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

[N/A®]

what do u guys think about the BERLITZ Schools?

[feeldg]

hey but don't you guys find it hard sometimes to try to find places or get something or understand the others outside of work since you can't speak japanese? or can you? =)

[Rickmate]

wow, it sounds like a great lifestyle over there fellas, i have a few options, and one of them is studying japanese at tafe, just to get some basics down.. i am really liking the idea of going to japan and working, as a teacher, i couldnt see it here, but over there its quite a possibility.. i'll have to bite the bullet, scrimp and save to get my out of debt and save some money so i can come over there with a hope of a job... sounds fantastic...

cheers

Rick

[Parag0n]

Pantsu machines eh? Where can I find these

[Rezz]

what do u guys think about the BERLITZ Schools?

I've never been there for an interview, but one of my colleagues has, and he said that they videotaped the interview!!! Aparently they videotape their classes too for evaluation purposes. Not fun I'd say...

[Rezz]

hey but don't you guys find it hard sometimes to try to find places or get something or understand the others outside of work since you can't speak japanese? or can you? =)

I can speak enough Japanese to keep me out of trouble. I'm by no means fluent though. I constantly say "eeerm", "aaaah", and whatnot trying to remember grammar rules... it's not easy. Reading and writing (especially e-mails) on the other hand isn't so bad, I quite enjoy studying Kanji actually.

[Rezz]

Pantsu machines eh? Where can I find these

Just look on the 'net!!! >www.pantsunofechi.co.jp...

[drift007]

i work for NOVA in tokyo. I found the job in the herald sun in melbourne and went in for an interview. prior to that i had spent a year studying in a japanese university so i kinda had a foot in the door to japan. the interview through the recruiting company was nothing about the job really... its more can you cope living in a foreign country that doesnt speek english... i got the job 2 years ago and am still at nova.. Rezz says he getting 300,000 for 9 hours a day 5.5 days a week.. im getting 200,000 for 4 hours a day 5 days a week and teaching privately whenever i want... teaching is a piece of piss, you can speek the language and they cant so all you need is to take command with confidence and make them laugh. For start up i recommend NOVA as its not so tuff to get in and they do everything for you to get here....

[initialD]

with nova/jet/other companies, do i require a university degree to work with them? wat are other if ny requirements r there?

sorry if this has been mentioned b4

[darkstar]

Interesting read guys!

Just wondering what kind of demand would there be for Teach English in Japan in lets say 4 years time? Ive got a while before i finish my Mechanical Engineering degree. Sounds like a good option to go for a working holiday for a year and experience something different.

For those that are currently there, did you say to yourself that you would stay for a year and then come back? Sounds like you have enjoyed your stay so much that you have stayed longer than you expected.

Im new to the whole japanese culture, but i find it interesting as its based on levels of respect and morals - instead of a scattered society where every man is for himself.

Furthermore, are there any engineering jobs in japan!?! Particularly for Mechanical? I know Aerospace is booming...

[Demon Dave]

I don't think the need for English teachers is going to decrease any time soon. Indeed, if anything Japan needs more English teachers. The government always seems to be pushing more English education at schools, with emphasis shifting from reading/writing/grammar to more conversation skills.

Everyones situation is different, but from my experience the vast majority of English teachers here stay a year (maybe two) then go home, move to another country or just seem to disappear! I came here, decided I want to stay. Five years later I have no plans to ever go back to England. I'm having too much fun to ever want to do that!

Not sure about jobs in Engineering, I guess being able to speak Japanese would help. Evo Lee may have some more insight than I.

Dave

[Evo_Lee]

Engineering work is not easy to come by, but not enitirely impossible to find provided you know Japanese (preferable). Best way in is to work for a Japanese branch office in Australia and get an internal transfer to Japan. Else alot of companies offer 9-12 months internship, come over learn the language and perhaps try and get a permanent or another job after.

Word of warning, working for Japanese companies in Japan is very different to working in Western companies.

[Rezz]

Word of warning, working for Japanese companies in Japan is very different to working in Western companies.

AMEN!

[Evo_Lee]

OK I really shouldn't scare the newbies planning to work here :D

I do get 10:30am starts and can leave as early as 3pm anyday I wish, course I'm so busy it never happens ...basically keeping in front is the key

[DaiOni]

Japanese workers are expected to stay at work far beyond 'knock-off time'. My fellow teachers are often at school at 7pm or later - even though they finish at around 5pm. HOWEVER, they don't do bugger all - and from what I can gather, this isn't a trait restricted to teachers. In the few (very few) occasions I've stayed back, I've seen people sitting around 'looking busy' (generally consists of them playing solitaire on their computer or similar).

Why do they do it? Well, from what I hear (and please correct me if I'm wrong) it has less to do with 'teamwork' and 'hard work', and more to do with 'protecting your yearly bonus'. For the same reason, many workers are reluctant to take paid leave - or use paid sick leave. It's not surprising when you see how large some of the bonuses are!!!!

I don't get a bonus so I'm the one who is usually trying to sneak out 5 minutes early

Working for the japanese is definitely an eye-opener. And if you are working for a corporate (I work for the govt.) - be prepared to deal with it. It varies from place to place (and boss to boss) though - some people have it easy, others play by the rules.

[ABuSD]

If i dont go to Europe with my grandparents, in July, im gonna do what u guys did and bail to Japan in October for a holiday an look for work!!

Thanks heaps for the insight guys, keep it comin!

[Sciby]

Well, the thread seems to have stalled, so I think I'll just reopen it. >

I currently work for a uni in Oz, I'm a sysadmin (IT work, for those who don't know), and I'm about to take a redundancy... it'll pay off the skyline, leave me debt free and leave me with about $40k in the hand. Going to finish my last 4 subjects for my IT degree internally, and then going to try to get a position in japan, june 2005. Should be right for their autumn start.

I have a few questions for everyone:

- It seems that we can at least expect around 250,000y per month in wages. How far does that realistically stretch, assuming living in a box apartment and average travel times to work.

- What is the situation with paid leave? is it a government stipulated situation, or is it per-school basis? Are they resonable with your leave, or is it basically 'when the kids are on holidays'? For that matter, what's the school year like? Do they even get holidays? I'm curious because while the teaching is a great experience and it pays the bills, I would be there to experience the country, the culture and the cars.

- I've seen several places saying that you must be willing to work in Japan for at least a year. Is this likely to be a binding contract, or just a 'very good idea' to stay there for a year, etc? I'm not wanting to move back straight away, but if it goes sour, I don't want to be stuck, especially if it turns out my umbrella company is dodgy.

- I would assume that if your japanese sucks, it can be very lonely. Are the japanese easy to make friends with? Do japanese co-workers invite you to social events, or is this one of those 'case by case' things?

- Could someone give a brief rundown of buying a car in japan while living there. What on-road costs can you expect, etc? Surely it's not as easy as paying the free-on-board costs (or comparative) and just driving off?

[w1ngzer0]

I wanted to try the japan thing a while ago. I didn't find out about the 21 or younger scholorship for schooling over there. The english teacher thing seems to be the only option for people wanting to experence japan.

[Polski]

Thanks for raising those questions Sciby, I had very similar questions in mind as i want to go in 2005 as well ! after i finish my degree (half a year left woohoo)

I'm still deciding whether to join a company like NOVA, or to go there with some money and look while i'm there.

[Sciby]

At the moment, NOVA seems like a good option for working there... they have their own apartments, so you don't have to pay the godawful upfront fees, and you'd be living with other non-nationals, so they'd be able to give you the n00b tour.

Also, since NOVA isn't a school per se, they wouldn't be tied to any school calendar, ie, if they give you paid holidays (I think you get 10-20py?), you'd be able to take them whenever you want. YMMV though.