ESL Teaching in Japan

I am thinking of the possibility of going to Japan to teach ESL. What kind of experience are they looking for? Is it like China and Korea where the demand is huge and they are hiring people even with no experience? Also I have looked into the salary of ESL teachers and they make a little over 2K a month. I know the standard of living in Japan is high but will you be able to live off that amount as well as have extra money for "entertainment expenses" *cough cough video games cough cough* If you work outside of Tokyo in the other cities and towns will the standard of living be lower and will one's salary go a longer way? If anyone know what the scene is like, post what's on your mind

 

Pretty much, yes, but of course the more of a clue you have, the better. That's not to say the completely clueless can't get a job teaching English.

Minimum wage for someone one a working visa is 250,000 yen per month (gross). You can make more than this, sometimes, but you'll always make at least this from your sponsor. If you work for one of the big, shitty companies (Nova, Aeon, etc.) they will work you to the bone, teaching about 8 hours a day. A normal job you will only teach 4-5. You can also get private students for 2500-3500 yen per hour.

And yes, the further from Tokyo you are, the cheaper the places are. Getting a place in Shibuya-ku/Shinjuku-ku will likely cost you twice as much as getting one 30 minutes out.

 

So it is possible to get a place not that far out of Tokyo and have a much lower standard of living then?

 

GaijinPunch mentioned that the min' wage is 250000 gross but there are guys in my company working for 230000 gross ! That's f*cking awful I think. I'm on a lot more than that and even I don't think that's enough (285000yen) now that the missus is off work with the baby. So if you are living in Tokyo I sugest finding something that pays around 280000 yen.

Yakumo

 

By Japanese standards, yes. By western standards, no. Average Japanese commute to work is 60 minutes. That's technically "not far". For many people it's more than that. I think the rule is you can't bitch about it up to 90 minutes. I've always found it worth my while/time/money to fork up, pay more, and live close. That's me though.

Yeah, Japanese are great English speakers.

Huh? There are thousands of people who do it starting at the salaries posted above. People that get good at it make a killing. I know a few teachers that get 8,000 - 10,000/hr.

 

He's right. I don't even live in a big city like Tokyou but it takes me 90 minutes or longer to get to work. The main shitter for me though is the amount of bloody changes I have to do. Come on August !! Japanese drivers license test time :thumbsup:

Yakumo

 

but you will get a bonus the end of the year which is again in minimum the double of a month salary, right?

 

nope, my bonus is pathetic ! 250000 yen at Christmas ! What a joke ! The missus gets 1.5 million yen bonus. Overall she actually earns more than me once bonus are counted. I only get 15'000 yen traveling expensis as well even though it cost me almost twice that or it would do if I didn't buy 3 month passes. I really miss my car :crying:

Yakumo

 

English teacher's generally get zero bonus, or a lame one of their on salary. It's the downside of getting a (usually) good hourly rate.

The shitty thing about the bonus is, the last year your work for a company, you will get fucked. Bank of America Japan laid off my group one Feb, but told us in December (I was told on Xmas Eve). Despite the fact we made 3x the amount we made the previous year, and that we made more (way more) than anyone in our branch, our bonuses were 40% of the year before.

 

From what I heard, you need a TEFL qualification and a degree if you want to work in a decent school.

 

GaijinPunch says, "don't believe most things you hear". If you want to be incharge of your own programs, and are looking for a career in ESL, yeah, those qualifications help. If you're looking to dip your fit into Japan for a couple of years, native level English and a pulse is all that's required. Of course, clear enunciation helps, but even I taught, and I can't enunciate for shit.

 

I thought a college degree was a must for entrance into Japan as an english teacher? I'm just going by the limited research I got on the JET site though.

 

Like I said, if you want to work for a decent school then you'll need the right qualifications. If you're happy with whatever you can get then I'd imagine there are ways and means. However that usually means exploitation and working for peanuts for long hours in bad conditions.

They've tightened things up a lot more in the last few years.

At least go for a TEFL course. That will prepare you well for what is to come. I'm guessing you want to do a good job and get something out of the experience, and you'll have a much better time if you are respected and know how to teach. Don't under estimate how influential a good job will be on your lifestyle over there. I know lots of people who have crashed and burned doing this kind of thing half-cocked.

Edit: Key to this are things like Grammar. How clued up are you on the rules of English? I didn't realise how little I actually knew until I took my TEFL course hehe. Then I had to really study and get it right, because it only takes one clued up student to make you look like the biggest jackass around. You don't want that happening in one of your classes because you'll never have their confidence or respect after that.

 

@ServiceGames:

Yes, a degree is required for a working permit. However, any 4-year degree (or equivalent) will due. Mine was Japanese (liberal arts)...hardly beneficial for an English teacher, and I got a visa no problem.

This is not entirely true. Or, I guess it's a bit of an overstatement. There are plenty of people w/ ESL certifications teaching at shit jobs. There are plenty (probably more) people with very little qualifications with very cherry gigs. One of my mates owns the entire corporate account at a major clothing manufacturer (a household name, I can say) and that's all he does. Never took an ESL class in his life.

Will ESL classes help? Of course. But they seem to have very little impact in the big picture. Ambition and a good business head will serve you much better... unless you're really set on the idea of teaching at a university and coming up with your own syllabus. The difference the first few years of having proper qualifications and not are sheckles at best. In fact, you might work less and make more coming in raw. The bigger deciding factor will be whether you work for one of the bad guys (Nova, etc.).

 

Anybody have any opinions/feedback on Westgate Recruitment? That's who Im trying to get a job with over there.