Teaching In Japan - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

almostaugust · 06-11-2005, 04:52 PM

Anyone on the TFP had experience teaching overseas?

Me and my GF are thinking about teaching in Japan. I dont know much about the place and am sure it will be a massive culture shock.

catback · 06-11-2005, 06:37 PM

I don't have experience teach but if you wanna teach over there the big question is do you write and/or speak japanese. English is the universal language but I doubt many over there care enough to be fluent at it.

Jackebear · 06-11-2005, 10:47 PM

Yep, it will be a culture shock, that's for sure. The average English teacher lasts between 6 months to a year here. Get on the Net and check out the many forums out there...here is one www.gaijinpot.com.

You don't have to know how to speak/write Japanese but the basics will help. Your school will help you get set up with your Visa, bank, alien registration, water/hydro bills, etc.

Catback is right saying many don't care enough about it (English) to learn it. They spent to most money learning English and rank near the bottom in Asia in ability. It's amazing.

Basically, your enjoyment or disagreement with the country will depend on your school. There are lots of great places, many good places and tons of shit places. You will have to do a lot of research before you go if you are serious about coming here.

bundy · 06-12-2005, 05:56 AM

what kind of teaching?

actual classroom ALT work (ie JET) or do you mean English instruction schools like Nova or Aeon?

skier · 06-12-2005, 10:54 AM

this http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html has some stuff about a guy's experiences with his JET program. There are also forums there where you can ask questions etc.

almostaugust · 06-12-2005, 05:44 PM

Thanks all.

Yeah, im a qualified classroom teacher (English/ History), but am thinking Nova school or something.

bundy · 06-12-2005, 07:34 PM

so.
if you're a qualified teacher, you would be more suited to the JET program... or actually going it alone with a gaijinpot advertised job. the main problem with JET is that they will NEVER place you in a big city such as Tokyo or Yokohama. you will always be sent out to the surrounding prefectures. also, JET does not pay well (but this is not a serious problem as you'd most likely be living in an inexpensive area).
NOVA pays well, but you'd probably find the NOVA curriculum remarkably restrictive, since its a VERY regimented system designed to help non-qualified teachers, teach. however, i'm lead to believe that NOVA will take into account that you are actually a teacher, and will give you an increased level of pay, as a bonus.
despite the reputation for being the McDonalds of English schools, NOVA is a decent way of getting set up in Japan. the pay is good, they give you accomodation (its nice to have a place already, but you'd want to get out as soon as you can arrange it as NOVA charges its residents WAY to much for rent), the work is EASY, and while you do it you can find your feet in Japan, and then think about branching out to other teaching jobs or jobs in other industries.

feel free to PM me if you want more details.

almostaugust · 06-15-2005, 06:46 PM

Thanks Bundy. Ive PMed you mate.

Bob Biter · 06-20-2005, 10:05 PM

Ah, Bundy? I don't know where you got your salary info from, but I'm on JET and it pays quite well. I have my rent subsidized and only pay half (around 30,000 yen) for an apartment in downtown Sendai. The rent subsidy is not a Japan-wide thing, though, each city/prefecture has its rules.

The reason an ALT (Assitant Language Teacher) is never placed in Tokyo or Yokohama (which is considered a Tokyo suburb anyway, except by those who live there!), is because American/English culture already saturates these areas and everyone has easy access to native speakers, as well as a plethora of "eikaiwa" (English conversations schools). Where people REALLY need exposure to English is in all those prefectural "inaka" (farm towns, boonies), where no foreigner thinks of going. It's a challenge, that's for sure, but your Japanese skills go up mighty fast and you live in a very different Japan than an ex-pat parked in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or any other big city.

Speaking of Japanese skills, my advice for those who come here is to learn hiragana and katakana as quickly as possible (it's not that hard), then purchase a decent kanji exercise book (such as "Basic Kanji"). This will take care of your reading and writing, as long as you back it up with regular exercises. As for common, day-to-day speaking, listening skills, NEVER rely on books or tapes. Get out there and make friends fast. They will teach you the spoken Japanese actually used in the real world. They'll be happy to do it, too, since they'll see you as a free English lesson on legs.

06-11-2005, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
almostaugust Junkie Location: Oz	Teaching In Japan Anyone on the TFP had experience teaching overseas? Me and my GF are thinking about teaching in Japan. I dont know much about the place and am sure it will be a massive culture shock. __________________ 'And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe Maybe this year will be better than the last I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself To hold on to these moments as they pass'

06-11-2005, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jackebear Insane	Yep, it will be a culture shock, that's for sure. The average English teacher lasts between 6 months to a year here. Get on the Net and check out the many forums out there...here is one www.gaijinpot.com. You don't have to know how to speak/write Japanese but the basics will help. Your school will help you get set up with your Visa, bank, alien registration, water/hydro bills, etc. Catback is right saying many don't care enough about it (English) to learn it. They spent to most money learning English and rank near the bottom in Asia in ability. It's amazing. Basically, your enjoyment or disagreement with the country will depend on your school. There are lots of great places, many good places and tons of shit places. You will have to do a lot of research before you go if you are serious about coming here. __________________ Life's jounney is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out shouting, "Holy sh*t! What a ride!" - unknown

06-12-2005, 05:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	what kind of teaching? actual classroom ALT work (ie JET) or do you mean English instruction schools like Nova or Aeon? __________________ Ohayo!!!

06-12-2005, 10:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
skier Rawr! Location: Edmontania	this http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html has some stuff about a guy's experiences with his JET program. There are also forums there where you can ask questions etc. __________________ "Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim

06-12-2005, 05:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
almostaugust Junkie Location: Oz	Thanks all. Yeah, im a qualified classroom teacher (English/ History), but am thinking Nova school or something. __________________ 'And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe Maybe this year will be better than the last I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself To hold on to these moments as they pass' Last edited by almostaugust; 06-12-2005 at 05:53 PM..

06-11-2005, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	I don't have experience teach but if you wanna teach over there the big question is do you write and/or speak japanese. English is the universal language but I doubt many over there care enough to be fluent at it.

06-12-2005, 07:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	so. if you're a qualified teacher, you would be more suited to the JET program... or actually going it alone with a gaijinpot advertised job. the main problem with JET is that they will NEVER place you in a big city such as Tokyo or Yokohama. you will always be sent out to the surrounding prefectures. also, JET does not pay well (but this is not a serious problem as you'd most likely be living in an inexpensive area). NOVA pays well, but you'd probably find the NOVA curriculum remarkably restrictive, since its a VERY regimented system designed to help non-qualified teachers, teach. however, i'm lead to believe that NOVA will take into account that you are actually a teacher, and will give you an increased level of pay, as a bonus. despite the reputation for being the McDonalds of English schools, NOVA is a decent way of getting set up in Japan. the pay is good, they give you accomodation (its nice to have a place already, but you'd want to get out as soon as you can arrange it as NOVA charges its residents WAY to much for rent), the work is EASY, and while you do it you can find your feet in Japan, and then think about branching out to other teaching jobs or jobs in other industries. feel free to PM me if you want more details. __________________ Ohayo!!!

06-15-2005, 06:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
almostaugust Junkie Location: Oz	Thanks Bundy. Ive PMed you mate. __________________ 'And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe Maybe this year will be better than the last I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself To hold on to these moments as they pass'

06-20-2005, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bob Biter Non-smokers die everyday Location: Montreal	Ah, Bundy? I don't know where you got your salary info from, but I'm on JET and it pays quite well. I have my rent subsidized and only pay half (around 30,000 yen) for an apartment in downtown Sendai. The rent subsidy is not a Japan-wide thing, though, each city/prefecture has its rules. The reason an ALT (Assitant Language Teacher) is never placed in Tokyo or Yokohama (which is considered a Tokyo suburb anyway, except by those who live there!), is because American/English culture already saturates these areas and everyone has easy access to native speakers, as well as a plethora of "eikaiwa" (English conversations schools). Where people REALLY need exposure to English is in all those prefectural "inaka" (farm towns, boonies), where no foreigner thinks of going. It's a challenge, that's for sure, but your Japanese skills go up mighty fast and you live in a very different Japan than an ex-pat parked in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or any other big city. Speaking of Japanese skills, my advice for those who come here is to learn hiragana and katakana as quickly as possible (it's not that hard), then purchase a decent kanji exercise book (such as "Basic Kanji"). This will take care of your reading and writing, as long as you back it up with regular exercises. As for common, day-to-day speaking, listening skills, NEVER rely on books or tapes. Get out there and make friends fast. They will teach you the spoken Japanese actually used in the real world. They'll be happy to do it, too, since they'll see you as a free English lesson on legs. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that don't happen.