A Teaching Career in Japan - Yes/No?

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john3232
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Joined: 18 Dec 2020, 03:42
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A Teaching Career in Japan - Yes/No?

Unread post by john3232 »

I taught in the Tokyo area for 33 years. The first 10 years in language schools and the rest teaching p/t in universities. I retired a few years ago and my wife and I moved to the States.

Would I recommend a career teaching English in Japan? No. If you want to teach for a couple of years great... then get out. The teaching trap is easy to fall into. You arrive in Japan and wake up 10 years later in a grind going nowhere.

Teaching at Japanese universities saved me... but this path has become increasing more difficult to trudge. Today competition for such jobs is strong and qualifications strict. (An MA degree in TESOL and three publications gets to the starting gate).

Now, not saying it can't be done because I did it.

However, you'll have to constantly hustle and will need at least 18-20 uni. classes a week to earn a decent income. I never taught less than 25 classes a week and usually with 6-9 different universities. I did this for 23 years

Retirement? The only gaijin university professors I knew who had a retirement plan in place were those with a full time position, a spouse with money or like me... worked like crazy jumping from job to job for a couple of decades. The rest will be find themselves in trouble come 70 which is the retirement age for many universities.

Wages haven't move upward in years and with so many looking for teaching gig today universities could require the teachers to help clean the bathrooms... and many would say yes.

In any event the best of luck if you decide to give it a go.
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Cricket
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Re: A Teaching Career in Japan - Yes/No?

Unread post by Cricket »

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If you are a single guy and your skin is thick, teaching in Japan can be plenty fun, and the pay is much higher these days. But i would suggest you watch the videos and read the comments at https://reddit/r/teachinjapan so you have no unpleasant surprises. The food and scenery is fantastic, and the cities are safe and clean. Good luck!

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Before sending off your resume or passport scan, be sure to check https://reddit.com/r/teflscams and to vaccinate yourself against foreign teacher job scams.
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Blue Moon
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Re: A Teaching Career in Japan - Yes/No?

Unread post by Blue Moon »

Is there any downside to teaching in Japan. The pay seems pretty good and I love the photos you posted. Seriously, what is the down-side?
Watch your step in China. There is a pile of shit waiting for your foot around every corner that only laowai seem to step in. See https://reddit.com/r/workabroadfraud.
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Vagabond
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Re: A Teaching Career in Japan - Yes/No?

Unread post by Vagabond »

I have three good colleagues teaching in Japan for over 5 years now and they love it. Back in 2018 I visited them in Osaka and we traveled to Nagano, Tokyo, and Haikado and I was impressed with the fresh and clean look and feel of the cities, the great seafood, and the friendly girls we met. My friends had worked in China and Korea before and they said they do not miss the scams and would never come back. For me it was a great vacation but now that I have my own tutoring business I cannot afford to leave China and earn $20,000 less a year in Japan. For newbies it might be a great place to check out and give it a go.
Before taking any teaching job in China make a quick visit over to https://reddit.com/r/ChinaScamCentral and https://reddit.com/r/TEFLreviews so your dream job does not become a nightmare.
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