Hi,
I am a teacher in Australia but new to the international school community.
I am thinking about moving to Japan and wanted to some general info about working in Japan and any info about Hokkaido international school and the new school they are opening in Niseko. I would really appreciate any comments or advice!
1. General pay scale and packages in Japan.
2. Competition in the job market. Is it easy to get jobs in Japan? I have 5 years full time experience teaching in primary schools in Australia, as well as some casual experience teaching in Canada and London (in non international schools).
3. How has the recent natural distasters affected teaching and schools not near the areas of the earthquake? Are teachers leaving Japan/ less applicants or is it business as usual?
4. Any info about Hokkaido International School and its plans for the new Niseko campus? It is not reviewed although a couple of people have left general comments about the head of the school, no one who teaches there has actual left any comments recently.
5. Application process. I have heard that it can take a year or more to process applications. I am thinking that I should submit my application now but I don't want to give my current principal as referee yet , they don't know I am looking for work overseas! I have other referees I could add, maybe I could add my current principal if I get an interview later.
Sorry I have a lot of questions I know! Thanks :)
Teaching in Japan and info about Hokkaido IS
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Zsejanko
Hello!
I worked in a school in Osaka, Japan for four years. I loved EVERY MINUTE of my time in Japan. To be quite honest, I wouldn't mind retiring there one day, but that's a different story since there is no immigration for Japan. Even if you marry a local, you would still have to apply after a number of years for residency status ( and not citizenship ). I will have a lot of information for you, so please bear with me :)
1) PAY : Most international schools in Japan start at 320, 000 - 360, 000 yen per month, tax free ( $ 3700 - $ 4155 AUD ). Schools that are somewhat established but not necessarily top tier start at around 400, 000 yen - 450, 000 yen ( $ 4754 - 5348 AUD / month ). The top tier schools start around $ 75, 000 AUD / per year. Don't listen to people who say that you CANNOT save in Japan bc I obviously did ( and so did many of my foreign colleagues and NON-colleagues - i.e. working at a different school or city ). I lived in one of the most expensive cities, which is Osaka ( it's akin to Los Angeles of Japan ). It's only 2nd to Tokyo ( in terms of expensive ). I saved a fair bit of money. I managed to save 50 % of my pay cheque every month and send it home. However it's bc my work subsidized my rent so I only paid $ 400 AUD per month.
a) IF YOUR APT IS NOT SUBSIDISED OR COVERED BY YOUR EMPLOYMENT : Expect to pay approx. $ 1500 - $ 2000 AUD per month on your apt ( a bit more than this if you are in Hokkaido which is a popular place in Japan ). Hokkaido will also be much more expensive in terms of groceries and utilities bc of the cold winters and the exports will have a higher price. However, Hokkaido is absolutely beautiful and haunting. Many people go to Hokkaido and never look back. Also, ON YOUR FIRST MONTH, expect to pay " key money " ( i.e. deposit money ) to your landlord for your apt. All Japanese landlords require deposit money ( that is non-refundable, nor will it ever go back to you ) to move in. This is a whopping $ 2000 - $ 3000 AUD. That's why most employers suggest that you should have around $ 2000 AUD in your pocket bc you know that the first pay cheque will all go to the rent and deposit money. However, this " key money " is only a one-time thing. Thank God that I didn't have to pay it bc the apt that I had was technically " owned " by the school and was passed on for years from one teacher to the next. The school had already paid the whopping key money around 10 years ago when they first started importing foreign hires.
b) IF YOUR APT IS COVERED BY THE SCHOOL : Live life and laugh! Taht was my situation and my hard-earned money of around $ 3000 AUD / month ( tax free ) all went to my pocket. I traveled a fair bit around the country and traveled twice a year to other countries outside of Japan. However, I did cook a lot of my own meals ( ate out only on special occasions ) and got invited to a lot of dinners by Japanese friends.
2) PACKAGES : It all depends on the school. However, in recent years, there has been a trend of international schools in Japan in NOT covering the housing....so if that's the case, you will spend a lot of money looking for an apt ( some places are " gaijin friendly "...as in " foreigner friendly " and in Osaka, where there is a lot of us, they even advertise this on posters ). Most Japanese schools cover medical ( no dental though - dental is a luxury and you can tell, judging from looking at the locals' teeth.....sorry to say ) and round trip flight. If you happen to get accepted at a top tier school ( e.g. American School in Tokyo, Japan ), then that's awesome bc they cover A LOT, on top of having a salary of $ 75, 000 AUD tax free.
3) COMPETITION : It is quite fierce. Let's just say that even though I have had 4 years of full-time teaching in Japan at the same school, I am now finding it hard to get my foot back in the door. My need to return to Japan is strong ( but not that strong yet )....I will work for a few years in Europe ( as I have a contract in Europe now ), and then reapply to get back into Japan again.
a) International schools with foreign administration ( i.e. British, American or Canadian ) are usually top notch. They will demand the best of the lot bc they pay a lot.
b) International schools with Japanese administration. They will be very bureaucratic and absolutely nit-picky with EVERYTHING. The Japanese people are known for hard-working characters ( I thought that this might just be a stereotype that is propagated by many but no, it happens to be the truth ) and they abide by a very strict "honour" system....so they will look through CVs with a fine-toothed comb and then go up the bureaucratic ladder for approval. The " sempai " system is very strong ( i.e. inferiors look up to superiors for any sort of advice...even if it means asking to move a piece of paper or opening the windows ). However, despite this bureaucratic, nit-picky type of process, for some reason, everything is done quite speedily! If the Japanese offices state that they will provide you an answer for the position at 8:48 am, they will be there at 8:48 am to tell you. :)
On a side note : Most Japanese administrators in international school do tend to have certain biases with looks. Because Japan has been an isolationist country for so long, most Japanese students still have the stereotypical view that foreign teachers should be Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes. As politically incorrect as this sounds, just look at all the ESL textbooks and posters. Furthermore, most hires for the English-Language Arts languages are usually Caucasian. However, this is not the case for international schools with a foreign administration.
4) NATURAL DISASTERS : It is business as usual. The Japanese society is quite apt at recovering from natural disasters. For instance, earthquake training starts at the age of 2, in nursery schools. Little kids go through drills, complete with hard hats and such. When I was teaching there, my Middle School students had to teach me how to survive in an earthquake when a tiny one erupted during class. Japan is always filled with foreigners...most left during the great tsunami, but new ones arrive and some of the old ones return ( like most of my friends who teach ). Japan is a very difficult country to leave.
5) HOKKAIDO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL : I don't know much about it, but I can tell you that the students ( if they are mostly Japanese ) will be EXCELLENT. The Japanese society places a lot of emphasis on education...especially now, in the face of China's economic and political power. Japan is a very political country and they have always defined their worth in relation to China ( and vice versa ). It's like a see-saw with the two. So when I was teaching there, it was around the time that China was getting all the attention for rising economically and the principal and heads even had meetings about how to boost programs for " globalization " and such. It was a means to educate the Japanese kids as much as possible for the world bc they have historically been quite isolationist.
6) APPLICATION PROCESS : Mine took around 9 months. Yes, it was a long time...but it was well worth it. I knew I had it bc three people interviewed me at the same time and they were all smiles and praises. But the process of work visa application etc took a long time....however, I didn't have to deal with it bc the school did it all themselves.
I worked in a school in Osaka, Japan for four years. I loved EVERY MINUTE of my time in Japan. To be quite honest, I wouldn't mind retiring there one day, but that's a different story since there is no immigration for Japan. Even if you marry a local, you would still have to apply after a number of years for residency status ( and not citizenship ). I will have a lot of information for you, so please bear with me :)
1) PAY : Most international schools in Japan start at 320, 000 - 360, 000 yen per month, tax free ( $ 3700 - $ 4155 AUD ). Schools that are somewhat established but not necessarily top tier start at around 400, 000 yen - 450, 000 yen ( $ 4754 - 5348 AUD / month ). The top tier schools start around $ 75, 000 AUD / per year. Don't listen to people who say that you CANNOT save in Japan bc I obviously did ( and so did many of my foreign colleagues and NON-colleagues - i.e. working at a different school or city ). I lived in one of the most expensive cities, which is Osaka ( it's akin to Los Angeles of Japan ). It's only 2nd to Tokyo ( in terms of expensive ). I saved a fair bit of money. I managed to save 50 % of my pay cheque every month and send it home. However it's bc my work subsidized my rent so I only paid $ 400 AUD per month.
a) IF YOUR APT IS NOT SUBSIDISED OR COVERED BY YOUR EMPLOYMENT : Expect to pay approx. $ 1500 - $ 2000 AUD per month on your apt ( a bit more than this if you are in Hokkaido which is a popular place in Japan ). Hokkaido will also be much more expensive in terms of groceries and utilities bc of the cold winters and the exports will have a higher price. However, Hokkaido is absolutely beautiful and haunting. Many people go to Hokkaido and never look back. Also, ON YOUR FIRST MONTH, expect to pay " key money " ( i.e. deposit money ) to your landlord for your apt. All Japanese landlords require deposit money ( that is non-refundable, nor will it ever go back to you ) to move in. This is a whopping $ 2000 - $ 3000 AUD. That's why most employers suggest that you should have around $ 2000 AUD in your pocket bc you know that the first pay cheque will all go to the rent and deposit money. However, this " key money " is only a one-time thing. Thank God that I didn't have to pay it bc the apt that I had was technically " owned " by the school and was passed on for years from one teacher to the next. The school had already paid the whopping key money around 10 years ago when they first started importing foreign hires.
b) IF YOUR APT IS COVERED BY THE SCHOOL : Live life and laugh! Taht was my situation and my hard-earned money of around $ 3000 AUD / month ( tax free ) all went to my pocket. I traveled a fair bit around the country and traveled twice a year to other countries outside of Japan. However, I did cook a lot of my own meals ( ate out only on special occasions ) and got invited to a lot of dinners by Japanese friends.
2) PACKAGES : It all depends on the school. However, in recent years, there has been a trend of international schools in Japan in NOT covering the housing....so if that's the case, you will spend a lot of money looking for an apt ( some places are " gaijin friendly "...as in " foreigner friendly " and in Osaka, where there is a lot of us, they even advertise this on posters ). Most Japanese schools cover medical ( no dental though - dental is a luxury and you can tell, judging from looking at the locals' teeth.....sorry to say ) and round trip flight. If you happen to get accepted at a top tier school ( e.g. American School in Tokyo, Japan ), then that's awesome bc they cover A LOT, on top of having a salary of $ 75, 000 AUD tax free.
3) COMPETITION : It is quite fierce. Let's just say that even though I have had 4 years of full-time teaching in Japan at the same school, I am now finding it hard to get my foot back in the door. My need to return to Japan is strong ( but not that strong yet )....I will work for a few years in Europe ( as I have a contract in Europe now ), and then reapply to get back into Japan again.
a) International schools with foreign administration ( i.e. British, American or Canadian ) are usually top notch. They will demand the best of the lot bc they pay a lot.
b) International schools with Japanese administration. They will be very bureaucratic and absolutely nit-picky with EVERYTHING. The Japanese people are known for hard-working characters ( I thought that this might just be a stereotype that is propagated by many but no, it happens to be the truth ) and they abide by a very strict "honour" system....so they will look through CVs with a fine-toothed comb and then go up the bureaucratic ladder for approval. The " sempai " system is very strong ( i.e. inferiors look up to superiors for any sort of advice...even if it means asking to move a piece of paper or opening the windows ). However, despite this bureaucratic, nit-picky type of process, for some reason, everything is done quite speedily! If the Japanese offices state that they will provide you an answer for the position at 8:48 am, they will be there at 8:48 am to tell you. :)
On a side note : Most Japanese administrators in international school do tend to have certain biases with looks. Because Japan has been an isolationist country for so long, most Japanese students still have the stereotypical view that foreign teachers should be Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes. As politically incorrect as this sounds, just look at all the ESL textbooks and posters. Furthermore, most hires for the English-Language Arts languages are usually Caucasian. However, this is not the case for international schools with a foreign administration.
4) NATURAL DISASTERS : It is business as usual. The Japanese society is quite apt at recovering from natural disasters. For instance, earthquake training starts at the age of 2, in nursery schools. Little kids go through drills, complete with hard hats and such. When I was teaching there, my Middle School students had to teach me how to survive in an earthquake when a tiny one erupted during class. Japan is always filled with foreigners...most left during the great tsunami, but new ones arrive and some of the old ones return ( like most of my friends who teach ). Japan is a very difficult country to leave.
5) HOKKAIDO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL : I don't know much about it, but I can tell you that the students ( if they are mostly Japanese ) will be EXCELLENT. The Japanese society places a lot of emphasis on education...especially now, in the face of China's economic and political power. Japan is a very political country and they have always defined their worth in relation to China ( and vice versa ). It's like a see-saw with the two. So when I was teaching there, it was around the time that China was getting all the attention for rising economically and the principal and heads even had meetings about how to boost programs for " globalization " and such. It was a means to educate the Japanese kids as much as possible for the world bc they have historically been quite isolationist.
6) APPLICATION PROCESS : Mine took around 9 months. Yes, it was a long time...but it was well worth it. I knew I had it bc three people interviewed me at the same time and they were all smiles and praises. But the process of work visa application etc took a long time....however, I didn't have to deal with it bc the school did it all themselves.
Last edited by Zsejanko on Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Zsejanko
PROS AND CONS OF LIVING IN JAPAN ( Sorry, but my post was getting too long and I was afraid that it would get cut off ) :
PROS :
a) Japan is one easy country to live in. Japanese people are extremely friendly, polite and welcoming to foreigners. In fact, to this day, people are shocked by my politeness in my home country and it's bc I learned well from the Japanese locals ( Example : If you go to a Starbucks in Japan, the cashier will smile, bow and serve you at the cash......and will NOT serve the next customer until you have left the vicinity, their view and almost exited the shop. In the Western world, this is a rare thing now ).
b) Traveling and photo ops are endless. Japan is a very beautiful and clean country. The cities may have some ugly, mouldy buildings bc of the extremely humid weather, but in general, the countryside, the villages, towns, oceans, cultural sights are PHENOMENAL. Japan is also a traveling hub within Asia...flights to all other parts of Asia average around $ 380 AUD roundtrip ( except around May - during Golden Week, where most flights reach around $ 700 AUD ).
c) You CAN save a lot. I don't know what some people are doing with their money, but I saved around $ 18,000 EVERY YEAR. ( this is with me constantly traveling too ). Tokyo has recently overtaken NYC in the alpha cities that define the global economy ( first comes London, Tokyo and then NYC ). So despite the tsunami, the earthquakes and such, the yen has remained strong. In the last few weeks, exchange rates have been amazing for Japan ( as it always has been ). I found that even when the yen was at its weakest, it was almost equal / on par to my home currency and never dipped below.
d) Japan has a way of changing you...for the better. ( But I will leave you to find this out yourself ). You learn the value of patience, of learning how to control your emotions appropriately, or practising the art of obligation to people ( which I think are all good things bc in the "our" world, in the Western world, everything is slap dash fast with a pinch of annoyance and impatience ). Japan has taught me how to take a breath.
e) The country has the best of everything in terms of activities. If you want to do something cultural in the city ( you can hit Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima etc ). If you want to do something fun, outdoorsy, hit all the rural areas for kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, parasailing etc. If you want to do something traditional and unique, just go visit a village or a small town ( the most amazing, out of this world, crazy festivals occur in small villages or towns...like Naked Men festivals, fertility festivals, sword making festivals, ninja festivals etc ).
f) The Japanese people. Awesome! Although some may still have the isolationist, prejudiced, nationalistic stance.....many are so welcoming to foreigners. To be invited to a family home is an honour and so, accept the invitation, arrive early and bring a present for the host. To accept and then decline the invitation is seen in very bad light ( and that's bc the hostess usually prepares the most traditional of all dishes meticulously...thousands of little dishes, porcelain, lacquerware are used to just PRESENT the food.... ).
CONS:
a) Japanese is a very difficult language to learn. If you don't have any friends who speak English or you don't practice the language, you will be at a slight loss. The locals do NOT speak English ( or are very shy to speak it if they do ). Most Japanese people who do speak it well have usually traveled abroad or were educated in schools abroad, specifically to study English.
b) Sometimes, the isolationist spirit creeps in. Due to the fact that they have taken a political isolationist stance in their philosophies, history etc....you will sometimes see it emerge from how they treat you. They don't mean to treat you any differently, but they just naturally do bc of historical and cultural beliefs. For one thing, you will be called " gaijin ", which literally means " outside alien person ". They will not call you this out of offence, this is just the word in their language and one must get used to it despite the connotation. Or sometimes, the ever-tiring compliment of " you eat well with chopsticks for a gaijin " is their way of complimenting. Or if you go to Kobe city, you will have to get used to the nationalist black trucks with overtly racist cartoons of Koreans and loudspeakers yelling out " Koreans, get out of our country "...or " Brazilians, we will pay you 100, 000 yen to get out of our country forever ".
c) Food, clothing, transportation are expensive. A one-way ticket on the local JR train is around $ 3 AUD. This can add up.
PROS :
a) Japan is one easy country to live in. Japanese people are extremely friendly, polite and welcoming to foreigners. In fact, to this day, people are shocked by my politeness in my home country and it's bc I learned well from the Japanese locals ( Example : If you go to a Starbucks in Japan, the cashier will smile, bow and serve you at the cash......and will NOT serve the next customer until you have left the vicinity, their view and almost exited the shop. In the Western world, this is a rare thing now ).
b) Traveling and photo ops are endless. Japan is a very beautiful and clean country. The cities may have some ugly, mouldy buildings bc of the extremely humid weather, but in general, the countryside, the villages, towns, oceans, cultural sights are PHENOMENAL. Japan is also a traveling hub within Asia...flights to all other parts of Asia average around $ 380 AUD roundtrip ( except around May - during Golden Week, where most flights reach around $ 700 AUD ).
c) You CAN save a lot. I don't know what some people are doing with their money, but I saved around $ 18,000 EVERY YEAR. ( this is with me constantly traveling too ). Tokyo has recently overtaken NYC in the alpha cities that define the global economy ( first comes London, Tokyo and then NYC ). So despite the tsunami, the earthquakes and such, the yen has remained strong. In the last few weeks, exchange rates have been amazing for Japan ( as it always has been ). I found that even when the yen was at its weakest, it was almost equal / on par to my home currency and never dipped below.
d) Japan has a way of changing you...for the better. ( But I will leave you to find this out yourself ). You learn the value of patience, of learning how to control your emotions appropriately, or practising the art of obligation to people ( which I think are all good things bc in the "our" world, in the Western world, everything is slap dash fast with a pinch of annoyance and impatience ). Japan has taught me how to take a breath.
e) The country has the best of everything in terms of activities. If you want to do something cultural in the city ( you can hit Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima etc ). If you want to do something fun, outdoorsy, hit all the rural areas for kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, parasailing etc. If you want to do something traditional and unique, just go visit a village or a small town ( the most amazing, out of this world, crazy festivals occur in small villages or towns...like Naked Men festivals, fertility festivals, sword making festivals, ninja festivals etc ).
f) The Japanese people. Awesome! Although some may still have the isolationist, prejudiced, nationalistic stance.....many are so welcoming to foreigners. To be invited to a family home is an honour and so, accept the invitation, arrive early and bring a present for the host. To accept and then decline the invitation is seen in very bad light ( and that's bc the hostess usually prepares the most traditional of all dishes meticulously...thousands of little dishes, porcelain, lacquerware are used to just PRESENT the food.... ).
CONS:
a) Japanese is a very difficult language to learn. If you don't have any friends who speak English or you don't practice the language, you will be at a slight loss. The locals do NOT speak English ( or are very shy to speak it if they do ). Most Japanese people who do speak it well have usually traveled abroad or were educated in schools abroad, specifically to study English.
b) Sometimes, the isolationist spirit creeps in. Due to the fact that they have taken a political isolationist stance in their philosophies, history etc....you will sometimes see it emerge from how they treat you. They don't mean to treat you any differently, but they just naturally do bc of historical and cultural beliefs. For one thing, you will be called " gaijin ", which literally means " outside alien person ". They will not call you this out of offence, this is just the word in their language and one must get used to it despite the connotation. Or sometimes, the ever-tiring compliment of " you eat well with chopsticks for a gaijin " is their way of complimenting. Or if you go to Kobe city, you will have to get used to the nationalist black trucks with overtly racist cartoons of Koreans and loudspeakers yelling out " Koreans, get out of our country "...or " Brazilians, we will pay you 100, 000 yen to get out of our country forever ".
c) Food, clothing, transportation are expensive. A one-way ticket on the local JR train is around $ 3 AUD. This can add up.
Last edited by Zsejanko on Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Zsejanko
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Zsejanko
To give people an idea of salary in international schools in Japan, here is the salary that has been quoted to me with 8 years international teaching experience : Gross salary of 6.4 million yen per year = $ 81, 000 USD / $ 77, 000 CDN / 50, 271 British pounds / $ 75, 000 AUD.
There will be a 6 % Japan national income tax deducted on top of that, which won't make much of a difference anyway bc it's tax free when it comes to my country. So, I will be receiving a monthly NET salary of 501, 333 yen = $ 6364 USD / $ 6028 CDN / $ 5923 AUD / 3937 British Pounds.
My only expenses would be utilities and internet. The school provides furnished housing ( which is rare in Japan ), round trip flight, medical, pension, dependent allowance, shipping, resigning bonus and incentive bonus ( that can go towards an extra flight, vacation package etc ).
All in all, it's one of the decent package from a decent school. It's not even the most competitive package. The American School in Japan STARTS their teachers at $ 80, 000 per year.
There will be a 6 % Japan national income tax deducted on top of that, which won't make much of a difference anyway bc it's tax free when it comes to my country. So, I will be receiving a monthly NET salary of 501, 333 yen = $ 6364 USD / $ 6028 CDN / $ 5923 AUD / 3937 British Pounds.
My only expenses would be utilities and internet. The school provides furnished housing ( which is rare in Japan ), round trip flight, medical, pension, dependent allowance, shipping, resigning bonus and incentive bonus ( that can go towards an extra flight, vacation package etc ).
All in all, it's one of the decent package from a decent school. It's not even the most competitive package. The American School in Japan STARTS their teachers at $ 80, 000 per year.
[quote="Zsejanko"]To iteach314: What are you basing your criteria on, in regards to the place you want to teach? Apart from the quality of the school, what countries interest you? Are you making the choices based on financial potential savings, the climate, the culture, the access to surrounding countries etc?[/quote]
I am looking to experience culture, save a nice lump of money, and climate doesn't matter. I've been looking at Middle East and parts of Asia. It seems that to teach in Japan would be so competitive and I don't want to end up at the lower tier schools. I will have had 2.5 yrs of teaching by the time the school year ends in June 2012. Access to surrounding countries is not a biggie to me if the culture is rich in the country in which I teach and if there are plenty of opportunities to explore and learn.
I am looking to experience culture, save a nice lump of money, and climate doesn't matter. I've been looking at Middle East and parts of Asia. It seems that to teach in Japan would be so competitive and I don't want to end up at the lower tier schools. I will have had 2.5 yrs of teaching by the time the school year ends in June 2012. Access to surrounding countries is not a biggie to me if the culture is rich in the country in which I teach and if there are plenty of opportunities to explore and learn.
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Zsejanko
Japan's " Tier 2 " schools are considered pretty decent compared to the other " Tier 2 " schools in other parts of the world. But yes, it's competitive to get in.
In regards to other areas of the world, I think that for a new international school teacher, it's better to experience the Asian continent first. I have little qualms about the Middle East, but you have to consider some of the challenges of living in the Middle Eastern culture ( I know, bc I am a foreigner who grew up in the Middle Eastern region when I went to international schools there. My father worked for Saudi Aramco for around 20 years and my uncles still live there working for Aramco ) :
a) The strict restrictions on women ( although this is heavily enforced in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Yemen.....some places are more laid back like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar. However, it is still deep in the psyche so you should still be conscientious of your behaviour and manner of dress even in more "liberal" areas of the ME. Although this may seem a bit trivial now, as you are reading it, when you live it, as a young teacher who is constantly busy with work AND having to deal with cultural differences, it can be aggravating on a daily basis ).
b) Restrictions on mobility
Some countries in the ME ( e.g. Qatar and Saudi...although both quite different from each other ) still rely on what the international community decries as " modern-day slavery". Basically, in such places mentioned above, you CANNOT leave the country UNLESS you apply for an exit visa THROUGH your employer. This ensures that people don't "run" from their employment. So you have to consider that during times of political upheavals or even an emergency, do you really think that the Head will prioritise your exit visa if let's say the embassy is shut down due to a coup, the city is in chaos or you have to leave within 24 hrs due to a family emergency back home? Bureaucracy still applies in the processing of exit visas ( which means time ). Also note that some ME countries would not have your home embassy there. This may not seem so alarming to many now since other nations can go to another nation's embassy so long as they belong in the same Commonwealth etc.
c) Schools are notoriously known for discipline issues ( Simply bc of the way the children, especially the males, are often brought up. Most of them are from very wealthy families where the parents leave most of the upbringing to revolving maids and nannies, who are usually of South East Asian or Filipino descent, thus causing a bit of racist / prejudiced views that are catered from a young age in regards to certain peoples. Most ME parents indulge in spoiling their children, so discipline issues in schools are notorious. For a new international teacher, the happy-go-lucky smile, the jokes and the laid back personality may need to be tweaked a bit, thus ensuring that you have to step outside your "regular, normal" teaching style and somewhat adapt it to the new students in front of you. This may seem trivial now but once you actually live it and are asked for example to bump up a grade of a very wealthy student with an angry wealthy parent, you start to wonder about ethics and integrity in your teaching career ).
d) The climate ( You mentioned that climate doesn't matter. It does eventually. The harsh sun, the high temperatures and the desert winds that can cause a dry, dusty work environment could trigger certain ailments. The fact that you are enclosed in an AC-cranked environment doesn't really do wonders for your respiratory system. But aside from this, let's say that you are a robust teacher....the fact of the matter is that dry weather, harsh temperatures during the Ramadan where you are NOT allowed to drink or eat from 7am - 7pm, STILL applies to you as a foreign hire, bc you will probably have a handful of Middle Eastern students in your school, if not most of them. Imagine having to teach at a very busy school, without food and water during the entire month of the Ramadan. Tempers are flaring, short attention spans etc ).
e) Driving / Traffic Hazard
There's an ongoing joke in places in the Middle East that terrorism is NOT the thing to be feared, but the driving conditions and drivers on the road. Very true. As a foreign hire, you will probably not be allowed to get a driver's license and if you do, you drive at your own peril. It's common to see a pedestrian run across the street, scrambling for life, with the cars still going at it and actually hitting the pedestrian ( not seriously, but more like a hip or leg bump ). Transportation is very expensive ( mostly taxis ), bc public transportation is not as developed ( if at all existent in some ME countries ). Be prepared to dish out a lot of money on transportation.
f) Expensive lifestyle
Because most ME countries rely on imports ( due to the difficulty of cultivating in naturally parched areas ), the prices are exorbitant. You don't really get to save as much as most Heads and Directors advertise. I found that I saved MORE in Asian countries than I did in the ME. Travel in and outside of the ME is expensive and sometimes difficult.
f) Middle Eastern administrators / Board of Directors
Most ME schools are for profit, headed by a board of directors ( read : Arab oil tycoons, royal family etc ). So even though a head or a director or a principal is a foreigner, the boss of all bosses would usually be a Middle Eastern person. They have a very different way of doing business....one can say that business practices can be mercurial, based on a system of favours, nepotism and cronyism. This is not necessarily a bad thing as this is how business is often conducted in places that is not in North America or Northern Europe.....but expect a lot of delays, drastic, quick changes in decision-making that can affect your contract, work term, salary etc.
g) " FISHBOWL " existence
In some areas of the ME, it will be more likely that you will live in restricted, " foreigner " commune type of home. Although the housing is more often amazing than not, you have to live in the vicinity and close scrutiny of your co workers ( bc a school usually obtains the same villa complex for their teachers ). Restriction to go outside is usually there since there are perceived dangers or even nuisances that may occur when you're walking around as a foreigner in a heavily local area without company ( especially if you are a woman ).
Although this may seem like a biased account against working in the ME, it's not meant to be. I am just simply listing down things that one needs to consider before going there. The ME usually attracts the following :
- Very young, inexperienced teachers who are " easy to hire " in schools with a problem of high turn over ( Note that most heads will emphasize the salary and benefits package ).
or
- New teachers in international teaching ( they may have been licensed and worked in their home countries for many years, but if they are new in international teaching, it's a whole new game and they might not know as much about the environment yet )
or
- Very old, veteran, experienced teachers ( often with wives and children coming along with them, which makes the living and teaching experience quite bearable )...who usually get the top jobs at the top schools anyway bc of their experience.
What the point here? ME tends to attract teachers that have very little knowledge about the school and the cultural way of life ( bc if they knew, they would think twice )....or those with a lot of experience ( bc they know that they will be going to decent schools anyway that would trump some of the cultural challenges of the ME ).
In regards to other areas of the world, I think that for a new international school teacher, it's better to experience the Asian continent first. I have little qualms about the Middle East, but you have to consider some of the challenges of living in the Middle Eastern culture ( I know, bc I am a foreigner who grew up in the Middle Eastern region when I went to international schools there. My father worked for Saudi Aramco for around 20 years and my uncles still live there working for Aramco ) :
a) The strict restrictions on women ( although this is heavily enforced in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Yemen.....some places are more laid back like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar. However, it is still deep in the psyche so you should still be conscientious of your behaviour and manner of dress even in more "liberal" areas of the ME. Although this may seem a bit trivial now, as you are reading it, when you live it, as a young teacher who is constantly busy with work AND having to deal with cultural differences, it can be aggravating on a daily basis ).
b) Restrictions on mobility
Some countries in the ME ( e.g. Qatar and Saudi...although both quite different from each other ) still rely on what the international community decries as " modern-day slavery". Basically, in such places mentioned above, you CANNOT leave the country UNLESS you apply for an exit visa THROUGH your employer. This ensures that people don't "run" from their employment. So you have to consider that during times of political upheavals or even an emergency, do you really think that the Head will prioritise your exit visa if let's say the embassy is shut down due to a coup, the city is in chaos or you have to leave within 24 hrs due to a family emergency back home? Bureaucracy still applies in the processing of exit visas ( which means time ). Also note that some ME countries would not have your home embassy there. This may not seem so alarming to many now since other nations can go to another nation's embassy so long as they belong in the same Commonwealth etc.
c) Schools are notoriously known for discipline issues ( Simply bc of the way the children, especially the males, are often brought up. Most of them are from very wealthy families where the parents leave most of the upbringing to revolving maids and nannies, who are usually of South East Asian or Filipino descent, thus causing a bit of racist / prejudiced views that are catered from a young age in regards to certain peoples. Most ME parents indulge in spoiling their children, so discipline issues in schools are notorious. For a new international teacher, the happy-go-lucky smile, the jokes and the laid back personality may need to be tweaked a bit, thus ensuring that you have to step outside your "regular, normal" teaching style and somewhat adapt it to the new students in front of you. This may seem trivial now but once you actually live it and are asked for example to bump up a grade of a very wealthy student with an angry wealthy parent, you start to wonder about ethics and integrity in your teaching career ).
d) The climate ( You mentioned that climate doesn't matter. It does eventually. The harsh sun, the high temperatures and the desert winds that can cause a dry, dusty work environment could trigger certain ailments. The fact that you are enclosed in an AC-cranked environment doesn't really do wonders for your respiratory system. But aside from this, let's say that you are a robust teacher....the fact of the matter is that dry weather, harsh temperatures during the Ramadan where you are NOT allowed to drink or eat from 7am - 7pm, STILL applies to you as a foreign hire, bc you will probably have a handful of Middle Eastern students in your school, if not most of them. Imagine having to teach at a very busy school, without food and water during the entire month of the Ramadan. Tempers are flaring, short attention spans etc ).
e) Driving / Traffic Hazard
There's an ongoing joke in places in the Middle East that terrorism is NOT the thing to be feared, but the driving conditions and drivers on the road. Very true. As a foreign hire, you will probably not be allowed to get a driver's license and if you do, you drive at your own peril. It's common to see a pedestrian run across the street, scrambling for life, with the cars still going at it and actually hitting the pedestrian ( not seriously, but more like a hip or leg bump ). Transportation is very expensive ( mostly taxis ), bc public transportation is not as developed ( if at all existent in some ME countries ). Be prepared to dish out a lot of money on transportation.
f) Expensive lifestyle
Because most ME countries rely on imports ( due to the difficulty of cultivating in naturally parched areas ), the prices are exorbitant. You don't really get to save as much as most Heads and Directors advertise. I found that I saved MORE in Asian countries than I did in the ME. Travel in and outside of the ME is expensive and sometimes difficult.
f) Middle Eastern administrators / Board of Directors
Most ME schools are for profit, headed by a board of directors ( read : Arab oil tycoons, royal family etc ). So even though a head or a director or a principal is a foreigner, the boss of all bosses would usually be a Middle Eastern person. They have a very different way of doing business....one can say that business practices can be mercurial, based on a system of favours, nepotism and cronyism. This is not necessarily a bad thing as this is how business is often conducted in places that is not in North America or Northern Europe.....but expect a lot of delays, drastic, quick changes in decision-making that can affect your contract, work term, salary etc.
g) " FISHBOWL " existence
In some areas of the ME, it will be more likely that you will live in restricted, " foreigner " commune type of home. Although the housing is more often amazing than not, you have to live in the vicinity and close scrutiny of your co workers ( bc a school usually obtains the same villa complex for their teachers ). Restriction to go outside is usually there since there are perceived dangers or even nuisances that may occur when you're walking around as a foreigner in a heavily local area without company ( especially if you are a woman ).
Although this may seem like a biased account against working in the ME, it's not meant to be. I am just simply listing down things that one needs to consider before going there. The ME usually attracts the following :
- Very young, inexperienced teachers who are " easy to hire " in schools with a problem of high turn over ( Note that most heads will emphasize the salary and benefits package ).
or
- New teachers in international teaching ( they may have been licensed and worked in their home countries for many years, but if they are new in international teaching, it's a whole new game and they might not know as much about the environment yet )
or
- Very old, veteran, experienced teachers ( often with wives and children coming along with them, which makes the living and teaching experience quite bearable )...who usually get the top jobs at the top schools anyway bc of their experience.
What the point here? ME tends to attract teachers that have very little knowledge about the school and the cultural way of life ( bc if they knew, they would think twice )....or those with a lot of experience ( bc they know that they will be going to decent schools anyway that would trump some of the cultural challenges of the ME ).
Thanks for the info Zsejanko.
Good to know I should leave some time to apply for visa applications. I didnt really think about that. I have been told by some of my friends who work in international schools in other countries that I should try for the job fairs as this is the best way to get employed. I am not really looking for employment until 2013 since i will still be teaching in Australia until then. I was thinking of sending in an application now to the Niseko School indicating that I would be interested in the future. I am actually going over to Niseko for a snowboarding holiday in January. I thought I would send my application in now so I could maybe get an interview while I'm over there, or at least see the school. I am hoping they would be receptive to this, do you think I should just put that in my application letter? Thanks again for all the Japanese info, it does sound like a great place to live. ery The last time I travelled there I remember the very friendly and polite people who go out of their way to help you, it was so safe, the food is amazing and the snow..wow.
Good to know I should leave some time to apply for visa applications. I didnt really think about that. I have been told by some of my friends who work in international schools in other countries that I should try for the job fairs as this is the best way to get employed. I am not really looking for employment until 2013 since i will still be teaching in Australia until then. I was thinking of sending in an application now to the Niseko School indicating that I would be interested in the future. I am actually going over to Niseko for a snowboarding holiday in January. I thought I would send my application in now so I could maybe get an interview while I'm over there, or at least see the school. I am hoping they would be receptive to this, do you think I should just put that in my application letter? Thanks again for all the Japanese info, it does sound like a great place to live. ery The last time I travelled there I remember the very friendly and polite people who go out of their way to help you, it was so safe, the food is amazing and the snow..wow.
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Zsejanko
I think that with ALL schools, they require that foreign hires let them know by December whether they are re-contracting or not, because it takes a while for the visas to process ( or they just need the extra time to process visas which take anywhere from 1 - 4 months, depending on the bureaucratic process of the country ).
It won't hurt to mention the following :
a) You've been to Japan before and you have a great interest in the country
b) You're going to be there on January
c) You are really interested in the school
However, if you do mention that you are interested to teach in 2013, I don't see them interviewing you on January 2012. The opportunities that popped up on TIE Online recently for the Hokkaido International School is rare ( maybe someone dropped out, or they have enrolment increase etc etc ).
Good luck though with whatever you plan to do! If you have the right credentials that the school is looking for, I'm pretty sure that competitive or not, you will get in.
It won't hurt to mention the following :
a) You've been to Japan before and you have a great interest in the country
b) You're going to be there on January
c) You are really interested in the school
However, if you do mention that you are interested to teach in 2013, I don't see them interviewing you on January 2012. The opportunities that popped up on TIE Online recently for the Hokkaido International School is rare ( maybe someone dropped out, or they have enrolment increase etc etc ).
Good luck though with whatever you plan to do! If you have the right credentials that the school is looking for, I'm pretty sure that competitive or not, you will get in.
Szejanko is pretty dead on about teaching in Japan. I've taught in two top, premier international schools in Tokyo, Japan for around 10 years now. The other school I taught at was at an elite international school in Europe. I must say that the Japanese international schools pay one of the highest in the world. I have a few friends who recently started as new teachers in Tokyo at some of the surrounding international schools and they start off at around $ 55, 000 - $ 60, 000 USD. Mid-range for salaries are around the $ 60, 000 - 65, 000 mark. The top salaries start from $ 75, 000 USD and can reach at around $ 100, 000 mark. Mind you, these are salaries at "mid-level/ lower calibre" schools ( for lack of a better adjective when ranking schools ). Premier schools start their new teachers at $ 75, 000 USD and can reach up to over $ 100, 000 USD. Administrators make a fair bit of money and they will not budge from their positions. This is another reason as to why the competition is fierce in Japan, especially in Tokyo. No one ever leaves with those kind of figures, benefits, great student body (work ethic is strong), parental involvement is abundant and colleagues are well-qualified and recruited from really good international schools around the world.