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Teaching English Abroad

So I'm hoping Jay will have some input on this, but also that there are maybe more TA's than I think who have done this before. I've got an interview with a company (AEON) to teach in Japan for a year starting this fall, and I'm pretty excited about the possibility - but I guess I'm just looking to get to know the kinds of things that I might be forgetting about that could become major issues.

As for the details, I really don't know specifically where I'd be outside of knowing it would be in Japan. I've wanted to visit Japan for ages, and genuinely think I wouldn't have a problem transplanting myself for a year to somewhere unfamiliar. It's just definitely time to take advantage of my degree and this seems like a prime opportunity - I'd be making as much (if not a bit more) than I would as a first year teacher in the states, better benefits, subsidized rent, and I think it's just the kind of experience I want to have on my resume when I pursue teaching/graduate school further.

So have any of you (beyond Jay) done this? Known someone who did? What did you/they think?



I've really heard nothing but wonderful things from the handful of people I know personally who've done programs in Japan and South Korea (most have stayed beyond - some well beyond - their first year), but I feel like with hearing all these positive stories I've got to be missing out on something.

Any help/info/insights would be much appreciated - just trying to go into the interview prepared.

Also (somewhat related), I've really been trying hard to learn more about the subtleties of Japanese culture (so as to at least avoid some inevitable social faux pas), as well as learn a bit of Japanese (though this is of course proving quite difficult) - anyone have anything "big" they think I should know provided I were both offered and accepted the job?

those chicks are so fcuking tight

Do you know Japanese?

No, you don't need to.

Angie, I'm surprised you haven't heard of programs like these before.

I have, but Ive always thought that it would be a good idea to know how to communicate with the student in his or her language before trying to teach mine. I dont know, maybe youd be teaching people that already know enough to communicate with you?

I'm moving out to Spain later this year to do a bit of Teaching English as a Foreign language.

The courses I have looked at have all required at least a BA in the language of the country in which you are teaching.

Ah, I see that AEON is geared more towards improvement and Amity is for the kiddies.

Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by RJT Known someone who did? What did you/they think?

got a mate that's been there for about 4 years. he loves it. im totally jealous of all that yellow poon he smashed too. he reckons being over there is like being a celebrity. i say do it, but do it single sorry lucid.

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Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie I have, but Ive always thought that it would be a good idea to know how to communicate with the student in his or her language before trying to teach mine. I dont know, maybe youd be teaching people that already know enough to communicate with you?

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Originally posted by ZeJayMan I'm moving out to Spain later this year to do a bit of Teaching English as a Foreign language. The courses I have looked at have all required at least a BA in the language of the country in which you are teaching.

That really doesn't seem to be how it works for just about all of the major independent EFL schools for Asia - at most they require TEFL experience (which I have) and certification of completion of any TEFL professional training (which I also already have).

Conversely, almost all the programs I've seen in Europe require a BA in the language in the country where you will be heading to speak.

I don't know what makes it different, but I do know TEFL is huge business in Asia, and that the demand for teachers is much higher than the supply. Take that however you like.

Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN got a mate that's been there for about 4 years. he loves it. im totally jealous of all that yellow poon he smashed too. he reckons being over there is like being a celebrity. i say do it, but do it single sorry lucid.

Not really how I'm looking to go about it, nor am I particularly attracted to Asian women in the first place

Myra has actually been pretty encouraging about me pursuing graduate school and/or work wherever is going to make me happy, and I really can't even begin to express how grateful I am for that.

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Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Ah, I see that AEON is geared more towards improvement and Amity is for the kiddies.

I would be working for Amity (insert pedo-joke here)

If you want a better idea at how bog-standard the whole TEFL thing is for Asia, check out http://www.teachabroad.com and search for any Asian country.

Go for it man. Get Djing at a big club in Tokyo or something.


All the European courses seem to have the BA requirement, but I think that's just to stop jokers going over to a country and taking advantage of the subsidised living.

Re: Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by RJT nor am I particularly attracted to Asian women in the first place

fucking weirdo

lira, ban this fuck already.

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Originally posted by ZeJayMan Go for it man. Get Djing at a big club in Tokyo or something.

Oh man, that would be so awesome.

Went to a currency converter site and 250,000 yen/month is roughly ~$2384 in USD. I'm oblivious to cost of living, prices of food and what not in Japan, but is that a good salary?

Rob, I have a buddy that is over there doing it right now also. He loves it. He just had his internet installed in his new place. 50Mbits. bastards!!!!!!!lol

Ok but seriously, go over there with like 5k cash in an account. You won't see a paycheck for 6 weeks. Also, find out if the company that you would be going through pays for housing or if you have to take care of it. If you must take care of it, then you will really need to make sure you have enough money for rent for the following month you move.

If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to ask my buddy that's over there. He is a TA and I'll link him to the thread also. Maybe he will post about it. Otherwise I will try to relay the questions.

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Originally posted by spc Oh man, that would be so awesome. Went to a currency converter site and 250,000 yen/month is roughly ~$2384 in USD. I'm oblivious to cost of living, prices of food and what not in Japan, but is that a good salary?

My buddy over there makes like 3700/month there, and usually has a good amount left over. He has been in a shitty time, as the company he went over with, went bankrupt and he had to find a new job. He got evicted from like 2 or 3 places he stayed. lol

let this thread continue as a "BSG is the greatest tv show ever and grace park is the hottest robot in the history of robots"

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN let this thread continue as a "BSG is the greatest tv show ever and grace park is the hottest robot in the history of robots"

FINAL CYLON PREDICTIONS?

I always thought Gaeta would make the perfect fit, 2nd guess would be Helo since that would be a huge curveball for most viewers

quote:

Originally posted by spc Oh man, that would be so awesome. Went to a currency converter site and 250,000 yen/month is roughly ~$2384 in USD. I'm oblivious to cost of living, prices of food and what not in Japan, but is that a good salary?

I'd be making a bit more than that, approximately 285,000-290,000 per month, no utilities, subsidized rent (I'd pay about 20,000 per month out of my own pocket), and have full insurance benefits.

I don't need more than $30,000 a year, my laptop and mixer, and a way to get in touch with people at home to be happy.

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel Also, find out if the company that you would be going through pays for housing or if you have to take care of it. If you must take care of it, then you will really need to make sure you have enough money for rent for the following month you move.

Furnished apartment with subsidized rent ready for occupancy upon arrival.

Most people have seemed generally very, very pleased with the living situation AEON sets up - and it's definitely your own place w/ full kitchen and bath as well as in apartment laundry.

I'm sure it will be tiny, but again, I don't need much - and I'm not a big guy

And as far as the company your buddy initially worked for, I don't claim to know all that much about these programs, but there's definitely a fair number of web resources for sorting out which ones are decent and which ones are sketchy.

AEON came pretty highly recommended, but I'm of course always looking for more - some sort of "catch."

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Originally posted by RJT I'm sure it will be tiny,

just like asian girls' wastelines!

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Originally posted by RJT I don't need more than $30,000 a year, my laptop and mixer, and a way to get in touch with people at home to be happy.

ouch! i hope you have no student loans.

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Originally posted by jerZ07002 ouch! i hope you have no student loans.

I have tons - well, I guess not a ton more than the average student who needed loans. Fortunately they will all be deferred while I am in graduate school, and while I'm in Japan my parents are going to help me with whatever my payment is over $500/mo. (basically they're going to pay between $150-$200 of my loans per month while I'm there).

In any event I wasn't ever going to make a ton of money - but thankfully I also don't care so long as my bills are paid.



Experiences > Material Things

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Furnished apartment with subsidized rent ready for occupancy upon arrival. Most people have seemed generally very, very pleased with the living situation AEON sets up - and it's definitely your own place w/ full kitchen and bath as well as in apartment laundry. I'm sure it will be tiny, but again, I don't need much - and I'm not a big guy And as far as the company your buddy initially worked for, I don't claim to know all that much about these programs, but there's definitely a fair number of web resources for sorting out which ones are decent and which ones are sketchy. AEON came pretty highly recommended, but I'm of course always looking for more - some sort of "catch."

He did a bunch of research before he decided, but there was nothing talking about the financial stability of the company that he was with. He was really worried about just such a thing happening. He was there for about 3 months and then bam, all over. He found a new job like 1-2 weeks later, but you just don't see a paycheck from ANY companies in japan for 6 weeks after you start. Really gay.

Sounds like they have a good arrangement then with the living situation. I know the place my buddy went over with, they paid for it all (obviously paid you less but it wasn't THAT much less than the ones that didn't), and he was making around 3200 or so. He lived in a tiny place that he shared with someone else too. Pretty shitty. Sounds like AEON provides you with your own full apartment.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT I have tons - well, I guess not a ton more than the average student who needed loans. Fortunately they will all be deferred while I am in graduate school, and while I'm in Japan my parents are going to help me with whatever my payment is over $500/mo. (basically they're going to pay between $150-$200 of my loans per month while I'm there). In any event I wasn't ever going to make a ton of money - but thankfully I also don't care so long as my bills are paid. Experiences > Material Things

i agree, but you'll find that desired experiences are sometimes hard to come by without proper financing. i wish i could get my girlfriend to think that way. - coach, gucci, chanel, blah blah blah.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel He did a bunch of research before he decided, but there was nothing talking about the financial stability of the company that he was with. He was really worried about just such a thing happening. He was there for about 3 months and then bam, all over. He found a new job like 1-2 weeks later, but you just don't see a paycheck from ANY companies in japan for 6 weeks after you start. Really gay.

Hmmmmm... AEON must be different then, because in my contract stipulations (I got them today - hence the thread) it basically says that my living expenses are all paid for my first week in Japan (training), and upon completing the first week I begin getting paid bi-weekly with my first, full-salary check coming at the end of training.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel Sounds like they have a good arrangement then with the living situation. I know the place my buddy went over with, they paid for it all (obviously paid you less but it wasn't THAT much less than the ones that didn't), and he was making around 3200 or so. He lived in a tiny place that he shared with someone else too. Pretty shitty. Sounds like AEON provides you with your own full apartment.

Yeah - no shared living at all, and it really seems like they are obsessive about details (which is something I absolutely demand - I get really paranoid if important things are up in the air).

Of course because of this I'm waiting for the proverbial floor to drop out and be hit over the head with something I'm not seeing - but so far they've been very forthright about answering my questions, and I'm fucking neurotic about asking them.

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