji]

Didn't Goji do this?

I believe so. And Danoz is doing it right now.

Yes, I worked as an "ALT", assistant language teacher, at the elementary school level for one year. I had a blast, but I came back after a year because I didn't like interrupting my life in California, as much as I enjoyed Japan.

I will say that not knowing any Japanese could either be no problem or a big one depending on where you get placed. At my schools, nobody spoke any English. Period. I worked with the other teachers outside the classroom entirely in Japanese. But in more highly populated areas, more people know English and in the junior high schools even in my area, there were officially designated English teachers working at the school already

At the company where I worked, the consensus was that junior high school teachers get/have to teach a LOT fewer classes on a given day... and when you don't have class to teach, sometimes there is very little else to do. If you get a nice school, like mine, they will try to include you even when there aren't any English classes happening. But my friend got stuck at a school that just left him alone to sit in the teacher's room for up to five hours a day.

As I understand it, experiences for this kind of thing vary greatly from school to school, even within the same area, so it's very difficult to really know ahead of time what you are in for. It'll be an adventure, I can practically guarantee that. Moreso for someone who doesn't know Japanese, but it's definitely doable. I had a great time and I recommend it to others. Anything more than that is difficult to predict.

 

[Lord Garth]

Glad I took Japanese. I'm a bit rusty but I can brush up. So desu. I did some research. The pay is the equivalent of $2,000 per month.

Hmmm. If I do this, then when I get back to America it'll be July 2013, a month away from my 34th birthday.

Do I really want to be in my mid-30s with that type of income and not having gained any experience I can apply unless it's the outer fringe of teacher assistants at an ESL school with Japenese students?

Part of me wants to see Japan and sees this as an easy way but the more analytical side says this isn't the right way.

 

[sojourner]

Jump in feet first. It may not help you get rich monetarily, but the personal experience is something you'll have the rest of your life.

 

[Danoz]

Maybe not even Japan, but has anyone ever considered this?

I went to a job fair today, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't seriously considering it. The school year is from July to July, I don't need to know Japanese -- even though I took Japanese in college -- and they cover relocation expenses, including the flight over.

It's something different. On the other hand, I'd be taking a year off from my life at best or setting things back a year at worst. If I even decide to make the move.

Dilemma.

What program were they advertising at the job fair?

I teach English at 5 schools in rural Japan right now. I came with a little Japanese background from college, and I get along just fine for the basics. People are very understanding from the start and with self-study you can be very functional.

Personally I was placed in a remarkably rural area, a secluded mountain village with about 2200 people (though the "village" has been swallowed up into a town, technically). The pay and benefits are very competitive.

The biggest downside is that it can get lonely often where I am-- and I have to drive everywhere, but the memories and experiences of living here have been priceless and I know they'll follow me for the rest of my life. Also, it is hands down the most beautiful place I have ever lived (I am surrounded by green mountains and my house is right next to a blue river).

 

[TerokNor]

Jump in feet first. It may not help you get rich monetarily, but the personal experience is something you'll have the rest of your life.

Agree with this. The experiences you will gain with living in a different country and culture is priceless. And I do think it is positive for all kind of job-applications afterwards, because it shows that you have a certain courage, flexibility and strengh.

I am not teaching English in Japan, but am the nanny of a baby in New Zealand right now (am an Early Childhood Educator from Germany), earn 600 NZ Dollar per month + accomodation/ food and I do not care at all, that this will not make me rich, or my profession in general never will *L*, its the experience, the growing one does, no matter the age.

Danoz: The place you describe truly sounds beautiful!

TerokNor

 

[Pingfah]

Glad I took Japanese. I'm a bit rusty but I can brush up. So desu. I did some research. The pay is the equivalent of $2,000 per month.

Hmmm. If I do this, then when I get back to America it'll be July 2013, a month away from my 34th birthday.

Do I really want to be in my mid-30s with that type of income and not having gained any experience I can apply unless it's the outer fringe of teacher assistants at an ESL school with Japenese students?

Part of me wants to see Japan and sees this as an easy way but the more analytical side says this isn't the right way.

Is accommodation paid for? That would obviously make the low wage a lot more reasonable.

 

[Holdfast]

I think it would be the kind of thing that would be fun on a gap year before or after college, but I wouldn't want to do it any later, unless one was (more or less) independently wealthy. Accommodation would likely suck, and income would be lower than what you'd be used to, plus you might get sent to a part of the country you don't really want to go.

Having said all that, Japan is a really great country to visit and I enjoyed working there on attachment for a couple of months in my last year of university, so I think the experience could be very enjoyable, if done at the right time and for the right reasons.

 

[Lord Garth]

Yeah. I will visit one day.

I'm not exactly where I want to be in life yet and, at my age, I can't afford a gap year.

 

[sojourner]

^When will you be?

 

[Lord Garth]

When I have a better income and can afford to take a vacation over there or even a vacation at all.

Not sure what the time frame for that will be, but as soon as those two conditions are met then I'll be planning.

 

[Holdfast]

When I have a better income and can afford to take a vacation over there or even a vacation at all.

Not sure what the time frame for that will be, but as soon as those two conditions are met then I'll be planning.

I was reading some in-flight magazine a few weeks ago, and they featured a guided walking holiday along the ancient Nakasendo Highway. Sounded wonderful, and I'm not even a big walker. Would love to do that at some point.

 

[Kirby]

I have two really good friends from High School go in teach English in Japan after college. One stayed a few years and moved back to the States, and one has been there almost 20 years now and he absolutely loves it.
While he is now fluent in Japanese, he didn't know it at all when he went there. They just wanted him to speak in English all the time, and not even try to speak in Japanese.

 

[Lord Garth]

^ That's the guy from Ancient Astronauts! Great av. Great show.

Now back to our regularly scheduled topic.