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Anyone teach English abroad?

I did it in Japan for 5.5 years. If you're talking about the work itself, here is my experience in brief:

- Job 1 I worked at for five years, it was a startup company and I was actually the first teacher they hired. The owner was Japanese and the "manager" was a Canadian kid just barely older than I was when I arrived, and who overpromised and underdelivered, and who was gone 3 months later. They really didn't have their shit together in the beginning, and overhired 1 person and I was quick to volunteer that I would leave to solve their problem. Well one of the others simply run away w/o saying a word, and they presented me with a better offer to convince me to stay so I did. I dealt almost exclusively with kids aged 3 to 12. Since the company was pretty messed up, doing my job effectively was difficult for awhile as I basically had to come up with my own lesson plans w/o any experience. That sucked, but on the other hand I typically only had to work 3 to 5 hours a day (starting anywhere from 2 to 4 pm) and got a flat salary. That was the main reason I stayed with the job for 5 years, but also after several months I started to feel like I knew what I was doing so that took some edge off (and drastically cut the prep time to just a few minutes a day instead of 1 to 2 hours in addition to the teaching hours

- Job 2 was only 5 months. Normally in Japan the contract calls for 1 year (same length as work visa), but in this case there was a runaway (are we seeing a pattern here?) and they needed someone urgently, I said I would do it but only til the end of their semester (5 months later) and they agreed. Being a long established school (over 20 years) you would think they would have had their shit together, but no, it was also chaotic (actually much more so than the first job). Again, lesson plans were virtually non-existent (a problem they finally corrected on the last month of my job), but that problem was greatly amplified by the fact that I was teaching a far greater variety of classes than my first job. So there were kids, teens, low level adults, mid level adults, high level adults, and even a nursing school of 40+ students. They were all using different textbooks (if the company even gave me textbook or activity to do with them), and if a lesson plan was provided it was so fucking incompetent that the class would have been a complete disaster had I followed it straight through. The american head teacher/manager was an asshole and a poor leader, and everyone knew it, but he himself thought everyone does or should like him and that he actually had his shit together, which he didn't (though to his credit, he changed for the better 3 months after I started). The Japanese owner was awesome though and during my "interview" for the job he actually bought me dinner and we had beers. This job paid more than job 1, but the downside was a fractured schedule I usually had to do 3/5 days a week- couple morning hours, several hours off, then usually 4 to 5 hours starting in the afternoon. Fractured schedules suck

- I did get pretty generous vacation time at both jobs- about 4 weeks vacation/yr plus misc. days off in addition to the standard 2 days off a week.

- Would I recommend it? To be honest if I had visited Japan first before agreeing to work there, I never would have gone back to work there. It just wasn't what I expected. Westernization of Japan is really bad IMO. Also, there are basically 2 types of Japanese- those with varying degrees of xenophobia, and those who are looking to practice their English. The xenophobes don't hate foreigners or anything, but they'd just as well not have anything to do with them. Those wanting to practice their English were extremely grating to my skin as I went to Japan with the main goal of learning Japanese. You can tell them flat out (in Japanese) that you came for the purpose of learning Japanese and don't want to speak in English, but they'll keep right on at it and maybe say something like "well I'll speak in English and you can answer in Japanese", robbing you of vital listening experience. Those who do have an interest in foreign people and are happy to converse in Japanese are rare. Typically, they can speak English but are willing not to converse in it if you say that's how its gotta be. BTW, I'd estimate that 95% of Americans, brits, ozzies, aussies, and canadians in Japan, even if they've been there for several years and/or have a freakin' Japanese wife, can't speak Japanese worth a damn. Don't be like these self entitled pieces of shit. You will quickly notice on the other hand, that Middle Easterners, Indians, Chinese, Koreans, Brazilians and what have you do take the time to learn the language, even if only there for a year or so (and it's not uncommon for them to be able to speak decent to excellent English as well).

- I would recommend you pick a country and come up with a game plan with what you'd like to get out of going there. Then visit it. There will be some things you'll realize that you won't get, and there may be some benefits you'll discover that hadn't thought of before (for instance, you might be in a compact country that's compact, has excellent public transportation, and let's you go anywhere on a bicycle, and make you wonder how you could ever go back to owning a car again). Or their could be an instant deal killer, you discover, such as lack of special dietary needs. Add up the pros and cons and revise your game plan- if it seems mostly on the up and up, go for the English gig for a year and see how it goes. Otherwise, forget about it and move on to greener pastures. Also might wanna factor in your age. If your 22 and fresh outta school (or 18 in countries that don't require a college diploma to get a working visa) and haven't built up your adult life then that's the ideal time to go. If you're say 33 and would be giving up a lot of stuff (that you'd only have to reobtain after returning), then living abroad may not be so ideal.

- Let's say you did the above and found somewhere you want to work at- it's time to find a job. Here's a checklist of things to consider:
a) don't take a job with a fractured schedule, I've done it, it sucks
b) strongly recommend you don't take a job unless the company provides you with a lesson plan and book, and make sure the lesson plan is usable (you might have to ask the employer if you need to create your own plan, or ask employees what they think of the company provided plan)
c) Housing- where will it be and who's gonna set it up? In Xenophobic Japan, landlords will turn you away w/o a second thought. Even then, you may have to pay outrageous "key money" and deposits. If your company pays, OK. If you pay and you think it's too high- walk away.
d) alot of the jobs out there give you some shitty schedule like 1 to 9 pm. Take that if you have to, but look for something better
f) transportation- the locations may be far some days, like 3 to 4 hour round trip. If you have a short working day OK, but something like the 1 to 9 schedule with this kind of commute is completely unacceptable unless you were very well compensated.

One other thing, I've run across ads asking for short term assignments of 3 or 4 months for some countries. That may seem a bit more palatable, especially if you are older (maybe you can afford to keep paying your rent for that time or temporarily sublet your place to someone).

Didn't mean for this to get so long- hope it was useful
 
I am also in Japan right now, don't have the time to type up a intro dissertation like Evander but my experience has been different than his in some ways and similar in others. 😉

Working in the school system with Junior High and Elementary schools means 8-5 with weekends and holidays off, basically no stress, and opportunities to converse in Japanese with co-workers and children if that's your thing. The "Eikawa" private schools seem to be hit-or-miss talking with people employed by them. Some are amazing and others; eh, not so much.

Speaking no Japanese when I got here was tough but I've learned enough to function for the most part: lesson planning with Japanese teachers who speak no English, negotiated with the Real Estate agent for my new apartment in September, opened bank account, etc... so after a year I'm nowhere near fluent but I am comfortable with daily conversations.

Never encountered Xenophobic landlords (I've had two, one used to give me presents weekly and my current one sent a nice letter in English welcoming me to their apartment) but know people who have, luck of the draw I guess. Key money wasn't required for my current place but was for my last one, again it varies with location, age of the place, amenities, etc...

I spent a year in the "Inaka" (rural) small-towns and the past month in a big commuter city 20 minutes from Tokyo. Both have had their positives and I'm glad that I was able to experience both. There are definitely more surprised and outright hilarious reactions from people up north when they see a foreigner; from old people unabashedly staring to children wanting my autograph, there's a whole range of reactions to being not Japanese here.

Since I'm not here to learn Japanese the lack of English speaking people up north had been a distinct disadvantage for me and a source of a lot of frustration. But where else can one go to a (relatively) high paying job in another country without speaking the language? Now I feel guilty whenever I speak English with another teacher or Japanese person 😛

These have been my experiences the last year, as illustrated by Evander they are highly personal - he has been here much longer than I and I wholeheartedly agree with his suggestions for people looking to go overseas and teach.
 
I did it in South Korea for 8 months. It wasn't an easy job - a lot of demands on time on patience from the employer and certain students, but the time I had off to travel, live in another culture and make friends was worth it.

I'd recommend it if you're open to new experiences, but some people I know hated it, probably because their lifestyle expectations were too rigid.
 
Glad my reply was useful. Yes, I speak/read Japanese but not fluently - I bought last years JLPT 2 test (JLPT 1 is highest) and took it at home w/o doing any test prep just to see how I'd do, and passed it (barely), so I'm considered "business level Japanese", though unofficially since I just took the test at home.
In Japan at the current exchange rate you'd likely make $30,000/yr. Tax is very low, about 95% of salary is your take home pay. Employer typically pays your transportation cost. And you can and should cut out expenses like a car and car insurance. an apartment will cost probably 500 to 800$ month (even in Tokyo). so your $2500/mth base salary stretches pretty far. Cost of goods is more expensive than US, especially food and cds and dvds. Self entitled inflexible types can easily blow most of their money, more frugal types who look for alternatives can easily save most of their money.
 
You got lucky here with those two very good responses, but I recommend you go to eslcafe.com and check out the forums for more details. They also have some good job listings.
 
I am planning on teaching English in Japan myself in May when I graduate. Any of you guys that have done it, can you give me a website of the program you went through? That would be most helpful!
 
Here's a very funny yet informative, no BS blog about one person's experience in Japan as English teacher: http://www.gaijinsmash.net/

Make sure you read from the begining by clicking on "archives" and scrolling all the way down!

One of my favorite entrees is actually the very first one:

I'm assigned to three different Japanese middle schools. The grade levels are ichinensei, ninensei, and sannensei. These translate to "1st years," "2nd years," and "3rd years," and are equivalent to American 7-9th grades. So the kids are about 12-15 years old. The ichinensei are just beginning to learn English. So this means they know nothing. Well, they know "Good Morning" and "I go to school by bike" but that's about it. Some of them don't even know that.

You know what's kind of funny though? Some kids can't yet say "Good morning" but damn near all of them can ask if I have a big dick. Or "bigu dikku" in Engrish.

You see, Japan's an island no bigger than California, and information about the rest of the world is filtered. There are so few foreigners here, their only impressions of things outside Japan are from the media. And to be honest, they don't really give a damn about anything other than America. So try to imagine a country where the national perception of you is created by American movies, music, and MTV. When you stop crying and shaking at the sheer horror of that thought, I'll be here waiting.


Okay? OK. The whole "black men have big dicks" stereotype stretches far and wide, even to the nation's 12-year-olds. Part of why I'm here is not just to kind-of-sort-of help teach English, but to "broaden cultural perceptions." Break stereotypes, challenge preconceived notions, all that jazz. That's fine, but this is one stereotype I think I'm gonna let slide.

Still, I am asked "bigu dikku?" a lot. Every 2-3 days in fact, which is amazing considering I was asked this about 2-3 times in my entire life in America, locker room jokes aside. How do you answer that anyway? To a 12 to 15-year-old? I wave them off and say, "No, no, no." Then they say, "Oh, sumaru dikku?" (trans: small dick) and of course that's wrong so I have to correct them. It's just a no-win situation.

On the days I'm not avoiding that question, I'm avoiding them actually trying to grab it. I kid you not, I have to play Dodgedick with Japanese Jr. High kids on a weekly basis. Age, gender, doesn't matter, they all want a stab at it. The boys are more persistent though. I had one boy grab for it, and when I said, "No!" he put his hands together and said, in English, "Please!" Oh hell no. Another 12-year-old boy kept grabbing at it, and when I told him, "No!" he politely asked, "Why not?" I began to wonder if there wasn't some cultural more I didn't understand. So I said clearly, "Age 10 years and become female since birth, then we'll talk." His solution was to ask the girl sitting next to him to trade seats, grab my dick, and tell him about it.

That was so NOT what I meant.

I wish I could say it stops there. Let me introduce you to a game Japanese kids like to play called "Kancho." It's not as much a 'game' as it is kids clasping their hands together, sticking out their first fingers, and shoving them up your butt. I'm really not joking.

Just about any kid can be a Kancho Assassin. Even the sweetest little girl is liable to jam her fingers up your ass the second you turn around. This happened to one of my friends, which just goes to show - don't trust anyone. I'd say the little girls are the most dangerous because they have natural ways of lowering your defenses.

During JET orientation they told me a lot of ultimately useless stuff: what kind of computer to bring, if my DVD's would work, clothing sizes, that kind of nonsense. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, in the 3-4 months of training did anyone ever mention that at some point, a Japanese kid may try to stick his fingers up my butt. That's something I would have liked to know, personally.

I was pretty lucky. Before I left the US, I bought a really big, really baggy pair of pants. The kids try to Kancho... they just have no idea where my ass is. It's beautiful! One kid tried and his fingers hit nothing but jean fabric and air. Yes! I've also become pretty good at dodging it. Much like Spiderman I have developed a Kancho Sense that tells me where and when it's coming before it comes. I parry fingers like a pro. My record is still 100% Kancho Free. Ha! America 2, Japan 0.

All in a day's work I suppose.
Click to expand...

 
Interesting.

I'll have to consider this as well, just for the heck of it.
 
Originally posted by: state 08
Here's a very funny yet informative, no BS blog about one person's experience in Japan as English teacher: http://www.gaijinsmash.net/

Make sure you read from the begining by clicking on "archives" and scrolling all the way down!

One of my favorite entrees is actually the very first one:

I'm assigned to three different Japanese middle schools. The grade levels are ichinensei, ninensei, and sannensei. These translate to "1st years," "2nd years," and "3rd years," and are equivalent to American 7-9th grades. So the kids are about 12-15 years old. The ichinensei are just beginning to learn English. So this means they know nothing. Well, they know "Good Morning" and "I go to school by bike" but that's about it. Some of them don't even know that.

You know what's kind of funny though? Some kids can't yet say "Good morning" but damn near all of them can ask if I have a big dick. Or "bigu dikku" in Engrish.

You see, Japan's an island no bigger than California, and information about the rest of the world is filtered. There are so few foreigners here, their only impressions of things outside Japan are from the media. And to be honest, they don't really give a damn about anything other than America. So try to imagine a country where the national perception of you is created by American movies, music, and MTV. When you stop crying and shaking at the sheer horror of that thought, I'll be here waiting.


Okay? OK. The whole "black men have big dicks" stereotype stretches far and wide, even to the nation's 12-year-olds. Part of why I'm here is not just to kind-of-sort-of help teach English, but to "broaden cultural perceptions." Break stereotypes, challenge preconceived notions, all that jazz. That's fine, but this is one stereotype I think I'm gonna let slide.

Still, I am asked "bigu dikku?" a lot. Every 2-3 days in fact, which is amazing considering I was asked this about 2-3 times in my entire life in America, locker room jokes aside. How do you answer that anyway? To a 12 to 15-year-old? I wave them off and say, "No, no, no." Then they say, "Oh, sumaru dikku?" (trans: small dick) and of course that's wrong so I have to correct them. It's just a no-win situation.

On the days I'm not avoiding that question, I'm avoiding them actually trying to grab it. I kid you not, I have to play Dodgedick with Japanese Jr. High kids on a weekly basis. Age, gender, doesn't matter, they all want a stab at it. The boys are more persistent though. I had one boy grab for it, and when I said, "No!" he put his hands together and said, in English, "Please!" Oh hell no. Another 12-year-old boy kept grabbing at it, and when I told him, "No!" he politely asked, "Why not?" I began to wonder if there wasn't some cultural more I didn't understand. So I said clearly, "Age 10 years and become female since birth, then we'll talk." His solution was to ask the girl sitting next to him to trade seats, grab my dick, and tell him about it.

That was so NOT what I meant.

I wish I could say it stops there. Let me introduce you to a game Japanese kids like to play called "Kancho." It's not as much a 'game' as it is kids clasping their hands together, sticking out their first fingers, and shoving them up your butt. I'm really not joking.

Just about any kid can be a Kancho Assassin. Even the sweetest little girl is liable to jam her fingers up your ass the second you turn around. This happened to one of my friends, which just goes to show - don't trust anyone. I'd say the little girls are the most dangerous because they have natural ways of lowering your defenses.

During JET orientation they told me a lot of ultimately useless stuff: what kind of computer to bring, if my DVD's would work, clothing sizes, that kind of nonsense. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, in the 3-4 months of training did anyone ever mention that at some point, a Japanese kid may try to stick his fingers up my butt. That's something I would have liked to know, personally.

I was pretty lucky. Before I left the US, I bought a really big, really baggy pair of pants. The kids try to Kancho... they just have no idea where my ass is. It's beautiful! One kid tried and his fingers hit nothing but jean fabric and air. Yes! I've also become pretty good at dodging it. Much like Spiderman I have developed a Kancho Sense that tells me where and when it's coming before it comes. I parry fingers like a pro. My record is still 100% Kancho Free. Ha! America 2, Japan 0.

All in a day's work I suppose.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

This is my life. :laugh:
Kancho is pretty much finished, I've not had to deal with many eager fingers in my rear nether regions.
One 3nensei (15 year old) does ask me if I had sex the night before every time I see him and has nicknamed my crotch "Mt. Fuji".
Sigh...

I used gaijinpot.com to find my current employer. I'm an ALT which means that I work in the school system with a Japanese teacher of English; just like the guy in the blog.
Also check out bigdaikon.com for matters related to ALTs mostly.
 
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