Effed in the head?

[Drorain]

so many of you know my obsession with Japanese culture...the art, the food, the beautiful women, the anime....I love it all!

I am in process of mentally brainstorming the possibility that I might kinda-sorta take a leap and go and teach there. English, for about a year. :eek:

Am I drunk? Nope
Am I high? Nope

Anyone else ever do this before? Is it something that sounds like a good idea, I'm not well travelled, but I want to go see the world a little, and Japan especially. I think this will take a year or more of planning, but I am in process of researching it all right now. Some programs are only 29 hours a week, I'm thinking I could do my own design work outside of that.

[morea]

Wow, awesome Dro! That sure would be a heck of an experience!

[urstwile]

I can't advise you based on any experience. But my instinct tells me:

DO IT!

[Drorain]

I'm also thinking the teaching experience would be beneficial to when I come home, I could seek employment in a tech school, to teach design. I love working in service to others, especially kids, and this would be a nice way to fufill some of my dreams.

[morea]

you would be a great teacher. :)

[nyc_skater]

I have a friend who moved to Thialand to teach english, he loves it. Sends me crazy pictures all the time. The only nad experience he had was he caught some weird flu when he went hiking up in the mountains, he was confined to his tent for a week with a temp in the hundreds.

[urstwile]

Check out any expatriate and/or other related forums you can find. I know you're not necessarily planning to expatriate, but every country has its different rules regarding legally working there. A quick Google search found this: http://www.alloexpat.com/japan_expat_forum/

I once was interested (and gave up on) the thought of trying to move to Belgium (where my mother was born). I went to the Belgian embassy in New York, and they gave me a lot of info about what the issues might be.

[balou]

How cool Dro! Go for it. What a great experience that would be. There's actually a website: http://www.teachinjapan.com

[danedawg99]

a friend of mine's girlfriend is actually leaving to do that very thing next month. DO IT!!

[EC]

Go for it. Now's the time. You'll probably regret it later if you don't, I was *this close* to studying abroad and I regret that I ultimately decided against it.

[PrintDriver]

A guy here at work did it. Had a blast. He was the tallest man in the 'town' where he lived. LOL! Also met a girl there and married her. They moved back here a bit ago.
Go for it.

[Drorain]

thanks for the input guys, Kool I am looking into a variety of programs right now, most of them have a compensation of about 27-32k a year, with about 3 weeks vacation, and all of the japanese holidays (Golden Week, White Day, New Year...there are a lot) So I will be looking into all of the financials as well. I am getting myself psyched up about this cause it really strikes a chord with me as being "Right" if you know what I mean. I will start researching all this...in my planning I see this as happening either 2007 or 2008

[Kool]

27 to 32K would be tough, would you have to pay for your own housing? I hope you like Ramen Noodles ;)

But your not doing this to live high on the hog. I would say do this for sure if you can. The exposure to a completely different culture, and I mean really completely different culture, will be a life changing experience. You'll spend a fair amount of time scratching your head and going WTF. LOL

[Drorain]

thats the thing that offsets it all, house is substantially subsidised, some programs its even free.

the other thing is I might be able to offer design services at the same time, perhaps look to the american consulate for extra work

[mac.FINN]

Sounds like a wicked idea Drorian.

2 of my cousin's travelled around asia teaching English. (Taiwan, Korea, etc) They both loved it. One of them ended up living there for several years (got married, had a kid) and only recently moved back to Canada because they started to require more qualifications than he had. He loved it though - and to talk to him now you can tell he's really proud of it too.

[uncle carbunkle]

japan is expensive.

from what i hear, you'll make more money in korea.

it's not that scary, just takes getting used to if you've never done it before. i have several friends and family members who have gone, and none have regretted it.

good luck.

[Drorain]

actually the choice of Japan is more because of their influence in my own work, Korea is also a beautiful country, and I wouldn't mind going there as well. I'm just considering Japan first because it's my peak interest. As with most things in my life...if it's meant to happen I know it will...things usually fall into place.

[reuber1]

Sounds cool Dro, I'd love to go myself. Lost in Translation made me want to go more so. I'd have to go with someone though if it were me, I have a feeling it would get kind of lonely, unless there are a lot of English speakers there. I'm sure they're friendly there, so who knows?

[Drorain]

thats the thing...I have no experience in Japanese, but the people you teach ...if their adults, have about 6 years of English study behind them. The language is incorporating into their culture in huge ways...

wow...this is giving me a little new perspective on the spanish speaking population in our country...

...

(another reason to go for me is to gain some new perspectives such as this)

[reuber1]

Well, I say do it. Life experience trumps uncertainty anyday.

[TheBluePanda]

You should definately go while you can, before you're locked down with with a woman and too many responsibilities to leave the country (my case). I never made it to Japan, despite my 6-year obsession with the country. I did visit Korea for a month with my wife, which helped quench my thirst to visit an asian country.

[uncle carbunkle]

thats the thing...I have no experience in Japanese, but the people you teach ...if their adults, have about 6 years of English study behind them. The language is incorporating into their culture in huge ways...


take a TESL or TEFL course. bone up on your grammar immediately. nothing worse than a room full of non-english speaking people who know your own language better than you do! (i've seen it happen - it's not pretty :D )

[Drorain]

your very right Unc, thats actually a requirment with some of the programs as well, thanks for the heads up, I have much i need to do in prep.

[Neuro]

Do it! Do it! Do it!!

Hell you only live once and you might find yourself a hottie! :)

[chris_bcn]

Definately take a CELTA course - make sure it a proper one the Cambridge Universtity one os the best (and not just because I used to teach on it). You can do them all over the world, but without it you'll have a hard time teaching.

I taught EFL in Spain for 4 years and then another year when I first arrived in the US. 29 hours a week doesn't sound likemuch, but when you're first staring out you'll spend a lot of time planning. And then there's marking to do. It's not an easy job by any means. Not if you want to do a good job anyhow

Don't be fooled into thinking that people will have any level of English. I taught Japenese students here in San Francisco fomr complete beginner up to hig intermediate.

It's a fun job, you'll meet great people and have a blast. I recommend it - just ,ake sure you're fully prepared and that means a CLTA course.

As I say, I used to train prospective EFL teachers, so if you have any questions, just ask

[Drorain]

thank you chris, I'll know who to contact when the time comes, I'll also be looking into that program you mentioned

[chris_bcn]

excuse my typing! fingers are seizing up

[Neballer]

DU-EEEET
This is something I've always wanted to do, I say if you have the chance go for it!

[HUNT]

I have two buddies there now doing that very thing and they love it. Apparently that is where the best pay is for teaching English.

[chris_bcn]

Japan does pay the ighest for EFL, but generally speaking the pay is terrible. Japan has a VERY high cost of living. It's not a job you do for the money that's for sure. In Spain I was full time, fully qualified with a CELTA and DELTA, 4 years teaching Experience and the schools Webmaster and earning 13,000 euros a year. And that was considered high.

In San Francisco I worked for a language school for a while when I first got here - new teachers got $26,000 p.a. which in San Francisco is nothing.

It's a great job, you'll meet amazing people - that's the best thing about the industry - the pay is crap but typically the people in it are amazing

[Drorain]

thats really why I want to do it, because of the life experience. Plus I have skills as a designer, and a couple other things I'm trying to work out now so I may be able to practice even while abroad. I would like to have their stuff influence my work as well

[twogun]

guys takes his wife to the japanese restaurant for thier anniversay meal, they both order the chicken, it was so over cooked niether of them could swallow the food, just kept on chewing........half way thtough the meal the littel japanese waiter asks if everything is to thier liking, the husband replies, "this chicken is rubbery"................the waiter replies "oh fank you velly much"

ahhhh the ol ones!!

serously, a friend of mine went to thailand to teach, came back to the UK 6 months later, sodl his house, buggered off again and thats the last we saw of him.

he's having a ball!!! bastard owes me a fiver!!!

[Drorain]

lol yah I suppose that happens to some people

[chris_bcn]

same here - went to barcelona for 6 months, stayed for 7 years. ONly left because I got married to an American woman!

Happens to a lot of people