Things I Wish I'd Known : Before Teaching In Japan

[@daviddouglas5581]

Ive seen a lot of people saying how living and teaching in Japan is terrible. I qualify to give a response and I've lived here for 2 years now. It doest suck at all. Sure loads of things annoy me about Japan, but things at home in the UK annoy me too. Teaching can also sometimes be annoying and the moneys not great, but its enough to enjoy life with my wife and save a bit each month, and i get to enjoy living in a country where i know my wife is always safe traveling back from work alone, we always have access to good food, and most of all, this place is BEAUTIFUL!

[@hector1404]

If you having a blast, who are we to judge!_ Glad to hear you having a great life here in Japan.

[@TTailled]

I'm in China at the moment, teaching at a public international high school. Any chance I could move to an international high school in Japan?

[@mariahbowman3587]

@@TTailled you could try the JET programme and other programmes similar

[@2WheelsGood.01]

I think a lot of people who move are either really spoiled or have unreasonable expectations.

[@bigTom-z2y]

A positive outlook like this is literally all anyone needs, people get bogged down by small issues because they perceive them as insurmountable obstacles. Whatever job you decide to do over there isn’t the be all and end all of your time in Japan, the whole reason you went there was to experience a new and beautiful country, the job is only a means to that end. Nothing more.

[@orangeshore]

We Japanese must think about teachers from overseas more and more. They wish we and our surrounding should give them good experiences. But our negative attitudes have made them depressed. And your pronunciation is very clear.This video will be my textbook(textvideo??) ;-)

[@MarkSmith-ey2pg]

Many moons ago, about 16 years ago, when I first came here with NOVA, a few weeks in, another guy came, got his visa then left for a job driving forklift trucks in Osaka. I would suggest anyone who really doesn't want to teach English here, use these companies for the visa then leave if you have an offer to work elsewhere. But make sure you have a job to go to first, can speak some Japanese and understand the culture. Otherwise you'll wind up in dire straits. If the company says they want their visa back, they can NOT take it from you. Only immigration can do that.

[@tuesdayevenings]

Good to know!

[@DaveTrippin]

They can't. There is no take backsies 😅

[@DemonicVeteran]

@@DaveTrippin So glad to hear that! I'm now comfortable and confident about it. Do you know of some of these companies that have asked people for their visas back?

[@DaveTrippin]

Never ever heard of that.

[@DaveTrippin]

It's illegal.

[@fightclub1100]

So many Jvloggers make videos like this but I swear this is the best one. You break everything down in a highly efficient and informative way! Thank you so much!

[@DaveTrippin]

+fightclub1100 Highest compliment I could ever get. Thank you so much for the positive feedback.

[@taintedbeats]

And that's exactly why he's a teacher. Good show, mate!

[@brianmerion]

Just starting university... but I'll remember this for when I graduate in four years! Thanks!

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

i wouldn't go

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

and change your major something medical or engineering if you want a job out of college

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

In Your Legends Hey, I am telling this person the reality...

[@brianmerion]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I'm currently a dual-major in Japanese and Economics, with a minor in political science. My scholarship also demands that I complete my Master's degree within 3 years of graduation (which I plan to get in econ). My plan is to teach for a while, then land a job at a large corporation or perhaps in the government. Do you think this is possible?

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

+SoulReturns is there an option for you to have a double degree on accounting? that'll make you more competitive. dont get me wrong, teaching is a good and rewarding profession, but if you aim for a career in the company, i would start with internships and get into the company after you graduate. Because they want people with experience in that field. Always remember that.

[@ysanthology]

David, you're definitely saving me 2 years of my life. I just graduated from university and was contemplating whether or not I stay in my country 2 more years to earn experience in teaching - worrying too much that there's no opportunity for me in Japan if I go "empty-handed". Turns out I am not. This is giving me so much reassurance which I really needed and was desperately looking for credible info. My family is already settled in Japan. I have now decided to go on with my papers, process my COE and I'll definitely be on my way searching for these smaller companies or try it out even for direct-hire in BOE. Will also work on my driver's license and other matters that you've dicussed. Thank you so much for these videos! So grateful.

[@tally1604]

this is the most useful teaching in japan video i've come across so far. most people just push their own agenda - negative OR positive - on you, but your videos are just pure unadulterated objective advice. kudos, mon frere canadien !

[@mamura5343]

Even though these videos are years old, I find myself coming back to recall bits you’ve mentioned and I’ve been keeping notes for when I move there next year! 🙌🏼 thank you for making them ^^

[@DaveTrippin]

That's really awesome to hear. Best of luck on your adventure!

[@jnipper81]

I intend to spend the rest of my life in japan once i get my BA in english, i hope to meet somone special during my teaching career

[@ryanlink9499]

Did any of that happen?

[@shundaiontop]

I badly want to know too.

[@Jablicek]

Perfect advice. Doesn't only apply to Japan, but any country. As soon as you're legally allowed to work there, and you're not on a sponsored visa, finish your contract and get something that works for you. I'd also like to say that pay tends to be lower in cities. They're where foreigners want to live, and the laws of supply and demand are definitely at play here. If you go into the towns, your rate of pay increases (I've seen threefold increases), your cost of living decreases (for rent) and people are generally nicer, too. There's more of a community feeling. You may not meet so many ex-pats, but your knowledge of local language, culture and history will be far greater. And what's the point of moving abroad to be at home (viz. Brits abroad on the Costas). Good luck to all of you starting out on your EFL teaching career. It's hugely rewarding, and while you work you also get to travel the world and meet some amazing people.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Jablička All excellent points. Thanks for checking it out.

[@Jablicek]

Y'know, I qualified 12 years ago and still watch these vids. Glutton for punishment, I think. :) One of the things that I really found difficult when I started out EFL teaching was that my own language usage started to degrade. I wasn't spending as much time on t'internet because lesson planning was taking *so* long there wasn't much time left over. As time goes on, you start to re-use lesson plans, and refine them, which leaves you more leisure time. I strongly advise teachers in areas where you don't have much contact with native speakers to spend time on the internet engaging in conversations with people who use whatever flavour of English you're teaching - it'll remind you how lang is used naturally, and you'll start remembering words you'd forgotten. We all learn, fairly early on, how to have complex discussions with a vocab of 500 words. Those words work very hard; and when you're not teaching, and all those people at the pub want to talk Eng with you because they want the practice or to show off, we tend to tailor our breadth of vocab to our audience. It's important to remember, too, that you're not there to give free lessons. The teaching time costs you dearly, especially at the beginning, with planning taking far longer than your paid 15 minutes. OTOH, you can make some great contacts for private lessons - just don't give too much away. Although - I'm replying to your reply here, Dave, and you know what you're doing. Or at least, I'd hope so! :) Can I ask - have you stayed in one location or have you travelled/worked across the country/other countries? If so, what differences have you noticed in various places - working conditions, pay scale, community acceptance, living costs and conditions, opportunities. Lastly: have you gone native yet? Cheers, Lesley.

[@DaveTrippin]

Jablička I've worked a few places. Two different prefectures to be exact. The formula remains the same in the sense that it always changes. Each schools got their own dynamic and I learn to roll with whatever that is.

[@lockergr]

Any cities in particular that anyone can recommend for higher wages? I am much older than most teachers who plan to teach overseas, and I'm looking for the higher end of wages.

[@luqmanhafidh8914]

DaveTrippin ever felt a strange thing in your career in Japan?

[@venomania726]

I'm sure I'm not alone with thinking this, but thank you very much for such an informed video. Some of the points you brought up hadn't crossed my mind but are of importance to me.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Veno Mania That's incredibly kind of you to say. Thanks so much for the support.

[@TheGingerLady]

I'm almost done with my 5 year teaching education. This is solid advice that I will have in mind!

[@SamanthaInmanofAvalon]

Thank you. I found this helpful and informative. I am in my 40s and getting my TEFL certification on top of my B.A. in Anthropology/sociology is specifically, for me to live in Japan and have a teaching career in the private sector. It is my " retirement" to have the freedom to live and work in Asia with the second half of my life. I appreciate the wisdom of your experience. Arigato gozaimashita!

[@knick991]

I'm about to become a teacher myself. Watching your videos help me greatly. Thank you so much.

[@thawsmst3138]

It's nice to hear actual advice and not just an ambiguous opinion that most others post.

[@grantbalmer6951]

I've lived in Japan 4 years now, and I watched your video before moving here, and the "As soon as you get a job in Japan, start looking for another job," bit is so true. Places that'll hire you from abroad value their lawyers who know the immigration laws and can deal with hiring people from abroad. And then their biggest asset is having a global hiring pool when tons of people would love to simply move to Japan. That way, they can treat you like s***, and if you don't take it, you're out and they'll hire someone else. There's a reason they're always hiring on every site. Start looking for a more local job that'll value you as soon as you touch down. Seriously.

[@lampshades120]

I am giving this video a like immediately because of what you said at the beginning, talking about who this video is directed to. People like you make the internet much better.

[@DaveTrippin]

Appreciate the kind words lampshade. Thanks for checking it out.

[@zainabismail3281]

I am an esl teacher in China, going on my 4th year here, I am thankful for this experience, the salary here is great, apartments paid for, cost of living low, savings high,work environment great depending on company.

[@patriciamaelacson1679]

How did you apply for it? :)

[@zainabismail3281]

@@patriciamaelacson1679 I was recommended by someone, if you are searching please drop your wechat. I can recommend some good and reliable recruiters

[@Shinchan-hr4wv]

@@zainabismail3281 could you help me get in touch with your company?

[@zainabismail3281]

@@Shinchan-hr4wv hi where are you from? As the school only hire native English speakers

[@LaFayetteHistorian]

This is absolutely the most useful information about teaching in Japan. Thank you!

[@SHYDE2010]

This has certainly given me a heads up on how to strategize when I get to Japan next spring since I do plan to stay longer than a year. Solid and clearly shared experiences and great incite, as always. Blessings.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Stacy-Ann Hyde Thanks so much for the positive feedback Stacy-Ann. So glad to hear that you found it useful.

[@ElPollitoLoco23]

Are you in Japan now Stacy-Ann?

[@shifujames4188]

Hello

[@バラット直子]

Well said and totally true.. Accurate and bang on..the head of the nail! 2019 July it's exactly as Dave said! Hat's off to Dave

[@son1cprogrammer]

I'm hoping to be in Japan next July or so. It's cool to know that their number one requirement at smaller schools is more basic than just having experience. I wouldn't have thought that, but it really does make sense. Thanks Dave!

[@DaveTrippin]

+son1cprogrammer Cheers thanks for commenting.

[@selenevandernix9353]

I don't even teach or anyting and I found this so interesting and valuable info sharing

[@DaveTrippin]

+Selene Van Der Nix sweeet haha ;)

[@beanio12]

Dude, this is was more helpful than most of the videos on YT about English teaching. Most everyone else just complains about how horrible life is in Japan and tells you not to come there while failing to offer you with any practical advice.

[@DaveTrippin]

Thanks for checking it out. It's that old story sex violence and sadness gets the clicks. So you'll see a lot of those videos.

[@b4thepreposition]

Thank you so much for this video! It definitely helps me, as I plan to apply for the JET program and create a career out of teaching in Japan

[@DaveTrippin]

Right on. So glad to hear you found it useful. Thanks for checking it out.

[@dannyroth218]

I was kinda expecting this to be a bashing video about being an English teacher , but very happy it was not. I’m trying to go in about 2 years with a bigger company, and it never really crossed my mind on what to do afterward. Great advice and something for me to think about. Thank you!

[@Oni_92]

Very well made video. A lot of people from my orientation group have no financial problem and are able to save quite a lot of money because this is their first year in Japan. However, as I have been here since 2012 (for university), I have so many for other bills to pay (such as city tax, pension and health insurance). After paying those bills, sometimes, I am in the red, even though I don't go out all that much (once a month). Utilities, rent and groceries can be cheap depending on one's location. I am located in Tokyo, so I have to live near by and that drives up the costs. I will definitely start looking for a new job soon, even though it will be sad to say goodbye to the students…

[@qurfy1]

Solid advice, Dave. I definitely learned some good information here.

[@DaveTrippin]

John Smith Great to hear John. Glad it was useful.

[@anthonycheam6170]

Thanks for another great video! I too have always thought that experience was the most important thing for finding jobs!

[@SilverBalverine]

I'll be starting with Interac in Japan in March 2016 and plan to stay in Japan longer than a year. Watching your videos is really preparing me on what to expect and a guideline direction I can potentially follow :) Thank you so much! Keep up the excellent work and looking forward to more of your videos

[@MikeTheGamer77]

+Naveed Ahmed Just make sure you read their contract completely. I have heard some horror stories about Interac.

[@SilverBalverine]

+Mike The Gamer horror stories ? :( could you please elaborate

[@MikeTheGamer77]

Naveed Ahmed Oh you know, all the stories about horrible schools and horrible children and bad branch offices and being treated like trash. I do believe Interac also expects you to pay for your plane ticket. Unless I'm wrong about that. I might be confusing that part with another agency. Also them changing the amount you get paid once you are already there.

[@SilverBalverine]

Yes, I had to pay for my own ticket. I think horrible schools and children are relative to placement ? but I don't know anything as yet >< I'll be starting this coming Monday,but I will take your advice and look around asap. Hope you're well mate :)

[@rikwallant9901]

I had a feeling this was the case. Shop around. Don't settle for what you already have. I have a good mate who started out working as an English teacher and now he works for a huge PR firm translating.

[@lobaaafan3848]

that destiny one in the back round brings back good memories

[@sifeholunnwheels2170]

Awesome video, you confirmed many of things I already suspected about the teaching gig in Japan, but it's good to hear it from someone in your position.

[@DaveTrippin]

Awesome so glad you found it useful.

[@jedi1872]

Thank you sir. This gave me an important insight. Thank you.

[@streetwolfe]

thank you very much for this information Dave. Exactly what I was looking for!

[@alfonsopayan09]

This needs more views Thank you so much! You're really nice I know not much people would give the advice or give it as sincere

[@DaveTrippin]

Right on Alfonso. So glad to hear you found it useful.

[@hr2079]

Thank you for your perspective. Keep the good videos coming

[@theredneckbuddha2763]

If that's Destiny in the background, that brings back such memories. I miss the first game, was the best out of both in my opinion

[@thomastyler5582]

It was the better one, I agree.

[@justinianslegacy4955]

Good stuff. Senior in uni right now, looking to go back to Japan, fell in love during my study abroad over my gap year. Hoping to maybe get a post-grad degree there as well.

[@DarkLight018]

This really put my mind at ease for accepting a Borderlink ALT job in April 2020. Thank You

[@VictorFursov]

Very interesting story! Thank you! Good luck!

[@DaveTrippin]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MikeTheGamer77]

Thank you for this video. I would never have thought about looking for work after 6 months if I was alrady working. I already knew about the myriad jobs that want you to already be in the country. Thats a given that you would most likely get the job versus someone who would have to buy a plane ticket and get their own visa.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Mike The Gamer Cheers Mike. So glad you to hear you found it useful.

[@Jmjmrock1]

The JET program now pays higher (around 3.4 Mil - 3.9 Mil Yen after 2016 vs the 2.7 Mil they said 3 years ago when I talked to them) and they won’t allow you to find another teaching job. They’ve changed after 2016. Thank you about talking the vacation thing. I wanted to teach in the US but the lack of pay and respect is just horrible. The rent is too pricey in the US. I can understand why the demand of teachers in the US and World is so high. Looking through the JET program it’s a better deal than working where I am. Thank you again for making this video. I found it very helpful!

[@RanmaChanAndKunoKun]

I always had ambitions to teach in Japan but the problem is academically I'm not good enough, I have no University degree and to attend University I'd need to resit High School/Secondary School tests to get a better grade in English which these days I find hard to have the patience for, I kind of regret not putting in the effort when I was younger in the education environment but at 28 and with other real life issues to deal with now I guess I'll settle with seeing others on youtube who made it work instead, very informative video you produced.

[@TheGingerLady]

I have one year left in my teacher program in Sweden. I'm a double subject teacher (English and Spanish) so I hope to find a place where I can teach both. But I will absolutely have this in mind when I'm jobhunting!

[@Dcole939]

thanks dave this will help.me when.i plan my long term stay in japan in about 4.years right now im in college in america and am planning a short trip but hope to.stay long term in future.your videos all go towards that so i dont end up royally screwed in japan.

[@DaveTrippin]

That's awesome David so glad you found it useful.

[@FuneralRoses]

Thank you for this information, it's very valuable to someone like me who is interested in the teaching field in general. I've always wanted to go to Japan and have thought of teaching as a means to do it after college, but have always wondered if being in Japan first would be more valuable. Now I know :) Thanks to your info I can make a more smart decision in the future.

[@DaveTrippin]

Basically you need a degree to teach in the public school system. So if that is something you desire to do then getting the degree is the sure-fire route.

[@hanchobarbi8266]

Great information ! 本当にありがとうございます。from Singapore. Pls do make more such video. That's related to working anywhere in Japan.

[@DaveTrippin]

Hancho Barbi Right on thanks for checking it out.

[@gamingabove9403]

Thanks so much, this video is really intuitive and will help me a lot in the further years to come!

[@JustMeShaun1]

Good video. You make some really good points and insight into how things work in regards to eikaiwa's.

[@DaveTrippin]

+JustMeShaun Really appreciate the support Shaun. I should mention as well I was not only talking about eikaiwas but corporate jobs as well training Japanese company staff in English.

[@austinwiebe3801]

Super helpful and well constructed video, thank you!

[@nal909]

Super helpful, thanks for making bud.

[@tickyj45]

Great advice! Hope everything works out for you in 日本🇯🇵 !

[@deathdaryl]

If I'm not mistaken that is destiny in the background. I first found this channel today while playing destiny 2. Either way love the content so far very informative

[@DaveTrippin]

+daryl butterfield You are correct sir. Thanks for checking out the vid. ;p

[@shoezomaku]

I've heard a lot of people say they see schools and talent companies completely wave most of their requirements all the time because of how much they want you to be already here. Being a native English speaker and already living their seems to be enough at least some of the time. I'm still going to get my degrees first but it makes me feel better knowing that plenty of people with zero experience and no higher education can get teaching jobs just because they already live their.

[@dahunlee_acousticguitar_covers]

I'm a bit late to the party, but great advice man. Hope Japan's still treating you well.

[@DaveTrippin]

dahun lee always appreciate the support. Thanks for checking out the vid.

[@joshuaowoh7232]

just what i wanted to hear, clear precised and relates to me

[@DaveTrippin]

Josh owoh Right on glad to hear it was useful.

[@althedude7730]

This was very helpful I’m looking into moving to Japan after about 3 years of college (I want a degree in teaching and ICT so I have some more options and yes I will be able to afford it even though I’ll have to work my ass off lol) and you gave a lot of helpful advise! Thank you!

[@paul28177]

wow... yeah... really? Most dispatch companies offer lower salaries because they also take advantage of loopholes which stops you getting full company health and pension benefits -- for those here a year, this is great. If you are here long term, so more than 2 years, then you want shakaihoken -- this is pension and national health all in one and is something the company also pays into which bumps up your pension credits AND reduces health costs at dental clinics, hospitals, doctor clinics, medicines etc Even in your first year you are supposed to pay pension (regardless of what they tell you...those who stay longer end up getting chased about this) - that about ¥15,000 a month... by you third year i think the average people pay for national health is around 20-30,000 a split over 7-8 payments a year... the JET program as significantly reduced numbers over the years and their benefits - but it still around 300,000 a month BUT max 4 years and quite hard to get into. Next is Interac - which is the leading dispatch company... they only have a few positions that are classed as full time and get the shakiahoken -- their average salary is around ¥230,000 but can be higher (i know my salary is much higher than that). Other dispatch companies are quite small...they kinda get the cheaper contracts but still want a large profit - so they often pay you as low as 180,000 a month. Nearly all dispatch companies try to reduce the amount of months they pay you - so no summer, winter, or spring pay...it often works out around 11 months contract, with some being as little as 9 months. As for language schools - Heart and Nova have had so many issues in the past - in fact Nova have reappeared several times and don't offer you great rates. working for language schools can be very demanding and i rarely know people lasting 2 or 3 more years -- they drop classes on you, ask you to be super flexible... and they have plenty of people lining up to teach. The best thing is to try and get a direct hire position with a good board of education. This can be very tough though and often requires more experience and preferably a permanent visa because the school doesnt want to mess around with that. The other best solution is just stick at a normal dispatch company and make up the rest of your salary doing private classes -- often with companies like interac you finish around 330pm (sometimes earlier) and you dont work weekend, and usually know way in advance when the holidays are... private classes can earn you anywhere between 1500-5000 per hour depending on who you teacher and where you teach. oh...and even that 260-270...still not matching my salary -- im with interac...and no...tha doesnt include any private lessons i do....and no...im not the only one earning that amount. i would not recommend language schools -- if you really do want to try them...do so...but have a backup plan....make sure you do your research with them...they can be super challenging.

[@arturospeaks]

In the background: *CHALLENGER APROACHING* I do believe that is 2B on the TV.

[@ladygagadawakuh]

this a informative video dave. thanks alot.

[@DaveTrippin]

Awesome. So glad you found it useful. If you ever have any questions never hesitate to write. I'm here to help.

[@AIAutomationworld]

Really useful and well spoken info. Thanks

[@DaveTrippin]

Awesome Silvia thanks for checking it out.

[@AlexAutaku]

Hey Dave! Been watching a lot of your videos lately. You are giving a lot of great information. Keep making these videos. :)

[@DaveTrippin]

+Alexander Headley That's awesome feedback thanks so much for supporting the channel.

[@AlexAutaku]

No problem, it is not easy to find information and hear personal feedback. I plan to apply as an ALT for either JET or Interac. Now I have a better idea of how to prepare and plan ahead.

[@texsoscz1644]

Good to know. Gotta remember that, for the next 8 years that is.

[@ddingus2254]

thank you for being efficient.....

[@Jackthesmilingblack]

As soon as you possibly can, become self-employed with a free-lance schedule. You should not depend on the employer for your accommodation. Next step is to found a company, so that every outfit or individual you teach becomes a client.

[@lonerblader85]

Another great video Many thanks!

[@xerasferalos9784]

Some very smart points

[@janeiro301]

i've seen this video 4 times that i can remember and i know i will come back for more, btw love your videos :)

[@pvopop4938]

Good video this will help a lot of people.

[@tatchsnart]

Definitely useful information. Thank ya

[@DaveTrippin]

Right on Crystal. Glad to hear it was useful.

[@nahhchill]

Need more real J-vloggers like you

[@carlatteniese2]

Dave, great video and thanks for it. I have written you before and thank you, you have written back. This time I write FROM Japan, have been hired and am waiting for my visa. I have a very affordable apartment through a new friend and and am lying low to save money until working. I came with enough money for several months living and am okay. The problem is my company hired me almost two months ago and just sent my papers to the immigration department... just before Golden Week. I was advised I should leave to wait. I have a place, and do not want to - though will to renew my visa. My employer also implied immigration likes it when you apply from abroad (nice for people who had to come here to GET their jobs, eh?). The last wrench is I have no degree, but am intellectually inspired, in touch with the philosophies of our time, read and listen to podcasts and write and speak proper English (sorry for the bragging); I also have 18 years of experience, visited Japan 27 times whilst living 15 years in Korea, love the place and am an upstanding pro-Japan kind of guy. Any advice?

[@DaveTrippin]

Well perhaps you could try to travel somewhere not so far away and lay low at a hostel for that time? Say Korea for example? This is a hard one to comment on because of the uniqueness of the situation and I don`t have a lot of experience with it.

[@carlatteniese2]

DaveTrippin Yeah, that's what am going to do. Thank you. I was advised by my hiring manager since writing you that I can visit immigration and express my concern that my Landing Visa expires soon and if necessary, apply for an extension. I think I'll wait a bit on that (maybe my visa will be awarded before end of the next few weeks and if not, yeaㅡKorea sounds like a good bet. I have friends there I'd like to see and the boss says he thinks I'll get my visa after all. Sorry if it seemed like I was bragging in my last post; that wasn't the intention. I was trying to show compensatory benefits in light of the shortcoming I'd mentioned so you could possibly take a guess as to whether you thought immigration would rule in favor of a work visa for me. Thanks again!

[@blindlightn650]

Hi Dave, I am currently applying for jobs for Japan here in the UK. I am actually a primary school teacher here in the UK and have been for 6 years, I am also completing my TEFL as I type. What I am wondering is do you think I should keep using sites like gaijin pot to find a job or should I consider going out to Japan first then finding a job whilst I am there? The reason I am coming over to Japan is to study martial arts (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu), it's very localised around Noda just outside Tokyo so ideally I want to be based in Kashiwa, how significantly do you think this will impact my ability to find work? Obviously I am happy to travel for work, I am just wondering if in your experience there is a wealth of job opportunities all over or is it quite localised into certain pockets?

[@chuckreindle1609]

I am half Japanese. Been living on and off in Japan for 41 years. I have a bachelors in Japanese from UCLA. My Masters of science in psychology is from Capella University with the Japanese as my target population. I will be retiring in Japan in about five years. I think you understand where I’m coming from so I’ll stop here for now. Anyway, just today I had a recruiter tell me that the company would rather hire individuals with more experience. Now if I don’t have experience, who does?! As I said in an earlier post, the trend is towards hiring non-native English speakers. Experience has nothing to do with it. That right there opens the door to English speakers around the world regardless of skin color and English proficiency based on white Caucasians in the western world. Food for thought.

[@phsiungus]

Great advice you are mentioning about the smaller companies. I will definitely remember that. Though I wonder how would a teacher already in Japan know about them?

[@ecritdelajaponographie3926]

There are a few problems with the information in this video. For one thing, it equates "eikaiwas" (sic) with ALT jobs (the list of the "five big companies" seems to be a random mish-mash of companies like Interac and Borderlink -- primarily ALT dispatch companies -- with the likes of Peppy Kids Club), when in fact, for people coming over to Japan on work visas (probably 99% of people who would be interested in the information in this video) rather than, say, spouses of Japanese citizens, they need to apply for a completely different residence status to switch between these two industries, which means that jobs that require an applicant "currently reside in Japan with a valid working visa" are not open to such people unless the company they intend to transfer to is in the same general industry. (Specifically these residence statuses are "教育"/"Instructor", which covers teaching in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, and "...人文知識国際業務"/"Specialist in Humanities and ...", which covers teaching in most private English conversation schools and the like.) Also, "public holidays" are not related to pro-rated salaries. Nominally "full-time" ALTs who get pro-rated salaries when they are not working get paid their full month's salary for May despite its relatively large number of public holidays. The pro-rated months are those months when schools experience long periods of not being in session or otherwise do not need ALT services, and these are not directly related to Japan's public holidays. If a smaller English conversation school has their employees working on legit public holidays like the Emperor's Birthday, then those employees are generally either part-time (and therefore paid by the hour regardless of whether said hour falls on a public holiday), full-time (and getting paid overtime for holiday work or receiving time off in lieu), or getting screwed over by a company that is (probably -- I'm not an expert) violating labour laws. (And for the sake of full disclosure, I came to Japan on the JET Programme as a CIR and once I had finished my three years -- it's very difficult for CIRs to get transfers to complete a full five-year tenure after their contracting organization's fixed three-year term is up since there are fewer CIR positions nationwide to begin with -- I moved into ALTing for a private dispatch company before eventually moving back into an industry unrelated to teaching. Both my CIR position and my current job are "Specialist in Humanities and ..." but when I was working for that ALT dispatch company I was an "Instructor". There was also a brief period before fully changing back to "Specialist in Humanities and ..." that I was working as a part-time ALT and part-time eikaiwa teacher, which meant applying for a special work permit before I was allowed engage in paid activity for said eikaiwa school.)

[@Akuryoutaisan21]

Great advice, thanks.

[@DaveTrippin]

Cheers Heath thanks for checking out the vid.

[@abhirao8582]

Hi Dave. Thanks for another informative video. This should be very useful to me in the long term.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Abhi Rao So glad I could help. Thanks for the positive feedback.

[@MrBerserkinTime]

I’m at step one, learning Japanese :)

[@theredneckbuddha2763]

Hey man, it's been a couple years, how's it coming?

[@jacob9777]

@MrRakvalen how is it going!?

[@LiquidSnakeSSJ4]

@@theredneckbuddha2763 he's definitely gave up. last video uploaded 1 week ago. he's busy playing videogames lmao

[@theredneckbuddha2763]

@@LiquidSnakeSSJ4 You're probably right, but I'm also learning Japanese and I still play video games a lot. Most of how I learn is by THINKING in that language; I do my every day tasks, but my thoughts are in what little Japanese I know so far, etc. He might be doing the same thing, so I'll give the dude the benifet of the doubt. But I hope he's still learning.

[@G-y_m]

@@theredneckbuddha2763 he's not the brightest if he thinks step 1 is learn Japanese. Step 1 is get into japan

[@mcharolddelalamon537]

Hey man ! Thank you so much. Since I followed you, I've learned a lot

[@DaveTrippin]

Mc Harold Delalamon Awesome. Thanks for checking it out.

[@KamixSam]

Your videos always calm me down when I get nervous about moving to Japan. My girlfriend lives there and I would love to be with her again as soon as possible so I've been worried about my chances of going back. But watching your videos always helps me feel better about my future. Thank you for that.

[@DaveTrippin]

KamiSam Right on kami. Right on. Thanks for checking them out.

[@hurricanesamy9122]

Is that Destiny I see on the tv there?

[@DaveTrippin]

+samuel carpus It most certainly is.

[@hurricanesamy9122]

+DaveTrippin great choice in gaming Dave. Also I wanted to ask something real quick, How are you finding the Internet "speed wise" in Japan? Because I'm considering studying in Japan for about a year. And my job is pretty much streaming video games. So I require a decent connection.

[@DaveTrippin]

+samuel carpus I have an internet connection courtesy of the company that I rent from and It seems damn fast. 3MB a second download I've seen on a good day so that's not bad. I also stream on twitch and youtube gaming and seem to have no problem. My let's play channel is "Thegreatowl". Do you have a gaming channel? Perhaps we could subscribe to each other for some mutual support. I have a whopping 32 subscribers right now so every subscriber means a huge amount to me!

[@hurricanesamy9122]

+DaveTrippin I'd love to subscribe! I'm currently on twitch as well. About to hit that 1000 mark. So maybe we could do like twitch duo streams? Since I currently don't have a gaming KZbin channel until I can afford to buy some necessary equipment. But I'm definitely down for supporting you on both. If you want to send me your twitch name as well so I can host you whenever I'm not live.

[@DaveTrippin]

+samuel carpus Wow man that's amazing congrats on that 1k! Do you have PSN or Xbox. I use playstation so I could add you to my friends list if you've got one. www.twitch.tv/thegreatowld

[@davidprado8732]

I am your 1000th like on this video. Nice job!

[@DaveTrippin]

+David Prado Cheers David. Appreciate it.

[@FooBarBash]

Thanks for your advice!

[@CALiiGeddonTwo]

I am interested in teaching English in Japan after I retire from the Army so money will not be an issue at all. What I really need to do is look into how I would actually teach. Is it just teaching things like nouns and verbs and proper sentences and punctuation? I still have another 18 years before I retire but it's never too early to start learning.

[@JoeWong81]

Hey Dave great videos, I've subscribed and have been watching a lot of your videos lately and they are very informative. Keep it up.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Joe Wong Thanks so much for supporting the channel and taking the time to comment Joe. I really appreciate. More vids to come. I'm just finishing a cool shrine tour.

[@littlestbroccoli]

Thank you. Did you start on JET or with a larger company when you first arrived? Would you still recommend taking this approach when starting with JET, where you get higher salary and good hours and can re-up so easily? Would love to hear what you think :)

[@MilaFlower]

Best video I've seen on this subject! Thank you. What about teaching requirements? I graduated Le Cordon Bleu as a pastry chef so I don't have a Bachelor's degree (only a certificate). So far every program says you must have a Bachelor's degree to qualify for teaching. However, I had a friend tell me that her friend went to Japan and got a job as a teacher with no degree at all. She said as long as you are already in the country they don't care about any teaching background or degrees. Is that true? I don't want to have to prolong the time it takes me to get to Japan simply because I have to stay in the US to go through college again in order to obtain a degree. Plus the expenses it would incur on top of it all. I don't want to spend my money on more college when I could be saving it for plane tickets instead.

[@jihadsleiman2627]

A wonderful piece of advice

[@bobwa399]

Which countries do they prefer to hire English teachers from? do they take from non-native speaking countries?

[@just1it1moko]

i wonder if there are any jobs in japan for non native english speakers...

[@nahhchill]

Barely, sadly...

[@just1it1moko]

Sam dot what about people that move to japan due to marriage? will they be able to get a job besides teaching english? or is that all they have to offer to foreigners? so many questions xD

[@nahhchill]

Yami No Yuusha it's okay, there are jobs such as english cafe's where you can work in a cafe or bar and just sit with people who speak none to little english and talk to them like you would a normal person. sounds weird but you get good tips. it's purpose is so japanese can meet gaijin and or learn english its kinda fun too. There are videos out there on youtube about this subject

[@nahhchill]

Yami No Yuusha teaching english is probably just one of the most profitable and one in high demand. Especially since the olympics of 2020 is in japan the want to learn english just skyrocketed

[@just1it1moko]

Sam dot well too bad i'm no native speaker still :/

[@ronisworld2916]

great advice! nice video!

[@snoop_weeeedy8238]

Destiny behind you! You play destiny that's awesome!

[@jellybean23yearsago58]

Thank you for this video. It is very helpful.

[@DaveTrippin]

Right on Joseph. Glad you liked it.

[@jellybean23yearsago58]

What was your experience with the average weekly working hour rate please? e.g 50 hours per week

[@DaveTrippin]

In a company like Interac they paid roughly 230,000 Yen to 250,000 Yen per month. It's a so-so wage for starting in the country.

[@jellybean23yearsago58]

SOrry I mean the amount of hours worked.

[@DaveTrippin]

Standard is 40hrs.

[@VexNToys]

Really great video! If things go right I should be living in Tokyo in December.

[@DaveTrippin]

+Vex Doppel Sounds great Vex I wish you luck on your journey.

[@hotame]

Good luck, i am going to live in Japan one day.

[@EchoedHarmony1]

I didn't get the last thing which is about the most important thing to keep in mind.

[@deborahruthtrotter2154]

Looks like a Leo Palace style apt. From what I've heard about Hart, I can't recommend it. Same goes for JoyTalk. JET is often decent though. I've encountered people on INTERAC who said they don't get paid for Aug. and half of Dec. and that's challenging. Altia has 1 of the better reputations among ALT companies. Private direct hire programmes can also have their benefits.

[@ehoheleren8552]

do you have any recommendations for the smaller companies, i’m really dedicated to learning japanese and my goal is to become a english teacher but i see a lot of other youtubers complain of the small pay amount. it kind of through me off so seeing this video was a godsend

[@zachcushing-murray2663]

I'm planning on teaching English in Japan after I graduate college, but will also have an industrial engineering degree. Have you heard of foreigners having much success getting jobs as engineers? I'm assuming I'll probably have to pass the JLPT N1 or N2 at the bare minimum, but is it done?

[@DaveTrippin]

Absolutely yes they do find positions and if you've got the education many companies will hire you without much language skill. Engineering is basically a golden ticket to work anywhere in the world.

[@zachcushing-murray2663]

@@DaveTrippin Thanks!

[@MissionSilo]

Wish I knew that