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Originally posted by jerZ07002 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.

Lol, yeah - I guess I just look at it as me being fortunate for a few things:

1. Having parents willing to help makes this infinitely easier.
2. Having a girlfriend who encourages me to do things like this because she knows it's what I really want to do with my life (traveling and teaching are pretty much the two reasons I went to college).
3. I'm willing to give up a fair bit of luxuries in my life (i.e. pot, buying unnecessary "things", etc.) to take off for a year.

Probably not for everyone, and probably not an opportunity everyone is fortunate enough to have.

All the more reason I want to go.

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Originally posted by RJT 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. 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.

Well that is fucking awesome with regards to pay. My buddy was really aghast when he found out pretty much no one pays you for the first 6 weeks in a job. Glad this one doesn't do that.

And no shared living is great. And the fact that you are neurotic about asking questions is good. You won't be in the dark about most things, if any.

Oh, and don't worry too much about anything with regards to food etc. Everything is quite cheap over there. My buddy will get a delicious meal, with a beer mind you, for $2.50-3.00! And he has enough food for sure.

Did someone say Aeon?

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel Oh, and don't worry too much about anything with regards to food etc. Everything is quite cheap over there. My buddy will get a delicious meal, with a beer mind you, for $2.50-3.00! And he has enough food for sure.

Nice! One of the biggest concerns I have going over there is that I really, really immerse myself in Japanese culture - I do not want to be the American begging people back home for care packages or trying to track down American food, or anything like that, so I definitely want to do my best to just do my grocery shopping on their terms as well as try a bunch of Japanese food I probably wouldn't have even seen at American Sushi bars and Japanese restaurants.

I don't know - I just kind of want to get lost in Japan for a year. Really appeals to me.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN Did someone say Aeon?

cartoon so much better than the movie *ugh*

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Originally posted by RJT Nice! One of the biggest concerns I have going over there is that I really, really immerse myself in Japanese culture - I do not want to be the American begging people back home for care packages or trying to track down American food, or anything like that, so I definitely want to do my best to just do my grocery shopping on their terms as well as try a bunch of Japanese food I probably wouldn't have even seen at American Sushi bars and Japanese restaurants. I don't know - I just kind of want to get lost in Japan for a year. Really appeals to me.

If you miss Americana, just go to a baseball game in Japan

So here's something I've been wondering that the TA's may be able to help with - anyone know of any Japanese EDM forums? Better yet, any that have even a single subforum that is in English?

I really have no intention of giving up at least trying to play out - whether or not I'm actually able to should I wind up in Japan is, of course, another story entirely.

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Originally posted by RJT Nice! One of the biggest concerns I have going over there is that I really, really immerse myself in Japanese culture - I do not want to be the American begging people back home for care packages or trying to track down American food, or anything like that, so I definitely want to do my best to just do my grocery shopping on their terms as well as try a bunch of Japanese food I probably wouldn't have even seen at American Sushi bars and Japanese restaurants. I don't know - I just kind of want to get lost in Japan for a year. Really appeals to me.

Try to hit up different noodle shops. And try to travel as much as possible while there. The trains are cheap. Oh and if you can, get to the Gekkeiken Sake brewer and take a tour. My other buddy studied in Japan for a semester, and did so much. He loved it. Try to get into Osaka or Tokyo areas. They have the best nightlife for anything. And the most entertainment. Be ready for some of us TA's to send requests for Sakes that aren't sold in the US. That is all I can think of what my buddy that studied there did.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT So here's something I've been wondering that the TA's may be able to help with - anyone know of any Japanese EDM forums? Better yet, any that have even a single subforum that is in English? I really have no intention of giving up at least trying to play out - whether or not I'm actually able to should I wind up in Japan is, of course, another story entirely.

I will ask my buddy about it. He knows. He went to Ageha a few times, and has gone to a few different clubs.

Yup - travel is priority number one as far as free time. I'd really like to teach in a bit more rural area than Tokyo or Osaka, because making it into either city seems relatively easy, but the one downside to AEON is they don't really honor location requests. They place you based on your interview if they have a position they think you'd fill particularly well.

Which I guess can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how it all shakes out.

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Originally posted by RJT Yup - travel is priority number one as far as free time. I'd really like to teach in a bit more rural area than Tokyo or Osaka, because making it into either city seems relatively easy, but the one downside to AEON is they don't really honor location requests. They place you based on your interview if they have a position they think you'd fill particularly well. Which I guess can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how it all shakes out.

Well I dunno how the schedule is for AEON, but my buddy usually may work 6-7 days a week a lot of times. Not always, but it isn't out of the question. He had said before, that this makes it a little harder to go into the city, but I guess it really just depends on how far you are.

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel Well I dunno how the schedule is for AEON, but my buddy usually may work 6-7 days a week a lot of times. Not always, but it isn't out of the question. He had said before, that this makes it a little harder to go into the city, but I guess it really just depends on how far you are.

5 days a week, either noon to 8 PM or 2 to 10 PM, and never more than 40 hours per week.

Very strict regulations as to how much you can work, and very strict about having two days a week off.



Edit: Plus 3000 yen per hour overtime pay for every hour over 25 in a week.

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Originally posted by RJT 5 days a week, either noon to 8 PM or 2 to 10 PM, and never more than 40 hours per week. Very strict regulations as to how much you can work, and very strict about having two days a week off. Edit: Plus 3000 yen per hour overtime pay for every hour over 25 in a week.

Damn nice!!!!!!!! That means almost HALF your week is overtime!!!! NICE!!!!!!!

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel Damn nice!!!!!!!! That means almost HALF your week is overtime!!!! NICE!!!!!!!

Yeah - I should say, however, that I did read a LOT of experiences with both JETT and one other program (I forget which right now) where people were definitely working 6 days a week, had shared living, and were in general just really, really unhappy with their experience.

AEON really just seemed like the only one that had all the more important things for me (definite schedule, single housing, etc.)

Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by RJT 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?

link to aeons website?

Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by nchs09 link to aeons website?

http://www.aeonet.com/

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Originally posted by RJT Yeah - I should say, however, that I did read a LOT of experiences with both JETT and one other program (I forget which right now) where people were definitely working 6 days a week, had shared living, and were in general just really, really unhappy with their experience. AEON really just seemed like the only one that had all the more important things for me (definite schedule, single housing, etc.)

JETT was one of the ones my buddy looked at, and Nova was the one that he was with and went bankrupt. I dunno if he looked at AEON or not.

And the fact that they have the max work hours at 40 and 2 days off, is good.

Re: Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by RJT http://www.aeonet.com/

It all sounds pretty cool.

Do you need a BS on anything or English in specific?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by gehzumteufel JETT was one of the ones my buddy looked at, and Nova was the one that he was with and went bankrupt. I dunno if he looked at AEON or not. And the fact that they have the max work hours at 40 and 2 days off, is good.

NOVA was the other one! Total sketchballs, apparently.

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Originally posted by nchs09 It all sounds pretty cool. Do you need a BS on anything or English in specific?

Any Bachelors will do.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Teaching English Abroad

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Originally posted by RJT NOVA was the other one! Total sketchballs, apparently. Any Bachelors will do.

They have already gone bankrupt and apparently reformed some other shit. For sure a total shitbag company. I really wonder if my buddy is with AEON though. I will ask.

If anyone wants to read a pretty scathing review of AEON (i.e., this fellow was not thrilled about his experience), check this out: http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2...eon-part-i.html

A lot of the information is outdated, but I just finished reading through it and while I'm glad I heard the bulk of this fellows concerns, I still think they're pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. He certainly uses some flamboyant language to try and drive home his point, but it just sounds like he's a bit stubborn to me.

quote:

AEON encourages teachers to develop friendships with students in a group situation. However, AEON discourages all teachers from having inappropriate, intimate relationships with AEON students, and in particular, teachers should not, under any circumstances, socialize with students under the age of 20 on a one-to-one basis.

well, there go my plans!

Rob, if is is something you want to do you should really do it. They should subsidize more than they are doing, but many times it is just a matter of negociating yourself something better. The "native speakers" (foreign teachers all called that here that i bring over have their apartment paid 100% (minus utilities ect), 12 weeks of paid vacation,a health plan and a return ticket. Try and get as much as you can man, English in asia is something that has a higher demand then ever before.

As far as Japan goes it is very awesome. The salaries are not as high then other places in asia, but if you can find some private jobs on your own (illegal even with a visa but everyone does it) you can actually come close to matching what your base salary is.

If you cannot get a fully subsidized apartment, stay away from Osaka and Tokyo. The rents there will eat up a big portion of your salary (Make sure the school pays any security deposits for the place because you will see that they can be extremely high for foreigners!) Everything else in Japan is relitively cheap so worry about you rent the most. I would suggest Fukuoka if you want cheaper living while still being in a big city environment. (pop 5 million i think.) Its quite beautiful.

Stay in the cities, that is where the big money is on less hours. Rural places you work more for less. If you buckle down, you can really put a dent into your student loans and have the experience of a lifetime.

For those who asked if you have to speak the language, it is not nescessary. Language institutes always have local teachers to explain and help. The major job with a native speaker is to teach them the basics and help them nail the phonics. (Many Koreans can speak Conglish (a bastardized form of English) for example, our job is to make them lose those habits to prepare them more for their education abroad, as well as facilitate communications in business transactions.If you do want to learn the language the governments usually supply free classes depending on your status, as they welcome foreigners adapting to their culture.


have a fucking blast rob

/book

ps castrate yourself, asian women are hard to resist

Thank you Jay - you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

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