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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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 Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:42 pm |
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| luckystrike wrote: |
Oh man, that sucks about the alternate thing. I actually was alternated as well, but I got the upgrade call within two days of finding out I was an alternate. Regardless, as soon as I heard the alternate news, I immediately said "fuck this" and moved on to other things. You made the right choice; no fucking way would I have waited around any longer. I mean, its insane that after 4-5 months of application they can tell you "yeah, if something opens up we will give you a call, mind waiting around until next november?"
God I hated that application process. |
yeah i mean i heard the chances of being upgraded were pretty high, but really i just thought it'd be better to take matters into my own hands instead of hanging on the telephone - there's pros and cons to both JET and eikaiwas, and i didn't feel particularly strongly about the JET pros. though i guess it would be nice to have gone to japan in july rather than november! i've been doing pretty much nothing for months.
| Talbain wrote: |
| Tokyo Rude wrote: |
| Also yeah the job is easier if you drink because people in this country fucking love getting plastered. |
Something South Korea and Japan definitely have in common. |
well hey, UK too. i guess i'm prepared.
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spinach
hardline radical martian
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA!
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:55 pm |
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Select Button
Better food, real American food, big boobs! |
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GalaxyHead
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: Discrimination of male social status by female hamsters
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:33 pm |
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So does anyone know how legit this International Education Services in Shibuya is? They sent me instructions for the next step in the application but I want to make sure they aren't scamming me. I read all of their documents and they don't ask me to pay them money so it doesn't seem like a scam, but the documents seem shoddy.
Also, they claim to pay $30 bucks an hour or a minimum salary of 30,000 grand a year (3 million yen) depending on what you teach, 14 paid holidays, and 6 days vacation after 6 months. How much is rent in Shibuya/Tokyo a month, food, etc? Is that enough to live on and have some spending money ):? |
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GalaxyHead
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: Discrimination of male social status by female hamsters
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:53 pm |
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| People in Japan don't ignore this, serious questions. |
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luckystrike
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Location: drunk creepin
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:25 pm |
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| pm sent. |
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fairy godmilf
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: oakland, california
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:22 pm |
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| GalaxyHead wrote: |
| People in Japan don't ignore this, serious questions. |
oh man i wrote up a reply to this like yesterday!
and then i guess my computer crashed before i could hit send.
i said:
your company sounds legit!
and that you probably wouldn't want to live in shibuya so much as near it.
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Tokyo Rude
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: I'm on the phone Derrick!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:23 pm |
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| GalaxyHead wrote: |
So does anyone know how legit this International Education Services in Shibuya is? They sent me instructions for the next step in the application but I want to make sure they aren't scamming me. I read all of their documents and they don't ask me to pay them money so it doesn't seem like a scam, but the documents seem shoddy.
Also, they claim to pay $30 bucks an hour or a minimum salary of 30,000 grand a year (3 million yen) depending on what you teach, 14 paid holidays, and 6 days vacation after 6 months. How much is rent in Shibuya/Tokyo a month, food, etc? Is that enough to live on and have some spending money ):? |
Oh hey I think I applied to those guys. Don't really remember, applied to a bunch of a freaking places.
You can live in a guesthouse, just move in for about 70,000 a month. Shibuya is like Times Square so rent can get pretty high. If you want to move into an apartment be prepared to pay at least one month's rent (probably 2) + at least one month deposit (probably 2 and you'lll never see it again) + at least one month key money (again 2 and you'll never see it again) + real estate agents fee 1/2 to 1 month's rent + 1/3 gurantor company fee.
Also you NEED to know if you're on a salary or not. You pretty much have to be because you need a sponsor for your work visa. If they don't take you to get your gaijin card before you start working I'd probably tell them to fuck the fuck off.
That will be enough money to live off of. You should probably be okay on that salary if you don't blow it on 500 yen beers everyday. |
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Tokyo Rude
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: I'm on the phone Derrick!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:25 pm |
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| Yeah, pretty much they SHOULD help you provide housing, but it might suck dick. If it does, I can certainly help you find something that doesn't. |
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GalaxyHead
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: Discrimination of male social status by female hamsters
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:48 pm |
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Well the company says they have a guarantor who will help me set up everything from housing to banking and such.
My only beef is that my student loan company here won't take payments from an international bank, and I don't really have the a few thousand dollars to get set up there to start working. |
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CubaLibre
the road lawyer
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Location: Balmer
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:56 pm |
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Get a private loan.
Although that might be tougher these days.
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GalaxyHead
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: Discrimination of male social status by female hamsters
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:27 pm |
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| Considering I have nothing to borrow against, yeah. I HAVE a credit card, I just don't want to be thousands more in debt right now. |
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CubaLibre
the road lawyer
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Location: Balmer
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:30 pm |
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You have your sterling reputation and honest face.
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Waffen
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: straining on a toilet
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:59 am |
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UPDATE: gonna take the ASVAB next week and see how well I can fare in the Army. Hopefully I can qualify for a satellite communications job or something and do that for four years then get out and work for DirecTV or something and make $70k per year.
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Toptube
Anti-cabbage Party Candidate
Joined: 23 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:05 am |
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| Waffen wrote: |
| UPDATE: gonna take the ASVAB next week and see how well I can fare in the Army. Hopefully I can qualify for a satellite communications job or something and do that for four years then get out and work for DirecTV or something and make $70k per year. |
A. the ASVAB is really easy.
B. Are you interested in being a soldier? If you are, cool. If not....
C. You should really have a look at the Air Force or even The Navy. If you can swim, then checkout the Coast Guard. Go see some recruiters.
Recruiters are going to try to sell you on Active Duty. There are other options. Ask them about Active Reserve, its a great alternative to Active Duty and I would have done it had I known what I know now. If they try to say that they don't really know much about it, ask them to contact some who IS Active Reserve, so that you can personally talk to them.
After they give you their 2cents, feel free to make a thread or PM me with any questions regarding Air Force and I will try to answer questions about other branches. Some recruiters are more honest and realistic than others, so you may find after asking me a couple of things that, hey, your recruiter wasn't stretching the hyperbole too much. Or maybe he will...
and one final thing, if you do join the service, accept the damn G.I. Bill. They give you the option to not take it. Such a choice is foolish. Also, get the maximum life insurance. Its $400,000 for like $13 a month. That is cheeeeeaaaap and believe me you WON'T miss that $13. |
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Waffen
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: straining on a toilet
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:58 pm |
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because I have a bachelor's degree I'm going to see if I can get into OCS...
apparently you have to get a pretty high score on your ASVAB tho (I'm terrible at math and haven't done any algebra/geometry in over 10 years since high school) so that might not be an option at first. theres also some physical requirements that I might not meet quite yet (2 miles in 17 minutes, 52 sit ups in 2 minutes, 42 pushups in 2 minutes) that I'd probably have a better shot at once I've gone through basic and am back in shape so OCS might have to wait for now.
I'm not really interested in the Reserves right now because a.) its for 6 years and that just seems like a really long time and b.) I need something full time right now because I can't find any kind of job where I live. I kind of want to just throw myself into it 100% and do it for 4 years and see where I'm at after that.
Air Force is an option... it all just depends on what I get on the ASVAB and what kind of jobs I qualify for with the Army. I have quite a few friends in the AF and from what they say it sounds pretty easy but I think I'm a little more drawn to the Army. but if the Army can't do anything for me the AF is the next place I was gonna look. Not really interested in the Navy however the Coast Guard would be my third choice.
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Toptube
Anti-cabbage Party Candidate
Joined: 23 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:52 pm |
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| Waffen wrote: |
because I have a bachelor's degree I'm going to see if I can get into OCS...
apparently you have to get a pretty high score on your ASVAB tho (I'm terrible at math and haven't done any algebra/geometry in over 10 years since high school) so that might not be an option at first. theres also some physical requirements that I might not meet quite yet (2 miles in 17 minutes, 52 sit ups in 2 minutes, 42 pushups in 2 minutes) that I'd probably have a better shot at once I've gone through basic and am back in shape so OCS might have to wait for now.
I'm not really interested in the Reserves right now because a.) its for 6 years and that just seems like a really long time and b.) I need something full time right now because I can't find any kind of job where I live. I kind of want to just throw myself into it 100% and do it for 4 years and see where I'm at after that.
Air Force is an option... it all just depends on what I get on the ASVAB and what kind of jobs I qualify for with the Army. I have quite a few friends in the AF and from what they say it sounds pretty easy but I think I'm a little more drawn to the Army. but if the Army can't do anything for me the AF is the next place I was gonna look. Not really interested in the Navy however the Coast Guard would be my third choice. |
The math on th adsvab is pretty simple. I'm not even sure there was any algebra at all. And since its all multiple choice, you should be able to squeek through the math section. I would recommend doing a couple nights of refresh, though. If you really want to get a great score as opposed to just a good one.
Those physical requirements are quite low. you should be able to get to that level in a month. In the Air Force, the requirements once you are actually in the real air force are 50 pushups in 1 minute, 50 situps in 1 minute, and 1.5 miles in 12 minutes. They also score you on your waist size which is pretty stupid, because that means some people can never possibly max their score.
Regarding the 6 years of Active Reserve, keep in mind that your Active Duty contract is actually going to be an 8 year commitment. In your's and my case, its 4 years Active Duty + 4 years Non-Active Reserve. The Non-Active Reserve though is the very last pool of people that they look to for filling spots which they almost never go to unless absolutely needed and I hear that they are pretty considerate of skipping over people with families and Full-time College/Degree programs.
Also. I thiiiiiink Activ Reserve can be full-time. Not sure though. Regardless, should still ask about it, atleast on principle. I went in without being told about all the possible options. I didn't get screwed much, but I difinitely would like to have known some of this stuff before signing my Active Duty contract. |
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Waffen
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: straining on a toilet
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:58 pm |
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did you go into the Air Force?
what makes the Reserves a good choice?
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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:02 pm |
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just thought i'd bump this thread with an update: have not been screwed yet, but holy shit is moving thousands of miles away expensive - i have basically no money at all (everything takes forever here), but i should be okay in a couple of weeks. otherwise life is good and i don't even hate my job!
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crispyambulance
Joined: 09 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:50 pm |
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| How do you pay for foods? |
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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:03 pm |
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um instant ramen is really good here!
i'm living off the final remnants of my UK account. once i get paid in 10 days or so i'll be sorted, it's just difficult at first because you get paid half as much for the two week training period and then i worked like three full days so my first two paycheques were crazy small especially considering lump sums to landlords and stuff...so!
i'll be okay if i can survive a slightly ridiculous existence for a couple of weeks.
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crispyambulance
Joined: 09 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:26 pm |
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| What are your living conditions like? Do people treat you funny because you're white? Do you know enough Japanese to understand what they're saying about you? |
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PianoMap
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: victoria, british columbia
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:24 pm |
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| Felix wrote: |
So, wait a second, guys.
You're saying that - if, hypothetically, I don't get into Canadian library schools but I do get into mediocre in-state tuition online library school - I should go teach in China?
I have to say I'm not super interested in Korean culture, which is why I always thought "Japan, in spite of X Y and Z," but China admittedly seems like bad news bears... |
Actually a friend of mine is teaching English in China right now. He spent a year teaching in Japan, then vacationed in the Phillipines/Thailand for a while, and set-up in a southern Chinese province after that. He says it's absolutely great, and all the big city buildings look like Ion Cannons. One factor that probably makes a difference though is that he's living there with a couple of old friends who're all from here.
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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 3:04 am |
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| crispyambulance wrote: |
| What are your living conditions like? Do people treat you funny because you're white? Do you know enough Japanese to understand what they're saying about you? |
my apartment isn't exactly tim's new place, but it's nice enough. i share with one other dude - we each have pretty big japanese-style rooms, and the living room/kitchen is fine. i've met people here with private apartments the size of my bedroom, so i can't complain.
my area is pretty weird, though! i live in a shopping arcade (my elevator is inbetween a meat shop and a used bike store) and it is exclusively populated by people that are either 90 years old, homeless, or both... the collective teeth count is probably in the hundreds. when i tell japanese people where i live they're usually like "woah that's so ghetto!" and i don't think that's true - it's safe, at least, though there are the usual yakuza hangouts - but it's certainly a little odd. my place itself is nice, though, so!
i do get funny looks from the people in my area but i think they probably give everyone funny looks. generally though japanese people have been super-friendly - i live in the middle of a huge city, and once i get out of my bizarre corner i think most people are pretty normal and used to the sight of non-japanese. my language skills aren't so hot but i'm picking it up pretty quickly i think.
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Tokyo Rude
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: I'm on the phone Derrick!
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:41 pm |
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| crispyambulance wrote: |
| What are your living conditions like? Do people treat you funny because you're white? Do you know enough Japanese to understand what they're saying about you? |
Pretty good! Was hell to set up!
Maybe you got treated strange 10 years ago, but not anymore!
Usually they don't say anything about you. Though sometimes girls will say "Maybe we should talk to this guy." "But I don't know English!" |
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BIGJ420COOLDUDE
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:41 pm |
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whoa do you live in the senj shopping arcade?? that place rules |
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fairy godmilf
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: oakland, california
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:31 pm |
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| BIGJ420COOLDUDE wrote: |
| the senj |
man i just realized that i didn't go to the senj once in 2008 :-/
the last time was that night we went to asakusa, me with my ceiling lamp in a garbage bag :(
my new apartment, like, has built-in ceiling lights! ;-)
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boogalooper
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Location: boogin around
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:34 am |
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JET results just came out a week or so ago. While I'm thinking about it, anyone get in? Anyone even apply?
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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:47 am |
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man i can honestly say i'm super-happy i ended up not doing the JET thing. i know a couple here in the middle of osaka, so they got lucky in that regard, but they have crazy work hours (well, crazy if you're 22 and don't want to be a full-time teacher at a school that starts at 8am) and always say how boring their job is - i don't really do much of anything, what i do do is usually pretty fun and i have basically perfect hours. i would say unless you actively want to live in the remote countryside and do that specific kind of work (and i guess a lot of people do), there are better options than JET.
i'm moving out of fucked-up arcade this weekend! yeah!
i kind of ironically like my place (discovered i don't just have rats, i have FERRETS) but i'd rather have a hip yuppie pad 200 metres down the road.
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Tokyo Rude
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: I'm on the phone Derrick!
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:08 pm |
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Might start working a GABA soon.
Also just got a 3 year visa (yesssss) |
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sam
Joined: 28 May 2007
Location: osaka
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:28 am |
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GABA sounds fun! i only ever met one GABA teacher, and he pretended to be me on the phone because my japanese phone manner is not so hot. also, my girlfriend is a GABA student, and basically goes there to talk about indie/punk music with people from around the world - contrast to ECC, where people come to ask me what england's really like.
maybe you could do worse!
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sawtooth
heh
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Location: flashback
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:14 am |
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haha i remember the first time waffen made this thread and it included the question if it was already to flirt/hit on/ have sex with one's female students
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Isfet
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: A New York
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:19 pm |
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as a teacher, i have a moderate amount of trouble understanding how one could really teach or manage a classroom with such a huge language barrier. supposedly the students "know English" by then, but i've heard that's bull.
and the one video i saw of an instructor doing a JET-like thing...the class seemed chaotic beyond belief. |
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boogalooper
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Location: boogin around
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| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 5:21 am |
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| Isfet wrote: |
as a teacher, i have a moderate amount of trouble understanding how one could really teach or manage a classroom with such a huge language barrier. supposedly the students "know English" by then, but i've heard that's bull.
and the one video i saw of an instructor doing a JET-like thing...the class seemed chaotic beyond belief. |
It's called TFL! It's not really that difficult, to be honest, though maybe I'm lucky because I was able to get training in it back in college. I've done it both with assorted (mostly mexican and korean) students in Detroit and now JET. Kids gotta pay attention or suffer the consequences, just like any other subject. Also, with most foreign-based EFL classroom situations (as opposed to LCC or something), you generally have a native teacher lurking around anyways, in case something gets out of hand, which pretty much never happens. Probably the only real difference is that classroom rythm is paramount; you lose the rythm of a class and that is when trouble might brew. True in any class, but definitely true in TFL classes.
Given, every class is different, and some teachers are definitely better at it than others: one my the Japanese Teachers of English at my school, a pretty nice guy, has a (seemingly) much more difficult time than me keeping his class focused because he has no sense of rythm and just sort of bounces around, which frusterates the students, which then frusterates him. It's really a strokes and folks situation.
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boogalooper
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Location: boogin around
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| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 5:34 am |
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| sam wrote: |
| man i can honestly say i'm super-happy i ended up not doing the JET thing. |
Yo dude, right on! Glad you are liking your digs in Osaka. It's a pretty great city, I reckon. Next time I head down in that direction, I'll definitely be hitting you up for directions and shit to do, if not for drinks and fucking rad parties.
Myself, I decided to stay on to JET for another year. The town is great, the people are cool, even if literally 58% of the population of the town is over 65 years old (not exagerration), I was offered an official position as an assistant coach for the basketball team, and a ton of other reasons. I completely comprehend why this life wouldn't be for a lot of people coming to japan (regular 9-5 hours, living in the countryside, lack of access to things like arcades, clubs, a thriving youth scene, many other things), but it's a pretty great life and I am coming away with a lot of outrageous stories.
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