alternatives to the big 3 language schools??

[Freddie1]

I keep seeing lots of bad stories, opinions and experiences about the big 3 english schools in Japan(nova, geos and aeon) - mind-numbing, feel like a slave, money, conditions, working hours, etc, etc.

So my question is .... what are the alternatives to the big 3? Even if I had it, I wouldnt be too keen to pay around 6 months rent up front. Ideally, I'd like to live with other (at least part) english speakers, in a decent-sized city with interesting places not too far away, and with a good social scene (fellow teachers, students or other english speaking people - no japanese(yet!)).

So ... what would you recommend (job, accomodation, place, etc, etc)

Ta,
Andrew

[Row]

i found allot of information on http://www.gaijinpot.com/ =)mayb its something for you to heh. gl!

[tokyobo]

all kinds of jobs at www.eol-japan.com

[PopCulturePooka]

Be careful.
Very careful.
Some of the smaller independant schools ae even worse than the big 3. VERY bad!


I HAVE heard ECC is a good deal if you are happy teaching lots of kids.

[Index]

I think it depends on what kind of setup you want. I'm a fan of working many part time jobs instead of one full time one. That way you have control of your schedule and you are able to pick up and drop jobs when something better comes up, without having to worry about how you will survive. The best teaching jobs are at universities, but these are rarely advertised. They go on word of mouth and recommendation, so you need to be flexible enough to be able to take these opportunities when they come up because they are worth it. Universities can pay more than ten to fifteen times what you could make at a place like Nova (per hour)-literally. My seven hours a week at a university was enough to live on. If you can afford it, then come to Japan without a job and find one here. Alternatively you could start at Nova as a part time teaacher and go from there, like I did. Evening business classes at a place like OTC pay ￥4500 per hour, compared to NOVA's 2000 or so.

[gokarosama]

America Eigo Gakuin in Wakayama is a rural setting where the 250,000 a month takes you a good ways.

[akeenan]

the larger schools arent that bad. You can make a lot of contacts by being at one of these schools as usually there are many teachers.
It really depends on your reason for going to japan. If your interested in studying the language Id recommend finding a job where you can use it more.

[Index]

Originally Posted by akeenan

the larger schools arent that bad. You can make a lot of contacts by being at one of these schools as usually there are many teachers.

True, but you might get stuck in the English speaking/English teachers circle for a while, which is quite subversive to learning Japanese or about Japan. On the other hand it helps with isolation and loneliness, if you are partial to them.

[akeenan]

Ideally, I'd like to live with other (at least part) english speakers, in a decent-sized city with interesting places not too far away, and with a good social scene (fellow teachers, students or other english speaking people - no japanese(yet!)).

True, but you might get stuck in the English speaking/English teachers circle for a while,

[Index]

Point taken, but there's a difference between working with other English teachers, and having them making up your entire social environment. It's quite likely that you will come into contact with other English teachers and English speakers wherever you work.