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Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 8365 Location: Futaba District, Fukushima Japan
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:10 am Post subject:
technomo12 wrote:
heheeh actually to think of teaching there then you must be a very vigilant person
haha... actually, I'm pretty lazy and dependant on others. This is going to be the kick in the butt I need to finally get myself the independance I crave. My dad supports my endeavor, but my mom is a million percent against it.
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then i must admire you for your selfless act of virtue
well, I don't know if I'd call it "selfless" or if it has any "virtue" to it. Probably 99% of my reason for going is for my own benefit... but hey, I love to teach. Seriously, if just one student is able to become a better english speaker because of me, then I have truly done my work.
NeL wrote:
wow xeno, going to the land of the rising sun!
yup yup, say a prayer for me, haha
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he said when boarding a room/dwelling place, it's better to have someone to share with cause rents are so expensive.
JET takes care of the living arrangements... I still have to pay rent, but they tell us it's "affordable." I pay $500USD now, so I'm hoping the place I stay is in that range. They put us in groups of 3 and 4, so the roommate thing is covered. I just hope I get cool people to live with. I've always hated the idea of living with strangers, but if they're in the same program, it's probably safe to assume we have enough in common to get along.
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and yeah, he said that things in japan are expensive.
I doubt I'd buy many material things. Daytrips to temples, other cities and journies to the beach are all I want. Anything I buy, I'm going to have to ship back to America, and since I don't want to send a huge crate, I'll have to limit myself to a few magazine and books and knick-knacks.
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also, he said that rush hour in japan is like hell.
really? as in... driving? or as in the trains? I probably won't want to have a car... I'm really hoping I won't even need one. Crowded trains I can deal with. I've been to Boston enough times to realize how bad public transit can get. I'm actually looking forward to it. Where I live now, I interact with maybe 2 or 3 people I day. I crave human interaction, even if it's just sitting next to a stranger on a bus. _________________ GTX: Great Teacher Xeno... my daily blog about teaching in an elementary and middle school in Japan (see right-menu)
Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 8365 Location: Futaba District, Fukushima Japan
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:22 am Post subject:
LeperX wrote:
from my understanding teaching for nova is like a black mark on your record.
haha, yeah, I few friends pointed me to a couple anti-NOVA forum threads. Scary stuff, glad I know about it.
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getting a work permit in japan requires a bachelors degree,
I'm covered in that realm, but it's good you reiterate it for the sake of others
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One bad thing about JET is if you have experience in Japanese language, you can get really screwed, put in the middle of no-where. I have a friend teaching through JET right now, he had finished through 4th year Japanese at UCSD, and he got put in a little mountain village of about 3000 people teaching elementary school.
haha, sounds quaint and cozy, but also boring. I only know a few phrases like "good morning" and "thank you" and "what the hell!?!?", so I think getting sent to a highly-populated area is what I can expect.
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II had another friend who was there for a year, through JET, in Okaiyama, after he graduated from college, he said his job was essentially being a clown, he wasn't a real teacher, he was basicly their to entertain.
oh gosh... I know what that's like. Good thing I'm good at working with kids, but at the same time... I'm not going to travel 7,500 miles to put on a circus show, haha
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their are a lot of resources for peopler looking to teach English in Japan, another thing you can do is private tutoring.or look for a more private school, and see if they are hiring, here are some sites that may be of use to you.
excellent, I'll be sure to browse through those. Are you planning on heading over there yourself at some point? Do your friends have any sage advice to offer? Maybe share something they wish they had known before they joined or left for Japan? Can they tell us anything about the interview process?
thanks for all the info ^___^
kyrios wrote:
what about spanish? is there any programme related to this language.
probably not. English is only well-regarded because it's the official language of international business. Since Japan is so dependant on other nations for it's manufacturing and financial needs, it trains all of its citizens to be ready for a career in international exchange.
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I wonder which the japanese level that you need for this program.
basically... the less Japanese you know, the better chance you have of getting in...
from my understanding, JET exists to be the entity that provides college kids who would otherwise never get a chance to see Japan. They provide everything for you and cater to most of your needs. Of course, you need to look at the whole picture and realize that they are literally mothering you, which means you're dependant on them. This arrangement is both good and bad. Good if you're like me... you don't know any Japanese and you want to see the nation, but you still have reliant sources of information and support. Bad, however, if you want to use this as a gateway to getting into Japan on a more independant basis since they try their best to keep you in their grasp. This is easier for them to achieve if they accept people who can't speak Japanese.
Remember, JET is run by the Japanese Government. The best way to describe it is it's like a free-trial of the country. They want people who are at the most basic levels of learning about Japan and they provide a service in exchange for you providing them with a service. Sure you can extent your stay and move up their ladder, but that's far from their priomary goal.
So basically, if you can't speak Japanese, but are interested in going for more than a vacation, choose JET. If you can speak Japanese and want to go for an extended stay, try another program... like private tutoring. Other people have posted helpful links throughout this thread. _________________ GTX: Great Teacher Xeno... my daily blog about teaching in an elementary and middle school in Japan (see right-menu)
Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 52 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject:
Yanno xeno you may have put me off on taking Japanese in university come September. I dunno why but I'm partial to using the JET program, probably cause the only other one I've even looked at is NOVA. Are you DEFINITELY not gonna get a big city if you know Japanese? Even a little bit?
ken> Yeah same here. I was considering JET as a 'Plan B' just in case my scholarship doesn't pull through.
But since I'm already studying Elementary 1 Japanese (and I plan to continue probably till Elementary 3), it kinda scares me a bit that if ever I do take the JET program, I may be thrown off somewhere in Japan without Internet.... *shudder*
Can I just 'fake' it and act like I don't know Japanese? _________________ EX-mod
Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 52 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:
Yea...cause if I go to Japan and submit my application with Honours History and Minor in Japanese Studies they'll go, "Hey Akira look at this sucker! He wants to go to a city but he knows Japanese!" "Just send him to some hick mountain village." *shudders*
Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 8365 Location: Futaba District, Fukushima Japan
Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:28 am Post subject:
Kenadian wrote:
Yanno xeno you may have put me off on taking Japanese in university come September. I dunno why but I'm partial to using the JET program, probably cause the only other one I've even looked at is NOVA. Are you DEFINITELY not gonna get a big city if you know Japanese? Even a little bit?
I'm not 100% on anything, which is why I'm hoping someone who knows the program will stop by here. If you know just a little bit of Japanese, I highly doubt they'll stick you in the boonies. The guy who writes the Gaijin Smash blog knows plenty of Japanese and he got sent to Kyoto, a fairly large city.
There are other programs besides JET. I wouldn't neglect taking Japanese in school just to get into JET. I'm sure there are other better programs out there for people who know the language. JET is like the elementary-version for n00bs. If I had been interested in Japanese when I was in college, I prolly would have taken a few classes myself.
meganekko wrote:
But since I'm already studying Elementary 1 Japanese (and I plan to continue probably till Elementary 3), it kinda scares me a bit that if ever I do take the JET program, I may be thrown off somewhere in Japan without Internet.... *shudder*
oh geez, don't even say that, haha. I'm sure most of Japan has internet, so I wouldn't be too worried about it. They prolly understand how addicted to technology kids are these days.
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Can I just 'fake' it and act like I don't know Japanese?
They'll probably want to see your transcripts, you sneaky sneaky bastard.
Rummor wrote:
i heard its extreamily ez for an american to become and english teacher in japan, anyone got any insite on that
erm... yeah.. that's what the past 5 pages of posts have been about. In sum... JET is designed to help people who are interested in Japan but don't know much about it learn more about the country and culture by helping them live there. It's a service run by their government that basically provides all the life basics and in exchange, you work for them by teaching kids English. _________________ GTX: Great Teacher Xeno... my daily blog about teaching in an elementary and middle school in Japan (see right-menu)
Oh boy... I'd get to help with the Sports Day and Culture Day Festivals!! Sweet, it's gonna be like living in anime, haha. All those hours of watching school-daze comedies will pay off!!
Also, I'm not a big drinker (or even a small drinker), so I don't like this idea of paying for the teacher parties, but oh well, I guess I'll enjoy the good company. Looks like it's all flat-fee just for showing up. Sigh, hope no one makes a fuss over my not drinking. I hate awkward social situations.
I also need to practice this phrase: "Douzo Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu" ("please take care of me") _________________ GTX: Great Teacher Xeno... my daily blog about teaching in an elementary and middle school in Japan (see right-menu)
Woah, reading all of these Japan thingies makes me.... just... tingly all over... *japan... drool*
But anyway, I think I won't be THAT fluent in nihongo. I plan to work after my Elementary 1 course, so I guess that means I'll only have time to make do with the Saturday classes (which also means my Elementary 2 course will take 6 months to finish).
By the time I finish, either I'll be doing my scholarship, or the JET program, or another scholarship I plan to take as a back-up plan.
..................... I worry too much.
Although, I think I have to learn how to drink alcohol as much as those Japs do. _________________ EX-mod
Oh boy... I'd get to help with the Sports Day and Culture Day Festivals!! Sweet, it's gonna be like living in anime, haha. All those hours of watching school-daze comedies will pay off!!
Also, I'm not a big drinker (or even a small drinker), so I don't like this idea of paying for the teacher parties, but oh well, I guess I'll enjoy the good company. Looks like it's all flat-fee just for showing up. Sigh, hope no one makes a fuss over my not drinking. I hate awkward social situations.
I also need to practice this phrase: "Douzo Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu" ("please take care of me")
Nice find Xeno. No fluoride in their toothpaste? That's pretty strange to me.
As for the drinking, it won't be too bad for me, I hope. I mean, I'm Canadian and Italian. I'll hold my liquor.
NOVA is the most popular one by far, but like, in the last 4 months or so, theres been contraversies.
there was one a few months back about the british girl that got murdered.
she was being stalked, and the guy slipped a note under her door asking for private lessons. and she accepted.
she disappeared and a bit later, they found her in a bathtub full of sand and the guy is on the run.
then theres that big drugs scandal.
i think it was like 4 of novas teachers were caught with drugs. as for the rest of the details im not sure.
someone can come and work for the company i work for
Peppy Kids Club!
its awesome!
i only work in the evenings, and usually from 5 pm onwards. meaning i have the whole day to myself to do what i want.
the classes are only 1 hour long, and in most days i only have the one class.
at most, i think 4 classes are the max that any Peppy english teacher teaches.
also u get paid for the month, not the hours u work. so ill still be getting paid 2200$ for 35 ish hours of work a month
so dont go to nova, or jet, come to peppy kids club!
did i mention that the company reimburses u all the money spent on getting to work? and they highly reccommend that u take pub. transport so they can pay u back
------------------------------
as for living...
any one coming over, i HIGHLY recommend that u go to BOOK-OFF, HARD-OFF, HOUSE-OFF and OFFICE-OFF.
they are second hand stores, and everything there is a bargain.
book off has manga, books, cds, dvds and games, all secondhand but brand new condition (japs love to keep things mint)
hard off, i have electrical goods like speakers and stereos, i bought a cd player for 1050 yen ($10) and speakers for$5
house off is where the gold is.
if ur looking for furnish ur place, go here.
i saw a twin seater couch, worth around 360$, here it was only 600yen. not even, it was 525 yen. thats cheaper than a mcdonalds meal.
i saw armoirs for like 10$.
highly recommend coming here first! _________________ [img:567:138:151453bb6b]http://www.anime-source.com/upload/uploadFiles/wahagifsda.gif[/img:151453bb6b]
blog
ani> Wow, sounds absolutely smashing! Almost too good to be true! Well I went to their website and download the info sheet, I think I'll go and have a look on this one...
Just fantastic. Big money too~
Although, is it true about the big income tax deduction thing?
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Non-residents (people who reside in
Japan for less than a year and/or are contracted for less
than a year) are taxed at around 20%.
Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 8365 Location: Futaba District, Fukushima Japan
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 4:12 am Post subject:
Ani_MaSTeR wrote:
hello boys.
Hey Ani, how's things?
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there was one a few months back about the british girl that got murdered.
she was being stalked, and the guy slipped a note under her door asking for private lessons. and she accepted.
she disappeared and a bit later, they found her in a bathtub full of sand and the guy is on the run.
gruesome... indeed. Although, I wouldn't hold that against NOVA, seems like it could have happened to ANY foreign teacher.
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then theres that big drugs scandal.
i think it was like 4 of novas teachers were caught with drugs. as for the rest of the details im not sure.
haha, well, surely a black-eye for the company, but again, it's not something that was CAUSED by NOVA.
The controversies I'm more worried about are in regards to contract issues, weird deductions, fees, unhelpful resident assistants, stupid course planning... stuff like that.
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i only work in the evenings, and usually from 5 pm onwards. meaning i have the whole day to myself to do what i want.
the classes are only 1 hour long, and in most days i only have the one class.
at most, i think 4 classes are the max that any Peppy english teacher teaches.
also u get paid for the month, not the hours u work. so ill still be getting paid 2200$ for 35 ish hours of work a month
you work 7 days a week though? Sounds interesting, though the name is somewhat awkward, haha. I know, I know... "don't judge a book by it's cover." As for myself, I want the full school experience. I want to be surrounded by kids and witness the activities they go through. I might take up private tutoring in the evenings for people of all ages. That might be a good way to curb boredom, meet new people and earn myself a little spending cash.
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so dont go to nova, or jet, come to peppy kids club!
did i mention that the company reimburses u all the money spent on getting to work? and they highly reccommend that u take pub. transport so they can pay u back
ah, interesting. I'm hoping JET does that. I'm still trying to find the official answer on that.
Any interesting stories to share in regards to your classes, students, and whatnot? Have you made any new friends? What's the area you're living in like.
Send me photos, dammit!!! hahaha
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any one coming over, i HIGHLY recommend that u go to BOOK-OFF, HARD-OFF, HOUSE-OFF and OFFICE-OFF.
they are second hand stores, and everything there is a bargain.
book off has manga, books, cds, dvds and games, all secondhand but brand new condition (japs love to keep things mint)
hard off, i have electrical goods like speakers and stereos, i bought a cd player for 1050 yen ($10) and speakers for$5
is that like a chain of stores or is that like a type of store? Sounds like a quick way to furnish a house. What did you bring with you from home? Prolly not much, right?
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highly recommend coming here first!
stop tempting me, haha. Well, I would hop a plane to visit, but my vacation time is running out and I need what I have left for conventions. I dunno, I'll put a fare-watch on Tokyo and Fukuoka to see if anything affordable pops up. Although... I still need to get a passport.
meganekko wrote:
Just fantastic. Big money too~
$2,200 for 35 hours of work....? that's like... 75 bucks an hour O___O
what do you do with all your spare time, Ani?
Quote:
Although, is it true about the big income tax deduction thing?
Quote:
Non-residents (people who reside in
Japan for less than a year and/or are contracted for less
than a year) are taxed at around 20%.
Kinda woozy dontcha think?
I think I pay about 25% on my income taxes now, so this is actually a break for me. _________________ GTX: Great Teacher Xeno... my daily blog about teaching in an elementary and middle school in Japan (see right-menu)
Last edited by xenocrisis0153 on Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:24 am; edited 2 times in total
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I dunno why but I'm partial to using the JET program, probably cause the only other one I've even looked at is NOVA. Are you DEFINITELY not gonna get a big city if you know Japanese? Even a little bit?
Almost too good to be true! Well I went to their website and download the info sheet, I think I'll go and have a look on this one...
