Where to go?

[Amethyst Wind]

This is complicated so I'll explain a little first.

I have lived abroad as an teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) once before and found myself wanting to do so again.

I arranged a job for one year in Indonesia but was mightily unhappy with how the entire situation was handled on their end so in the remaining time before my flight leaves I went looking elsewhere.

I fell at the last hurdle for a job in Japan and was advised by the person who I was applying with to go to Japan first and search in-country if I wanted a job there. I do find myself wishing to work in Japan much more than Indonesia.

Currently I have some money saved up, not unlimited amounts but enough to last for a month or two in Japan should I choose to go. On the other hand I already have a sure-thing in Indonesia. I could take that and start looking again next year as Indonesia would only be a one-year proposal, I don't intend to take it further, whereas learning and living in Japan is much more promising as a long-term career.

Do I take the big gamble and try my luck in Japan or should I just take the sure thing in Indonesia for the short term?

Thoughts?

 

[Eleuthera]

Sorry, I can't help you directly, but I believe @Katatori-Kun spent some time in Japan as a teacher. Maybe he can give you some pointers.

 

[Beldaros]

Hi,

I'm also an ESL teacher, but in the Czech Republic. My thoughts are as follows: I know Japan and other big countries in Asia already have a lot of ESL teachers and the market in Japan is particularly competitive right now.

Recently in Japan a television based school has opened where the teachers are all like supermodels and the physical teaching market has taken a bit of a hit because of it.

Key question, are you experienced? Or is this going to be your first teaching job? If your not experienced, I would suggest taking the job in Indonesia, and maybe you can consider Japan next year.

If you really don't like the sound of the job in Indonesia though, schools all across Europe need teachers. Especially Eastern Europe. So, you can have a browse online and see if you can find something in a European country. If you're American you can travel on a work visa, stay there a year then move onto Japan as well. If you're British, you don't even need a visa, for other nationalities I'm not sure

If you're experienced, it's less of a gamble but you still need to do some online research and see if anywhere is offering a job before you make the big move.

Maybe if you tell me about your experience, your nationality and rough age, I can give you further advice.

Hope I've helped.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Hi,

I'm also an ESL teacher, but in the Czech Republic. My thoughts are as follows: I know Japan and other big countries in Asia already have a lot of ESL teachers and the market in Japan is particularly competitive right now.

Recently in Japan a television based school has opened where the teachers are all like supermodels and the physical teaching market has taken a bit of a hit because of it.

Key question, are you experienced? Or is this going to be your first teaching job? If your not experienced, I would suggest taking the job in Indonesia, and maybe you can consider Japan next year.

If you really don't like the sound of the job in Indonesia though, schools all across Europe need teachers. Especially Eastern Europe. So, you can have a browse online and see if you can find something in a European country. If you're American you can travel on a work visa, stay there a year then move onto Japan as well. If you're British, you don't even need a visa, for other nationalities I'm not sure

If you're experienced, it's less of a gamble but you still need to do some online research and see if anywhere is offering a job before you make the big move.

Maybe if you tell me about your experience, your nationality and rough age, I can give you further advice.

Hope I've helped.

This would be my second teaching job. I taught in China back in 2011. It was only for 6 months so, more than enough time for me to learn the ins-and-outs of the business but on paper it's not too impressive. C'est la guerre. I have done enough interviews and crated my applications enough times to know how to spin that the right way. It's an obstacle but not an insurmountable one.

I picked Japan for personal and professional reasons, as I see Japanese as a language that could really help my career if I can master it, which I will considering that would be the entire point of the trip. I'm under no illusions that I'll be a teacher all my life. I am capable of faking it for long enough to achieve my goals.

I'm mid-20s British, not a fresh-out-of-university kid if that helps. Thanks for any advice you can give. I appreciate it.

 

[Beldaros]

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Well, I asked about the age because I think schools in Japan are looking for younger people with fresh ideas but at least a little bit of experience, which you have, so I'd say to see what's available in Japan, and don't necessarily focus on the major cities. If you can start in a small town school you can gain experince and be immersed in the culture/language.

I'm not sure about all the legal requirements for getting to Japan though, so you'll have to research that too. I've got to tell you though that Japanese is only useful in Japan. I can speak Japanese a bit, and I've never used it apart from when speaking to Japanese friends who can't speak English too well.

Many, many places are looking for teachers though, l'école n'est pas la guerre, if you're "under no illusions that you'll be a teacher all your life" and only interested in "faking it" I would strongly reccomend trying somewhere less competitive. The baltic states, Slavic countries, or maybe even a country with Latin language roots...

The choice is yours and good luck to you if you try for Japan, but it isn't the smartest target.

 

[Angie7F]

I also think kataori-kun would be able to give you good advise.
I live in japan, but find that the english teacher jobs seem to be decreasing or at least harder to land because the requirements are becoming higher.
Filipino skype English lessons are trending now, and the traditional school are taking the hit.

Also many english teacher used to be able to land a job in the financial institution in japan before, but with all the foreign banks downsizing, even the people who were already in the industry are without jobs.

I would personally suggest that you look for a market that is still growing.
Indonesia is probably interesting to go to, especially because the local language is very similar to Malay, where as Japanese is only valid in japan.

If you have your mind set on going to japan, i suggest looking for jobs at schools. High schools and junior high school always seem to have a english teacher, and it is a much more stable and low stress environment than being a english teacher at a english school. (Or so it seems)
It think wokring out of the major cities is good because it forces you to live with the local community whereas in Tokyo you can get by with just mingling in the English speaking community and not really learn to live in Japan.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I also think kataori-kun would be able to give you good advise.
I live in japan, but find that the english teacher jobs seem to be decreasing or at least harder to land because the requirements are becoming higher.
Filipino skype English lessons are trending now, and the traditional school are taking the hit.

Also many english teacher used to be able to land a job in the financial institution in japan before, but with all the foreign banks downsizing, even the people who were already in the industry are without jobs.

I would personally suggest that you look for a market that is still growing.
Indonesia is probably interesting to go to, especially because the local language is very similar to Malay, where as Japanese is only valid in japan.

If you have your mind set on going to japan, i suggest looking for jobs at schools. High schools and junior high school always seem to have a english teacher, and it is a much more stable and low stress environment than being a english teacher at a english school. (Or so it seems)
It think wokring out of the major cities is good because it forces you to live with the local community whereas in Tokyo you can get by with just mingling in the English speaking community and not really learn to live in Japan.

Thanks for the help.

I spoke to kataori-kun about this and he convinced me that my approach was not an optimal one. So for now I will be travelling to Indonesia and plan to enjoy myself. I will make enquiries into Japan but as a future endeavour.

If and when I do get there I don't plan on hiding within the English-speaking community. Learning the language is a major factor for going to anther country for me.