There are good eikaiwas and bad eikaiwas. Telling which is which from abroad will likely be extremely difficult. I would say go with JET and and switch to an eikaiwa later if you want to. That way you can do more proper vetting in country.
Some people say Eikaiwa isn't bad, but from all accounts I've ever seen, it looks shite. Don't sign up to be a slave just because you get hooked on the idea of living in a certain country, and don't let people hooked on that idea convince you to buy into it too. JET is basically the only way to be an ALT in Japan that actually pays decently.
In your case, if you want to get into Universities, I'd focus on JET. There's nothing wrong with Eikaiwa or private schools, but University jobs are extremely hard to get into, and connections really make the difference. Competition is very fierce and knowing people is going to make the difference. Eikaiwa doesn't provide the opportunity for making connections like JET does. With JET you get the chance to rub elbows with other University professors during one of the endless meetings or presentations you go to, and it's a chance to network. I know a few foreign University professors, and they all got their positions through networking. They won't admit that, but they did. If University teaching is your goal, JET provides a much more suitable path for getting there. If you get on JET, volunteer for every meeting, every presentation, every seminar. Volunteer for the ones that aren't affiliated with JET. Attend everything you can and meet as many people as you can. Let it be absolutely known what your goals are.
If, for whatever reason, JET doesn't work out, Eikaiwa is an option but it will take more effort on your part to cross paths with influential people. It will definitely provide an environment you can learn and grow in, and if you choose a good school, the conditions can be better than JET. With an eikaiwa, you meet students of all ages, backgrounds, English levels and goals for learning. I had classes with neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, some University professors, researchers, all kinds of interesting people. It kept the weeks interesting, instead of going over fruits and vegetables for 30 kids every day like some ALTs do.
Some caveats regarding eikawa.
\-Chain schools are different than private English schools. Chain schools are highly micromanaged with rules for absolutely everything. You also have 'supervisors' who are completely unqualified for their jobs. I do not recommend chain schools like NOVA or Geos. You also have to **read your contract** and know every detail. Beware of 'probation periods' or other flowery terms. You could spend 6 months with an unsteady schedule, non-consecutive holidays and less pay until your actual contract kicks in after you complete your 'probation' or 'training' period.
\-Dispatch companies are equally shady. They provide ALTs to public schools or other companies. This can make for some interesting placements, but they're all very temporary and if there are periods when nobody needs an ALT, you might not get paid.
\-Private English schools are a much better option. You can find them online and mass-apply. Some of the better schools provide good salaries with good working conditions. Lower workload, more variety in your classes, things like that. People make eikaiwa out to be this soul-crushing experience, but that's usually chain schools. With eikaiwa, you have the freedom of where you want to go, what city you want to live in. On JET, who knows where you'll end up. Plus, if you don't like your school, you can find another job anytime you like. Then start your networking plans as soon as you get settled and are able.
Thank you so much for this post! The mention of using JET to network isn't something that occurred to me, honestly, as most people who participate in JET say they go for a year, have fun, then quit. In truth, I've been looking for the best way to "get my foot in the door," and with how you break it down it seems JET is the best route for that.
Also, you mention "if JET doesn't work out," I know this year competition is going to be pretty fierce and such, any recommendation on making sure I have the best chance on getting in? I've already drafted a large part of my essay (though I might redo it because I feel the beginning drags on too long) but I'm not too familiar with the application process.
Most people who go on JET don't have a strong idea of where they want to be after JET or who they want to become. It's a paid vacation for a year or two, pay off the student loans, have some fun and go home to start your 'real life'. Because life here isn't 'real'.
There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're in it for.
Getting your foot in the door is all about contacts. The steps to climbing the ladder are fairly simple; you have to have a skill someone is willing to pay you for, and you have to find the person who is willing to pay for that skill. Both of those are equally important. It's like people who think they can pass the N1 and suddenly job opportunities just start rolling in, and when they don't, they get all disillusioned with their efforts and life in Japan. What they fail to realize is that nobody is going to pay you to sit at a desk and have N1 certification. Having a TESOL MA is great, but you still need to find the people who are willing to hire you for it. Most job openings for University level positions are gone before they hit the website. Lots of Universities require masters in Education or a teaching license, and I honestly don't know if TESOL fits that category. Private Universities are much more varied in their requirements.
Networking and contacts is indispensable, especially if you're shooting for University level employment. You have to be really good at what you do, and show the people who can make things happen that you're looking for your next step. You can do this in a regular eikaiwa job, but JET definitely provides more opportunities.
As far as getting on JET, you seem like an ideal candidate. My opinion, off your post, is to play on the fact that JET is an important role for you because it ties into your goals. You've decided that teaching in higher education is what you want to do, and you want to learn the ropes of the schools system, see how things are done in Japan, take in every experience and learn from every challenge. You want to be adept at living in Japan in terms of culture, language, society and everything else, and immersion in the system is the best way for you to experience that. You're eager to see how schools function in Japan and do whatever you can to make a contribution to your schools and your community. That self-motivation and eagerness to learn from challenges and experiences is a huge benefit to potential ALTs.
I genuinely cannot thank you enough for this post, specifically the last paragraph. For some reason, talking up my strengths in this way never really occurred to me as I was focusing too much on answering the question “why do you want to go to Japan?”
Sucks I’ll have to likely restructure and rewrite my introduction essay, but I really appreciate you giving me this perspective. Thank you so much.
No, it doesn't suck. What would suck is if you had a malformed image of what you wanted to accomplish as as JET and your introduction essay reflected that. You'd be entering the race with one tire flat. Look at it this way. Your goal, at this time, is to pursue higher education in Japan, let's say in a University position. In order to achieve this goal and to become the type of person who is able to fill a role like that, you're going to have to grow and become someone entirely new. You have the skills in your possession, that much is obvious by what you've already achieved towards this goal. Now you're at the stage of growth, expansion and development. Basically, you're entering a new stage of your life with a huge set of abilities, but essentially as a student, as a beginner. You want to take who you are now and mold it into someone who can fill a much higher position than you've ever done before. In order to do this, you need experience, new ways of thinking, new perspectives and a new way of looking at the world and your relation to it. JET is an excellent vehicle for you to achieve this. Immersion in the school system that you want to learn about, immersion in the language and culture you want to learn and understand. Being open and receptive to ways of thinking that you've never looked at before. This is what actually makes a good ALT. Having a desire to learn from your JTE, learn from the students and your community, at the same time offering them the skills you have. Whether that's native English pronunciation, a desire to exchange cultural ideas, overcoming obstacles together. And the motivation for this doesn't have to come from any external source; it's a desire that you already have and want to pursue. You could receive any placement and find a way to make it work to a mutual advantage. That goal in mind, the self-motivation, the idea of the steps you want to take and how JET can help you do that. That's a solid essay. Whether you realize it right now or not, this essay and the introspect you're using to write it is the first step towards achieving a goal that you might not see for a few years. New perspectives are a blessing, especially if it means tearing up an old essay and having to start again.
Eikaiwa pay and conditions are awful. JET pay is significantly higher and the conditions are usually a lot better (depending on the school you get placed with). If the choice is Eikaiwa or JET, the answer is always JET.
You could totally start in Eikaiwa just to get here and then change Jobs. One year or even less would be more than enough to count as “experience”. You work the whole day in Eikaiwa, you might know right? Plus the weekends. You could also come as a dispatch company ALT, easy job, M to F, 8 to 4, weekends are yours to travel or study Japanese. You would get more money in eikaiwa but less free time.
There are good eikaiwas and bad eikaiwas. Telling which is which from abroad will likely be extremely difficult. I would say go with JET and and switch to an eikaiwa later if you want to. That way you can do more proper vetting in country.
Some people say Eikaiwa isn't bad, but from all accounts I've ever seen, it looks shite. Don't sign up to be a slave just because you get hooked on the idea of living in a certain country, and don't let people hooked on that idea convince you to buy into it too. JET is basically the only way to be an ALT in Japan that actually pays decently.
In your case, if you want to get into Universities, I'd focus on JET. There's nothing wrong with Eikaiwa or private schools, but University jobs are extremely hard to get into, and connections really make the difference. Competition is very fierce and knowing people is going to make the difference. Eikaiwa doesn't provide the opportunity for making connections like JET does. With JET you get the chance to rub elbows with other University professors during one of the endless meetings or presentations you go to, and it's a chance to network. I know a few foreign University professors, and they all got their positions through networking. They won't admit that, but they did. If University teaching is your goal, JET provides a much more suitable path for getting there. If you get on JET, volunteer for every meeting, every presentation, every seminar. Volunteer for the ones that aren't affiliated with JET. Attend everything you can and meet as many people as you can. Let it be absolutely known what your goals are. If, for whatever reason, JET doesn't work out, Eikaiwa is an option but it will take more effort on your part to cross paths with influential people. It will definitely provide an environment you can learn and grow in, and if you choose a good school, the conditions can be better than JET. With an eikaiwa, you meet students of all ages, backgrounds, English levels and goals for learning. I had classes with neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, some University professors, researchers, all kinds of interesting people. It kept the weeks interesting, instead of going over fruits and vegetables for 30 kids every day like some ALTs do. Some caveats regarding eikawa. \-Chain schools are different than private English schools. Chain schools are highly micromanaged with rules for absolutely everything. You also have 'supervisors' who are completely unqualified for their jobs. I do not recommend chain schools like NOVA or Geos. You also have to **read your contract** and know every detail. Beware of 'probation periods' or other flowery terms. You could spend 6 months with an unsteady schedule, non-consecutive holidays and less pay until your actual contract kicks in after you complete your 'probation' or 'training' period. \-Dispatch companies are equally shady. They provide ALTs to public schools or other companies. This can make for some interesting placements, but they're all very temporary and if there are periods when nobody needs an ALT, you might not get paid. \-Private English schools are a much better option. You can find them online and mass-apply. Some of the better schools provide good salaries with good working conditions. Lower workload, more variety in your classes, things like that. People make eikaiwa out to be this soul-crushing experience, but that's usually chain schools. With eikaiwa, you have the freedom of where you want to go, what city you want to live in. On JET, who knows where you'll end up. Plus, if you don't like your school, you can find another job anytime you like. Then start your networking plans as soon as you get settled and are able.
which website did you use to find a private school? Thanks!
Thank you so much for this post! The mention of using JET to network isn't something that occurred to me, honestly, as most people who participate in JET say they go for a year, have fun, then quit. In truth, I've been looking for the best way to "get my foot in the door," and with how you break it down it seems JET is the best route for that. Also, you mention "if JET doesn't work out," I know this year competition is going to be pretty fierce and such, any recommendation on making sure I have the best chance on getting in? I've already drafted a large part of my essay (though I might redo it because I feel the beginning drags on too long) but I'm not too familiar with the application process.
Most people who go on JET don't have a strong idea of where they want to be after JET or who they want to become. It's a paid vacation for a year or two, pay off the student loans, have some fun and go home to start your 'real life'. Because life here isn't 'real'. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're in it for. Getting your foot in the door is all about contacts. The steps to climbing the ladder are fairly simple; you have to have a skill someone is willing to pay you for, and you have to find the person who is willing to pay for that skill. Both of those are equally important. It's like people who think they can pass the N1 and suddenly job opportunities just start rolling in, and when they don't, they get all disillusioned with their efforts and life in Japan. What they fail to realize is that nobody is going to pay you to sit at a desk and have N1 certification. Having a TESOL MA is great, but you still need to find the people who are willing to hire you for it. Most job openings for University level positions are gone before they hit the website. Lots of Universities require masters in Education or a teaching license, and I honestly don't know if TESOL fits that category. Private Universities are much more varied in their requirements. Networking and contacts is indispensable, especially if you're shooting for University level employment. You have to be really good at what you do, and show the people who can make things happen that you're looking for your next step. You can do this in a regular eikaiwa job, but JET definitely provides more opportunities. As far as getting on JET, you seem like an ideal candidate. My opinion, off your post, is to play on the fact that JET is an important role for you because it ties into your goals. You've decided that teaching in higher education is what you want to do, and you want to learn the ropes of the schools system, see how things are done in Japan, take in every experience and learn from every challenge. You want to be adept at living in Japan in terms of culture, language, society and everything else, and immersion in the system is the best way for you to experience that. You're eager to see how schools function in Japan and do whatever you can to make a contribution to your schools and your community. That self-motivation and eagerness to learn from challenges and experiences is a huge benefit to potential ALTs.
I genuinely cannot thank you enough for this post, specifically the last paragraph. For some reason, talking up my strengths in this way never really occurred to me as I was focusing too much on answering the question “why do you want to go to Japan?” Sucks I’ll have to likely restructure and rewrite my introduction essay, but I really appreciate you giving me this perspective. Thank you so much.
No, it doesn't suck. What would suck is if you had a malformed image of what you wanted to accomplish as as JET and your introduction essay reflected that. You'd be entering the race with one tire flat. Look at it this way. Your goal, at this time, is to pursue higher education in Japan, let's say in a University position. In order to achieve this goal and to become the type of person who is able to fill a role like that, you're going to have to grow and become someone entirely new. You have the skills in your possession, that much is obvious by what you've already achieved towards this goal. Now you're at the stage of growth, expansion and development. Basically, you're entering a new stage of your life with a huge set of abilities, but essentially as a student, as a beginner. You want to take who you are now and mold it into someone who can fill a much higher position than you've ever done before. In order to do this, you need experience, new ways of thinking, new perspectives and a new way of looking at the world and your relation to it. JET is an excellent vehicle for you to achieve this. Immersion in the school system that you want to learn about, immersion in the language and culture you want to learn and understand. Being open and receptive to ways of thinking that you've never looked at before. This is what actually makes a good ALT. Having a desire to learn from your JTE, learn from the students and your community, at the same time offering them the skills you have. Whether that's native English pronunciation, a desire to exchange cultural ideas, overcoming obstacles together. And the motivation for this doesn't have to come from any external source; it's a desire that you already have and want to pursue. You could receive any placement and find a way to make it work to a mutual advantage. That goal in mind, the self-motivation, the idea of the steps you want to take and how JET can help you do that. That's a solid essay. Whether you realize it right now or not, this essay and the introspect you're using to write it is the first step towards achieving a goal that you might not see for a few years. New perspectives are a blessing, especially if it means tearing up an old essay and having to start again.
Eikaiwa pay and conditions are awful. JET pay is significantly higher and the conditions are usually a lot better (depending on the school you get placed with). If the choice is Eikaiwa or JET, the answer is always JET.
You could totally start in Eikaiwa just to get here and then change Jobs. One year or even less would be more than enough to count as “experience”. You work the whole day in Eikaiwa, you might know right? Plus the weekends. You could also come as a dispatch company ALT, easy job, M to F, 8 to 4, weekends are yours to travel or study Japanese. You would get more money in eikaiwa but less free time.
Honestly id go for the Eikaiwa if you could get it, then with your MA and experience apply for unis. Ive heard Eikaiwa gigs pay can vary a lot though