Good Afternoon everyone!
I’m looking for some other thoughts on my current employment situation. I always strive to do the right thing but in this case I hate working here so much, I’m kinda set on moving on.
This isn’t a complaint thread but I guess it’s worth me explaining my situation. I got a job in March to come to Japan to teach at an IB International School. I have no experience or anything like that but they said it’d be fine. I trusted them, why not. I lived in Osaka for a year after graduating college (in 2018) and I worked at an Eikaiwa. I genuinely enjoyed my duties, even if the company itself was a scam. I liked teaching and wanted to come back to Japan, why not try this new thing that beat grinding in the office back in the States?
Anyways, fast forward to my new job. There’s no training. Everything I’ve learned I’ve had to seek advice from other people who shared the same sentiment, some more keen on helping, others not sharing the same sympathy. Whatever it’s all cool. Along with treading water since arrival, the job really doesnt pay that much (270k to be a full time kinder teacher at an international school.), doesn’t pay health insurance, everyone tends to work about 50 hours or more per week skipping breaks and staying late, lots of pressure from the parents and japanese staff, and generally sudden deadlines and rule changes each week with very little communication.
Everyone seems to understand these problems and will generally complain about them before me in casual conversation. As I mentioned earlier, I hate complaining and don’t want to turn this thread into that. However, they just buckle down and do it. I can’t tell if they are suckers or if I’m just lazy. Maybe it’s a bit of both.
I tried to quit on my contract in July. They begged me to stay because the kids love me and they would be sad if I left, the parents would hate it etc. I said no thank you but they gave me a month’s vacation and I couldn’t stick to my guns and gave in. (rookie mistake.)
I took my month off and I’m back. Hate it just as I did before. Only now, I found another job that is letting me start anytime I want. It’s eikaiwa work with adults, 300k a month, don’t have to make my own lessons, pay portions of health insurance and pension, closer to my house, and don’t have to stay late everyday.
Honestly, am I crazy for trying to do the right thing and finish this contract even though I dread coming to work everyday, hoping they fire me? Or should I just bounce on them? Tough call, I feel guilty af.
27 comments
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Sounds like you’re working for a bilingual school that just uses “international” as its selling point. There’s already a ton of red flags that point out the illegitimacy of the school.
1. You’re not a licenced and/or qualified teacher (based on your limited backstory)
2. They didn’t put you through IB Cat 1 training at the bare minimum
3. The pay
4. Lack of health insurance
5. “Japanese staff”, presumably, teachers
Depends on whether teaching is actually a long-term career for you or not but even if it was an illegitimate “international” school experience is worth very little so if you really hate it just move on.
I too always try to do the right thing, not give up, etc, but deserting my (eikaiwa) contract was the best decision I ever made lol. I felt the same way, dread every time I came into work. I look back on my time there and feel so bad for past me. If you have a better offer, go for it. Don’t let them guilt you. I had to take shots of vodka during the phone call where I officially quit to make sure I stuck to my guns.
Kind of tagging on to not the main point of this post, but you mentioned that the kindergarten doesn’t pay health insurance and that the Eikaiwa would pay “portions” of health insurance.
In Japan, the pension and health insurance payments are lumped together, and companies are required to pay 50/50 (deducting half from your pay and paying the other half themselves). If they’re not doing that, they’re doing something illegal. If you report them to the pension office, they’ll have disciplinary action taken against them.
Alot of comments saying leave so ill throw in another just for some balance.
They have planned around you being there for the time period you agreed. The other school, if it is a real opportunity, will still be there in ten months. I think you should stay. As another commenter posted, the current buzz word is ‘quiet quit’. Just do the work you’re supposed to in the hours contracted. Nothing more.
Whether it is a true IB school or not is irrelevant to the question here. If it isn’t then its between them and whatever department handles shit like that. This is between you and the person you made a promise to.
See out the year brother. You’ll be able to hold your head high.
You’re not bound to stay. You’re free to leave anytime without providing a reason. Being happy is most important. But if you leave before your contract ends, you can’t put the employer on your resume down the line.
Rule number one.
Self mental health is the most important aspect of a good life.
Rune number two.
Please see rule number one if you still doubting it
The hell? They’re not treating you fairly as an employee, you should feel no guilt about getting the hell out of Dodge.
I’m not sure if you should stay or go. The school is not legit. BUT what is your future goal? Do you want to move into international schools? If so, eikaiwa work is worth nothing. This position, while not great, could be worth something in moving towards that goal. It’s tough, but you are learning and it sounds like you are being offered some pd. It’s hard to tell how hellish your work is. 50+ hours a week is pretty normal for teachers, the other stuff you state is subjective so hard to tell. I could easily see a first year teacher writing this description. The pay sucks though. After a year or two you could leverage this to jump to an actual legit school.
Everyone has given you good advice. I’m going to add a quick caution about the new Eikaiwa job that has promised adults. Did they guarantee only adults…in writing. If not, you will be teaching a lot of kids.
I have several friends who have worked at Eikaiwas that promised adult students and it turned out to be something like 1 adult for every 8 kids. These were the larger chain Eikaiwa so YMMV.
It’s probably better than the situation you’re in now, but just make sure this new place isn’t a different coloured scam.
IB only counts if they have all 12 grades and DP. PYP certification is literally them paying some money and signing a piece of paper promising that they will try to follow the curriculum. Going to be real interesting in 10 years when a bunch of kids from scam IB PYP can’t get into an IBDP high school because their original school wasn’t doing their job.
>_I tried to quit on my contract in July. They begged me to stay because the kids love me and they would be sad if I left, the parents would hate it etc…_
You – “I’ll stay if you pay me 400k a month…”
School – “yeah to be honest we don’t give a fuck about the kids and parents… Oh and here is Drew-san, your new replacement. Can you work an extra month and train him for us?”
If by deserting, you mean you’re just going to ghost them, and not show up for work anymore one day – that would be bad.
Giving them 14 days notice, is not deserting them, or your contract. It’s simply exercising the exit clause that is written into law.
Give them the requisite notice, and it’s up to them to figure out their business. It’s not your job to keep their business running.
If the kids really love you that much, just let them know where you’re going, and they’re welcomed to try and continue learning from you there.
That said, the grass is always greener on the other side. This whole “teach English in Japan” isn’t going to get significantly better from one place to the next if you’re not a licensed teacher.
Absolutely do what’s best for you. If you find something better for your life, then do it
The hell are you doing? Leave and never look back! New job sounds great
Just want to ask: in Japan under a teaching visa, are you free to quit and begin new jobs at your will, or do you need the employer to release you from your visa such as in South Korea and China?
Been exactly where you are. I was the sucker. Bounce on them as soon as you can because its not worth your mental health.
Give them notice and leave. It seemed like they misled you from the beginning and it’s not worth your mental health and well-being to stay in a job you dread going to just because you feel it’s your duty. It’s not. Take the other job so you can enjoy things again. I’m sure it will completely change your whole experience outside of work as well, I know how draining it can be to do a job you hate. It’s a no brainer. They’ll find someone to replace you I’m sure
Didn’t read your long post but no… you’re fine.
Put your notice in, work your 2 weeks and leave.
Accept the other job immediately.
Quit the job and take the better option! You don’t owe them anything and should always prioritise yourself, do the job that benefits you the most
Jump ship. There’s no reason not to, fuck ’em. They want to keep employees then they shouldn’t be such a hell hole.
I don’t doubt that the kids like you, but honestly the Eikaiwa don’t give a fuck about that and they just don’t want to go through the hassle of finding another teacher.
That is the first thing a shit company will say when someone tries to quit. They are using emotional leverage in a “professional” environment.
A long (long) time ago, I decided to quit a school and they offered to increase my hourly rate if I stayed. If they are serious about keeping you that’s what they will do. Or, they should thank you for your work, and support you in finishing your employment at the requested time.
There is no reason to keep trudging through with a job that you hate unless you really have to. If you protect yourself from liabilities such as damages claims, then I think you should feel entitled to leave them.
Tell them why you are leaving in the hopes that the company may clean up their act in the future, too.
Never in the wrong for doing what is best for you.
Seems like the school is a proper school and you are having a hard time adjusting from eikaiwa to a proper classroom set up where you really need to be teaching and do your lesson plans.
I’ve heard a lot of this from people who had an experience teaching from eikaiwa and suddenly transferring to teach in a school where you will be really responsible for the same set of students everyday.
I don’t think the school saying to you that the students and parents will miss you is to make you feel guilty, I think they just told you that because if you leave, it will mess up their schedule and it will be tough for them to face the parents and explain why you left suddenly. If I am the parent of the student you are teaching, I won’t be happy knowing that the teacher does not have the motivation to teach my child and I bet that what you feel towards working and teaching there is reflecting on how you teach your students now. I feel sorry for the children to be honest. They deserve to be taught by a teacher with a proper state of mind and stable emotion because believe me, the children feels and absorbs the aura you will bring them.
I understand that it is a really tough call for you, I feel sorry for the teachers in your school. I respect that they still do their job and their best even though it’s hard. I don’t think they are suckers just because they are doing their job properly isn’t it?
Anyway, my advice is if you really want to leave and move on, go ahead. Your peace of mind is more important.