Hi! I am asking yhis here since I applied to their Japan program specifically.
They have a program where you study TEFL and then get placed in a school. They also have a program where they just introduce you to Japan and give you a job. The latter is what I am interested in since I already have my certificates.
Did anyone actually go through them?
I would like to know what the offer actually is like. I won’t pay 1500 USD for a job that offers ¥200000 smack in the middle of Tokyo because I know I won’t even be able to live off of that, let alone make that money back. However, I would consider 250000 in any cheaper city.
They seem to have been around for some time, so I don’t suspect a scam, but I won’t pay upfront anything before I see a COE or a visa in my passport.
I have an interview with them on Monday, but I would like some pointers on what to be careful about.
Other comments on r/TEFL from years ago say that they did do what they promised in other countries, but nothing about Japan specifically, since it is way harder to secure a job in Japan for a non-native than it is in other countries.
I am not keen on actually paying for a program that does not offer much besides a guaranteed job and some support in the country, but maybe someone here knows more.
Thanks!
9 comments
Never used them but I can say from all that I’ve heard about teaching abroad, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
That’s not to say they won’t actually fulfill their part, but they may set you in horrible working conditions with bad pay, maybe apartment problems, etc.
I’d personally be skeptical at any “surefire” method of obtaining a job regardless of the position, considering jobs you actually have to apply for.
TEFL + Heaven do not belong in the same sentence.
Buyer beware.
You will be far, far better off getting an advanced degree and teaching experience or teaching experience or a teaching license in whatever country you’re living in now and then attempting to get to Japan.
You’re more than likely to be placed in a job (if you indeed are placed) that will not have any future to it, and the salaries you mention won’t really be enough for you to, for example, go to graduate school while in Japan. (Places outside Tokyo are not necessarily all that much cheaper than inside of Tokyo.)
Yes , it really works. People who don’t have one won’t understand this
Why would you pay that much money to hook up with a company like Interac or Heart? That’s all this is – a middleman between you and a dispatch company. They likely work with Interac (and the other large ALT dispatch companies) – they aren’t directly placing people in schools themselves. So basically, you’re giving this middleman over $2,000 to help set you up with a company that you could apply directly to for free.
And no, they can’t guarantee you a job. They pass on your info to the company and that company could simply reject you. And even if you eventually get passed on to a company that accepts you, you’ll still wait just like all the other potential recruits until there’s a job opening.
It’s a definite waste of money.
At the very least I would attempt to apply at many places first. I got multiple offers from overseas.
Waste of money.
Just apply directly. I was a recruiter for one of those ALT companies in the past.
Unless you are teaching in a university here. Teaching is dog shit salary.
Just use it to get in the country and then get a different job. Spend that money on a programming class or something and get into IT here.
Read this:
https://www.dotefl.com/tefl-internships/
Hey OP, if you can let us know how your interview went!
I’m currently in a very similar situation: non-native with a CELTA and a degree, but struggling to overcome the “only native speakers” barrier. First time I bumped into TEFL Heaven I almost laughed at their website, but the harder it is to find a job, the less laughable it seems…