| If you've spent any time at all browsing through | | | | Teaching Contracts and Salaries |
| forums on teaching English in | | | | Ah yes...salaries. Expect to be paid 250,000 yen per |
| Japan, you've probably run across more than a few | | | | month for a standard contract. |
| horror stories. Topics rangefrom working hours and | | | | This is the "minimum wage" for full-time sponsored |
| conditions way in excess of what's in the contract, | | | | ESL instructors. This isconsidered an entry-level salary |
| tohorrible living conditions and exorbitant rent. | | | | for conversation teachers with little or noexperience. |
| Some of this is avoidable if you take a careful look at | | | | Other Perks |
| your contract and ask the rightquestions before you | | | | Look carefully at vacation days. Ask for a total of |
| take a teaching position. One of the most important | | | | weeks off per year. Expect at least |
| part ofthe contract are the contact hours. We'll look | | | | 2. Also make sure to ask if the time-off that is |
| at this first. | | | | quoted to you is in addition tonational holidays. Also |
| Contact Hours - What They Are | | | | be sure to ask which national holidays the |
| Contact hours are actual hours spent teaching or | | | | schoolobservers. Some schools that are generous |
| being "in contact" with thestudent. The industry | | | | with paid holidays will give you everyone off, others |
| standard for full-time sponsored ESL instructors is | | | | won't. |
| 22-27 perweek. They are not the same qualitatively | | | | Let's not forget health insurance. Most employers |
| as office hours. You can't get up and geta glass of | | | | provide health insurance for freeor at least subsidize |
| water, chat with a friend at the water cooler or | | | | it. If you're getting stuck with the whole bill, make |
| check your e-mail duringcontact hours-though you | | | | sure thedeal is sweeter in other areas like salary or |
| can during regular office hours at most regularjobs. | | | | vacation days. |
| The point is -- if you directly compare office hours | | | | Teaching Contracts and Accommodations |
| and teaching contact hours,you're comparing apples | | | | Living in a nasty apartment will make your stay in |
| to oranges. 45 contact hours will grind you into the | | | | Japan... well...nasty. Schools thatprovide you with a |
| dirt inno time (in addition to being illegal) whereas 45 | | | | working visa, generally take care of accommodations |
| office hours won't. Be careful whenyou look at ads. | | | | as well. It'simportant to make sure you have a |
| And don't be afraid to ask questions. | | | | private apartment if you don't want to share. |
| Another point to consider when you sign a teaching | | | | Don't assume you'll have your own private place! |
| contract is contact hours andstated hours. | | | | Your Rights as a Teacher |
| Often schools will state 22-25 teaching hours in their | | | | Many teachers are easily intimidated by contracts or |
| contractbut they don't mention office hours. | | | | believe them to be the finalword. The reality is that |
| These are hours between classes whereyou perform | | | | any contract is subservient to established labor laws. |
| services for your students. For example, chatting | | | | Laborlaws are the final word - not your contract. |
| with students andevaluating and grading their work. If | | | | It's important to know your rights as a worker under |
| you're grading reports in between classesinstead of | | | | Japanese labor laws. If you feelyou're being treated |
| preparing them, it makes for a long day. | | | | unfairly, you can contact General Union for |
| So when you negotiate,make sure you get the "total | | | | representation (byjoining the union) or contact the |
| time" that is involved in the job. | | | | Labor Standards Office for help in your disputes. |