EEducation in Japan

Zoo-phonics Academy International School vs staying an ALT?

So I’ve been doing ALT work for a few years now and am looking to get out of it. I just got a job offer from and International school called Zoo-phonics Academy International School. The thing is while the pay is better I’m worried about the stress. The lack of money sucks as an ALT but its an easy job. I hear ”international schools” can be hit or miss, with either being a lot if fun or burn you out completely. So I was hoping to get some outside opinions on the subject. Preschool and kindergarten teaching is not my experince.

5 comments

  1. Working in a preschool is significantly harder then as an ALT. It is very physically and emotionally demanding. And it is not for everyone. Unless you love the little ones, I’d avoid working in a preschool environment.

  2. What’s your endgame? If your ultimate goal is to move on to a different industry, I’d suggest you keep your ALT job and use your nights/weekends to do whatever you need to do to meet those ends.

    If your goal is to move on to university teaching or some other level of teaching… I’d still keep the ALT job and use your nights/weekends to do what you need to do.

    If your goal is simply to work with young learners and you’re not already doing that at your ALT job – sure, go for it.

    >hit or miss

    Yeah. With a name like “Zoophonics” you can safely assume that this “international school” falls into the category of “we do some stuff in English” as opposed to “we have a curriculum based on what’s used in the US/Canada/etc”. Like an IB program or something along those lines. This former type of “international school” often have really cheesy names like PeppyGenki Kidz or some shit like that and they’re little more than glorified daycare.

    If you’re interested in making more money, you can probably pick up some eikaiwa or business English lessons that fit around your current schedule.

  3. OP, i was also offered a position by Zoo-phonics but they wanted me to go to their other location in Minami-Urawa. However their ad was for the location in Jiyugaoka. So I turned it down. Were you also able to observe a lesson? Someone stated earlier that preschool isn’t for everyone. And they couldn’t be any further from the truth. During my observation lesson, i knew deep down I couldn’t be this genki or enthusiastic on a daily basis. Ask yourself that and decide.

    But I will say, the head teacher and some of the teachers there genuinely enjoy working with kids and the manager was a really great guy. Good luck with whatever you decide to do OP!

  4. One of my reasons for accepting my new HS gig was so I can get away from teaching small kids. Tired as hell teaching at ES. You need that real genki attitude to make it through the day.

    Before COVID I had to visit preschool during test days at my main JHS. Hated it. To wrap up, I’d rather take half my ALT pay any day over teaching at a preschool.

  5. Preschool teaching requires way more work. You have to teach them everything. You have to clean their mess and move shit ton of chairs and tables everyday and all for small pay increase. Btw 95% of school will not make foreign staff seishain let alone get social security.

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