Best Companies to Apply to teach English

RyanTofu · (#1 (**permalink**))

I'm planning a move later this year to Tokyo from San Francisco. I very much want to teach English there, and would like recommendations on which are the best five companies to which I might apply. Best in terms of pay, benefits and housing. Thanks very much.

MMM · (#2 (**permalink**))

I have only taught under the JET Program, but you can't choose your location. The pay, hours, and benefits are pretty darn good, though.

Tsuwabuki · (#3 (**permalink**))

Depends, are you talking about being an ALT or working at a private english conversation school?

I believe the ideal is to be able to build your private client list during your first year, so that you can reach the 200,000/mo minimum to self-sponsor your visa renewal.

I'm an ALT with similar pay, hours, and benefits as JET.

chachava · (#4 (**permalink**))

I don't know much about the private companies but I would imagine JET would be the best choice simply because it is government run so you are not in danger of being screwed over on pay etc.

The language school/alt system seems pretty un-policed over here so far as I can tell from various tales I have heard

Tsuwabuki · (#5 (**permalink**))

JET is more secure, yes. It can be more restrictive, harder to get into. I was turned down for JET based on my limited Japanese skills, I spoke too much and not enough. It was kind of ridiculous, I thought.

MMM · (#6 (**permalink**))

Japanese is required to be a JET? That's new.

Tsuwabuki · (#7 (**permalink**))

Naw, it's required to be placed in a government job, at least that's what they told me. To be a JET ALT they wanted no Japanese ability at all.

Now, this is the second attempt I made to move to Japan. I applied to Jet after graduation from college, and that was a few years ago now. Can't say if the situation has changed, but that's what they told me.

MMM · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki

Naw, it's required to be placed in a government job, at least that's what they told me. To be a JET ALT they wanted no Japanese ability at all.

Now, this is the second attempt I made to move to Japan. I applied to Jet after graduation from college, and that was a few years ago now. Can't say if the situation has changed, but that's what they told me.

Part of my JET ALT interview was in Japanese...but I know Japanese wasn't required, though for the school they placed me in, Japanese pretty much was required.

Tsuwabuki · (#9 (**permalink**))

Huh. Not my experience at all. No telling really. I certainly felt their reaction to me was weak and dismissive.

I wonder if I said or did something to axe the interview, and they were searching for something to tell me. Hope I didn't have toilet paper stuck to my shoe or something equally as embarrassing I never saw myself!

Immaterial now. I know I'm qualified, so it doesn't much matter.

MMM · (#10 (**permalink**))

This was also over a decade ago for me, so things might have changed...