BOOM
Optimist: what is that mighty crashing noise?
Pessimist: that, my dear friend, is the sound of our future employment dreams crashing down around our ears. Bloody typical.
Optimist: what are you talking about? Don’t be so melodramatic. It was just a warning email from company A disappointed in our decision not to interview for the 2 possible jobs they had us up for.
Pessimist: well they would have been more disappointed if the school hadn’t been impressed with my Japanese level since they requested someone with some Japanese ability (which in Japan-speak means “someone who CAN SPEAK Japanese”). And anyway, in the original application I told them I wanted to keep working with kids, not high schools. I love the kids, I’m a better teacher for the kids. And anyway, they told us at the interview that they mostly have junior high contracts. There's hardly a sparcity of them.
Optimist: now they didn’t say they weren’t going to find us a place, they just suggested we should keep looking for jobs in the meanwhile.
Pessimist: yeah, only a MONTH after the interview by which time company B has probably got the complete shits with waiting for my decision. Their communication is a little slow….
Optimist: yeah but company B was never the first option cause all they could offer was a part time position. But if we do go for that then we can do lots of private classes and make great money
Pessimist: but have you forgotten, part time employers cannot sponsor visas.
Optimist: well we have a visa till next February, so that’s nothing to worry about for now.
Pessimist: why are you always so bloody optimistic? Can’t you see this is a really bad position we’re in? we started paying rent on a room in Tokyo yesterday and we have a million little bills to tie up here before we move and of course all the farewell parties and presents we have to buy… and we only have two more paychecks to go. This is serious!!!!!!
Optimist: but you know as well as I do that things have a great way of turning out fine. And also, we have the website – we could put out a little call there…
Anyone out there know of any good jobs going in Tokyo? Doesn’t have to be teaching, of course – I have a background in music & entertainment event management, I can do a bit of web-stuff and of course, photography…..
*sigh. back to the job boards.
frangipani wrote this on March 2, 2004 11:31 AM
Pessimist Mark II said:
Sorry to be pessimistic, but its gonna be real hard to find a full-time job teaching elementary/preschool kids. I'm sure they're out there somewhere, but the elementary/pre-school curriculum has not discovered the blissful world that is English. Yet. Thus, there is a dearth of full-time jobs for that kind of gig.
What is your priority? Teaching little kids with the possibility of being without sponsorship after a year, or getting sponsored, then looking for after-school jobs teaching little kids? My instinct would be to go for the Junior High School gig. First year JHS kids are not that different from elementary kids after all.
If you're dead set on a full-time sponsorship deal teaching elementary/pre-school, then hopefully someone can tell you something different.
Ganbatte!
March 2, 2004 02:41 PM
frangipani said:
pessimist mark 11, i'd be quite happy (and am quite ready to go) with a junior high, i know that elementary schools don't have much in the way of full time work. the work i knocked back wasn't at junior high, both jobs were at high schools.
priorities are quite selfish - visa security, decent holidays, good pay, decent working conditions. then comes the preferences. kids first, then anyone really. high schools wouldn't be so bad one or 2 days a week. company english would be ok a few days a week. but kids are so much fun. they make a stressful schedule bearable, and turn bad days into good days, without even trying. and it's such a joy to watch their little noggin's clicking over and getting something. it's just so damn satisfying.
March 2, 2004 10:00 PM
amanda said:
hm. Don't quite agree with Mark there. I'd like to think of myself as an optimistic realist. There are quite a few primary schools (although without a proper curriculum specified by the Ministry of Education), that have discovered the 'blissful world of English'. Especially as they're already in gear for the Ministry's promises to introduce the curriculum in the very near future.
The company Ms. Frangipani interviewed with, has its feet right in the door of the ALT market. They surely have contacts of interested primary schools.
Interested in commuting to Chiba? There may be be some good opportunities here, especially with the Governor designating schools in the Narita region as 'internationally focused' (these schools are teaching some subjects in English).
How about the kindergarten/childcare scene? Tokyoites are crazy about their lil' ones getting an English education whilst hopping off for a full day's work.
And here's my 2 yen - there is a HUGE and almost disapointingly drastic difference between teaching junior high kids and elementary kids,in this country.
Stay optimistic and hopeful Martine, because it will work out somehow. If not, there's always friends to help you stand.
March 3, 2004 01:45 PM
frangipani said:
amanda and don, thanks for your ideas and comments.
i had a great phonecall today with company A and they may a more suitable job lined up for me.... keep your fingers crossed for me. may not have to commute to chiba to teach kids. don, i'll probably do some company english on an after-school part time basis - i'm sure it'll be fun.
so things are looking up today. too bad there's more snow expected overnight. no snow = a morning drive to kofu for the 880 yen all you eat indian buffet lunch at maman pumpkin. snow = no indian and grey skies.
March 3, 2004 09:42 PM
