Introduction

I graduated from Simon Fraser University in May 2004, with a BA. I majored in English, and barely scraped together a minor in History. Stepping out of the university, and into the real world, I realized that I did not have any specific plan in regards to a life-long career or vocation. Nor was I of the age when one wants to settle down into a life-long job. I wanted adventure, I wanted to move out of my parents' house, I wanted to go to Japan! I opened up Google.ca, and typed "teach English in Japan". The first result that came up was a company named GEOS. I applied, was scheduled in for an interview session, and was on my way to teaching English in Japan.

What I did not know at the time was that there are many English schools in Japan, an innumerable amount really, and that GEOS was just one of four major conversation English schools. I did not do any research, did not check up on any of the other companies, did not attempt to contact any current or previous English teachers with experience in Japan; I did not take any precautions. I just clicked, set up an interview, and left. What I found when I came to Japan was that I could have made a much better, more informed opinion, if I had taken some time to research the different companies offering the same type of work.

If you, or anyone you know is planning on going to Japan, or anywhere in Asia to work, I would like to offer some advice. Having taught there for two years, I obviously know more about Japan, but I still have a fair bit of knowledge about conditions of work in other countries, like Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Nepal. I have done quite a bit of research in the area of English teaching in Asia. I would like to go back one day and do it again; but this time I would do it right. If I were to go back and teach English in Japan I would do many things differently. Bookmark this page if you want to find out!