From: America Eikaiwa Gakuin
Position: ESL Instructor
T1:
Remote Name: 168.191.119.106
Hi
We need to hire a teacher to start around the 20th of August to work in Masuda, a beautiful town of 50,000 on the Japan Sea. You would be teaching in Masuda four days a week with one lesson at the local community center and another at a local medical clinic.The work week will be Monday thru Friday with Saturday and Sunday off. You will commute to and teach in Yamaguchi City on Thursdays. Please see http://www.townnet.com/world/asia/japan/shimane.html or http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~felsing/jstuff/chugoku.html to learn more about the area.
If you are interested, please send the following application documents via e-mail:
Resume Letter describing yourself Letter stating your reason for seeking employment as an English instructor in Japan Application form (see below)
I like forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Wayne LaFlamboy American Eikaiwa Gakuin
Below you will find information on our school and an application.
COMPANY PROFILE
American Eikaiwa Gakuin (American English Conversation Institute, Inc.) was incorporated in 1989 in Japan. American Eikaiwa Gakuin was formed to teach natural English conversation to the general public throughout Western Japan. Our students cover a wide range of ages, abilities and interests. Most of the students have a rather limited ability to speak English. Since English is not necessary in daily life in Japan, there is little opportunity to speak and consequently, the level of communication is mostly basic. At present over 500 students are enrolled in a variety of courses at five different locations: Isa, Masuda, Mine, Ogori, and Yamaguchi City. The main courses offered are listed below:
Preschool Children 1 (age 5-8) Children 2 (age 9-12) Junior High School Students Senior High School Students Study or Live Abroad Preparatory Course Adult Business
Our foremost concern is to hire quality instructors. All instructors are native English speakers with a minimum of a four-year university degree. All training and curriculum guidance are provided upon arrival in Japan. Although prior teaching experience is not required, it is an advantage. An outgoing personality, a willingness to share one's knowledge of language and culture, and a sincere concern for the students are the most important factors.
Although we are still a young company, major corporations and educational institutions have requested our teaching methods. We serve NHK (the national television network,) domestic and international phone companies, manufacturing companies, community centers, hospitals and news organizations. You can learn a little more about the area where we operate by reading the June 1984 National Geographic.
SCHEDULE
All instructors work on a full time basis; twenty-eight teaching hours per week with two full days off. Most teaching is between 3:00 and 9:15 PM, but we must try to provide a service that suits the schedule of our students and therefore up to two morning classes per week may be assigned. If a full teaching schedule is not assigned (twenty-eight teaching hours per week,) the balance of the non teaching time is to be used for preparing and developing lesson ideas for the school or in helping with related work.
The teaching schedule is designed to offer variety. The majority of the classes are taught at one of the school locations, but some will also be taught at companies, public and private schools and private homes. Instructors are expected to be at the school 15 minutes before their first class. The hours listed above do not include lesson preparation or travel time. Travel time varies from teacher to teacher but averages between 5 minutes and one hour each way per day. Some days you will be driving much more than other days.
Since we are an educational institution, the teaching schedule is set a year in advance, and is strictly adhered to. Instructors are required to abide by this schedule. Days off other than those scheduled cannot be accommodated. Two one-week vacation periods are provided, one starting April 29, and the other starting near the middle of August. Both are paid vacations. Most national holidays are paid and the school is closed. General training sessions are held several times per year. These sessions allow teachers to exchange ideas and techniques and to receive help and instruction from the trainers and management. Participation is required. All regularly scheduled classes are canceled on the days which general training sessions are held. Due to scheduling methods there is the chance that training sessions may be held on a teacher's day off. Since all the teachers do not have the same day off, there is no way to avoid this.
SALARY
Salary is set at 250,000 yen per month for full time instructors. In addition to salary, we provide major furnishings for the apartments, pay the initial "key money" deposit for the apartment (usually five months rent,) and pay the telephone hook-up fee ($800.) The Japanese national income tax is under 6% and is withdrawn from the salary and paid directly to the government. There is also a local income tax assessed annually based on the previous calendar year income, averaging around 2%, which the instructor will be billed directly by the local government in the Spring of the following year. Payday is the fifth of each month and the salary will be deposited directly into each employee's bank account. Business related transportation expenses are also reimbursed at this time.
TRANSPORTATION
Teachers will be responsible for their transportation to and from Japan (Fukuoka.) Since most of our schools are located in cities with populations of 30,000 to 150,000, intracity trains or subways do not exist. Buses are not convenient. Therefore teachers are required to drive. We have cars available for lease. The company will subsidize a small portion of the total lease cost, including insurance and overall maintenance. The company will pay for 100% of business related fuel expenses. A valid international driver's license (available from any Triple A (AAA) office in the US or CAA in Canada) is required.
DRESS
Business dress is required. For men ties are required, beards are not allowed, hair length is to be kept within business standards (not to cover the collar.) For women skirts, dresses or appropriate slacks are suitable. Jeans, sweats and tennis shoes are not considered appropriate teaching attire.
TRAINING
The training period will consist of curriculum study, methodology, classroom observation and practical teaching. You will be expected to learn our teaching methods during this short period.
Upon satisfactory completion of the training session, teachers relocate to their assigned area and full time teaching soon begins. Teachers located in distant areas will not have the personal assistance that is available to those who live near the main school, but area managers will be in regular contact with you either by telephone or in person. All teaching materials are provided at no cost but must be returned at the end of the employment period. You will be required to pay rent during this seven to ten day training period.
CLIMATE
The areas where our schools are located have rather moderate weather. Compared with my native Massachusetts, the winters are less severe here, but the summers are hotter and much more humid. The Japanese call June and early July the rainy season, but there are thundershowers throughout the summer and September and October is Typhoon season. We usually get a few inches of snow a couple times each winter, but it usually melts within a day. Even though Japan is technologically advanced, central heating has not yet caught on. Japanese houses and apartments have no insulation or central heating. It's not always comfortable. It gets cold. Each apartment is furnished with kerosene heaters that keep the rooms warm while they are on. The temperature in your apartment in the winter is usually about 45 degrees. Therefore, warm clothing indoors is necessary in the winter. In the summer, the humidity makes the 90-degree days feel much hotter. Light and cool clothing (cotton) are recommended. The classrooms, apartments and cars are furnished with air conditioning.
INSURANCE
Two types of health insurance are available to foreigners working in Japan: Japanese National Health Insurance and a private insurance company policy. Either type of insurance may be obtained soon after arrival.
The government policy is priced according your income. Since you had no income in Japan the previous year, premiums start at the minimum level, which is approximately $15 per month. This health coverage pays 70%-80% of most medical care costs including prescriptions and also covers most dental work. Maternity care is not covered. This policy cannot be used outside Japan.
The private company's health insurance policy is available to travelers outside their own country. Foreign teachers working outside Japan qualify for this. This policy is offered through Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies in Japan with offices throughout the world. This policy is available to our employees for 37,710 yen ($370) per year. The entire policy must be paid in advance. This coverage reimburses 100% of most medical care and prescriptions. Neither dental nor maternity care is covered. This policy provides unlimited coverage during travel to foreign countries and for up to 15 days upon return to one's home country. This coverage is not meant to cover long term illness; the coverage ceases after the 180th day of a hospital stay.
Neither the quality nor the convenience of medical and dental care in Japan is what most Americans are used to. Make sure you have any necessary work done before you arrive.
LIVING EXPENSES
Japan is much more reasonable than when I first came ten years ago. However, it is still hard to think of even one item that is less expensive in Japan. Rent, travel, gasoline, food, entertainment, and just about everything else cost much more than they do in the U.S. and Canada. Larger cities are even more expensive than rural areas. Our schools are located in smaller cities which helps keep costs down. An average monthly budget, showing a reasonable range is shown below:
Salary 250,000 yen
Rent 20,000 ~ 50,000 Local tax 5,000 ~ 7,000 Car & insurance 19,000 ~ 19,000 National tax 13,170 ~ 13,170 Utilities 10,000 ~ 20,000 Food 25,000 ~ 50,000 Total 92,170 ~ 159,170
Amount left 157,830 ~ 90,830 yen
From the amount left, health insurance and all other private expenditures must be deducted. To calculate U.S. dollar values, divide the yen amounts by the current exchange rate. Please note that the month of December is paid at three-quarter salary due to unpaid vacation.
Although Japan is expensive, it is possible to save money. However, if money is your sole objective, you could probably earn more in a larger city such as Tokyo. Our teachers usually have other aims in addition to saving money, such as language and culture study. Sending money back home is simple and there is no limit on the amount. Note: Instructors should have approximately 200,000 ($2000) upon arrival to cover living expenses until their first payday (around six weeks.)
INQUIRIES
Interested parties are asked to submit the following documents: Resume Letters of recommendation Letter describing yourself Letter stating your reason for seeking employment as an English instructor in Japan Four identical photographs, head and shoulders, color or black and white Copy of Diploma Application form Photocopy of passport page(s) with picture and signature
Write to: Wayne LaFlamboy III 37 1/2 Allen Street Suite 4B NY, NY 10002 Tel. 212-226-1871
Below is an application that all interested parties should fill out and return.
APPLICATION
NAME ______________________________ HEIGHT __________ WEIGHT __________ DATE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT ____________________ NATIONALITY _______ CURRENT ADDRESS PERMANENT ADDRESS ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ TELEPHONE ______________________ TELEPHONE_________________________ UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE ATTENDED _______________________________________ GRADUATION DATE ______________ DEGREE/MAJOR _________________________ CERTIFICATES, ETC. ______________________________________________________ LOCATION (CITY, STATE) ______________________ HIGH SCHOOL_____________________________________ ______________________ J. H. S. _____________________________________ ______________________ELEM. SCHOOL_____________________________________ RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND TO STAY IN JAPAN? MINIMUM _______ MAXIMUM _____ TRAVEL EXPERIENCE ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ FOREIGN LANGUAGE ABILITY _______________________________________________________ SKILLS ____________________________________________________________________________ _ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________ BIRTHDATE (YEAR/ MONTH/ DAY) 19_____ / _____ / _____ BIRTHPLACE (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY)_________________________________________ PASSPORT NUMBER __________________________ COUNTRY ________________ DATE OF ISSUE 19_____ / _____ / _____ EXPIRATION DATE 19_____ / _____ / _____ MARITAL STATUS ________________________________________________________ HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO JAPAN BEFORE? ____ IF YES, WHEN _________________