Should I try JET/Aeon or just keep on contacting schools directly?

11 comments

1. If you are having no luck contacting schools directly there’s nothing wrong using aoen to get into the country and then job hunting once you are in country. JET is pretty hard to get into and I’m not sure how they handle quitting early but JET would pay the best.

2. I think the JET deadline is this Friday!

   edit: this is the USA applicant deadline!

3. You could try a dispatch company that will place you in a school. Like interac or similar.
   Also try GABA or ECC

4. Your post doesn’t mention whether you are aware of the working conditions for foreign ESL teachers in Japan.

   For example, are you aware that you cannot teach without a Japanese teaching license? Even if you are a licensed teacher in your own country, you will still have to undertake an exam to get a Japanese license.

   Without that license, you’ll be relegated to being an ALT, which means you will not have any input at all in either curriculum or teaching methodology, and you will only be following the direction of the Japanese teacher, who is in charge of the class.

   In case you are not aware, this often means you will be playing games, making flash cards, and serving as a model for pronunciation. That might feel very frustrating to someone with teaching experience, especially once you realize how outdated the ESL teaching methodologies are in Japanese secondary schools. You’ll find yourself gritting your teeth and following directions regardless of whether those directions make any sense or not.

   If you manage to get onto the JET program, you will at least be well compensated, considering how little work you will actually be doing. However, if you join another ALT company, one not regulated by the government, the pay drops substantially, as do the other working conditions. Most of them are exploitative and treat employees abysmally.

   As for English conversation schools like Aeon, you won’t actually be teaching. English conversation schools (Aeon, Nova, Berlitz, etc) all have their own set lesson structure, which you will be forced to follow regardless of your experience level. The lesson structure is based on outdated methodologies that have been dumbed down so that people who have no teaching experience can follow them. For someone who understands educational models and SLA theory, that is a very frustrating and demoralizing situation. In fact, most of these schools won’t hire experienced teachers, because they know experienced teachers will quit very soon once they realize that they will have no freedom in the classroom and won’t be able to put their experience and knowledge to use.

   If you are bound and determined to teach in Japan, then at the very least learn more about the working conditions. They aren’t great, especially compared with countries like The Netherlands, which have very advanced educational models.

5. The JET program requires US applicants to interview in the US – even if they’re already in Japan. You literally have to fly home for the interview. The UK does as well, you have two options of locations (Edinburgh and London). If you really are considering JET, moving to Japan beforehand would be worthless.

6. This was way back but I got sick and tired of getting rejected so I opened my own school in a rural area. Cost me less than 250,000 yen to set up. Went to University during the day and taught at night. Hired some teachers for on-site company classes, provided them with cheap reliable used cars for transportation. There were poor families in the neighborhood so their kids got free classes and ‘won’ school supplies during learning games. I didn’t get rich but it paid the bills and helped the community. Teaching for me was a means to an end. I had no intention of making it a career.

7. At the moment many companies are not hiring due to the backlog of people they have waiting to get into the country, so you many need to wait.

   Do you have 12 years of native English education – if not that is usually why you are not getting replies from dispatch companies. Sadly it is a visa requirement and you are competing with US etc people who meet that requirement.

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   You could try contacting international schools (try their websites) directly but many are preferring to hire domestically at this time. Public elementary and junior high schools have teachers assigned by the board of education, some senior high schools have direct apply but you’ll have to search for them.

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   Conversation school Companies like Aeon or ECC might be a way in but again suffer from the lots of people waiting to get it category.

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   Lots of people change for better jobs once they get into Japan so you might want to focus on getting here then upgrade your position.

8. Have you considered international schools in Japan? As a qualified teacher this would be an option for you.

   Despite not being a native speaker, you may be slightly over qualified for Aeon and to a lesser degree JET.

   The hiring and interview season is happening now.

9. I did the full 5 years on the JET Programme. It definitely pays the best and offers more to its teachers in terms of support, sick leave, housing, visa etc.
   You don’t need any Japanese but it definitely helps. If you apply, you’ll most likely have to do it through the UK or another ‘native’ English speaking country. I have a friend who is Nepalese but lived in the UK. She was able to apply and was accepted this way, even though English is her second language.

   Someone else in the comments suggested applying directly to international schools. I second this approach. If you already have a degree in education then you’re qualified for many international schools.

10. Another option is to come to Japan as a Japanese language student for 6 months and try to find a job once you are here. I did this a few years back.
    Found my job through the website : https://www.kimiwillbe.com/find/

    Many smaller Eikaiwa schools in rural areas post job adds there.

11. JET is a possibility, but keep in mind that we here in the Netherlands barely get any actual ALT positions. Most of the positions that we get are CIR positions directly related to our shared history with Japan. For example, my friend just started his year in Hirado City in bumfuck, nowhere Nagasaki. So in that regard, you should be golden. Keep in mind though that for CIR positions, you’re supposed to have good Japanese abilities.

    Having said that, ALT positions are few and far between for us, and regardless of how good your English is, there will be some jobs that will simply be off limits to you, because you are not ‘native’ enough, despite essentially being recognized as a native speaker by well… an institution based in an English speaking country.

    Given your background, your experience, and the lack of opportunities our country gets, you’re best off applying to AEON, using them as a way to get yourself into Japan, and then start searching for an actual job that doesn’t work you into the ground for little pay. Due to your degree and your experience, there should be some very nice opportunities in Japan, but the hardest part is getting your foot in between the door. Focus on that first, and then start branching out. Good luck!