Interesting comment from an ex English Teacher in Japan about how the companies make the money! SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! ENGLISH TEACHER IN JAPAN TIME!

Interesting post. I worked in Japan in 1997 for Shane English Schools, Tokyo. It was a year of hell and even now sadly I hear the same story over and over again. I did my Tefl/ CELTA in London, went to the interview, was shown the glossy magazine and heard all the promises of how they look after their staff, how everyone loves their experience etc etc. I arrived in Narita, got off the plane and was taken to an apartment which looked like something out of the 1800s with no hot water, heating, stank of mould, no shower etc. and was told this is very standard for Japan. I found out that all the conditions in the 'letter of agreement' signed in London prior to signing the contract in Japan were different to what I had agreed. I was told that from the moment I stepped off the plane I owed the company 12 days (somehow they worked the contract out this way) so all my days off were up for grabs until they had taken these 12 days back. Was forced/ pressured/ bullied to work ridiculously long days often with no breaks. Incessant phone calls on my days off to cover for sick teachers as you had to be on 'standby' on your days off, waiting by the phone (this was in the days before mobiles and internet). They insisted that only teaching hours counted as work hours so they would pile on meetings, trips to the zoo, stupid tea parties where they expected you to sing and dance like a performing chimp - but with no overtime and this didn't count towards your 12 days. The place was full of disgruntled teachers who all hated their jobs but were stuck as they didn't know Japanese law, were lied to by the bosses and kept in the dark about employee rights. Twenty years later and I see Shane are still around, and if you Google them you'll see they are still up to the same tricks. The experience taught me something about teaching English in Japan. The moment you sign up to one of these 'eikaiwas' you are not a teacher. You are a gaijin showpiece paid a minimum to sing and dance in front of kids and entertain housewives. These companies are not interested in quality, they want you in quickly, they will rinse you of your soul, and then they they want you out and replaced by the next one quickly before you have time to 'poison' the next intake with what you now know. What is even more sad is that students are charged a fortune for this privilege and have no idea they are being ripped off. You are right in that you should use these companies to get what you want, but be on your guard and expect to be mercilessly messed around by them. I would say to anyone about to set off: do your homework, know exactly what you are getting in to and have a plan to get out. And finally, see it for what it is. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will be working for any sort of respected school with a role in education. At best these places are after-school play clubs for kids and social meetups for housewives using the medium of English, at worst they could be your darkest nightmare.